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Surprise, surprise...piggy flu vaccine delayed

Discussion in 'News & Current Events' started by rbell, Aug 19, 2009.

  1. rbell

    rbell Active Member

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  2. BigBossman

    BigBossman Active Member

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    That doesn't surprise me. I what I find shocking is how the Dept. of Homeland Security director, Nepolitano stated that schools should stay open in the event someone gets swine flu.
     
  3. donnA

    donnA Active Member

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    means it's not as serious as they would have us believe.
     
  4. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    The OP is just plain sily. This isn't a "surprise". Back several months ago, it was reported, and even commented on here, that pharma companies were working to get the virus on the market by September, but that this was probably unlikely.
     
  5. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Apparently you do not understand the sarcasm in the use of the word "surprise". It is intended to communicate that such a failure by the government is in fact not surprising at all.
     
  6. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    Folks, the govt is not manufacturing these vaccines...private enterprise is.
     
  7. Matt Black

    Matt Black Well-Known Member
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    We're having ours rolled out next month. Still, that's old-fashioned, inefficient, so-called 'socialised' medicine for you...
     
  8. windcatcher

    windcatcher New Member

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    Adjuvants...... substances added to a vaccine to jump start the immune response in the human body..... are restricted or permitted by country.

    There has been reports that the US will have the adjuvant "squalene"..... but only an aluminum based adjuvant is in the vaccine with which the trials are being conducted ...... and one source I read indicates that squalene will not be allowed here...... the same source then says that it is possible that it will be approved after successful completions of the trials for the vaccine due to its potential to stretch the supply of the live virus vaccine: I.E. it takes less prepared virus load to get an immune response.

    The problem with some adjuvants ...... and squalene is suspect with insufficient data regarding this potential..... introducing a substance into the body which vigouously triggers an immune response can work so efficiently that it confuses the body's own natural recognition of its cells and proteins and results in chronic conditions and autoimmune disease which are not reversible and difficult to control: Some European countries already plan on allowing the squalene adjuvant in their vaccine if it means they will have sufficient supply for their people. The FDA in the US may allow it here if it decides that this is the only way to expand the supply of vaccine.

    Some authorities are requesting the the WHO readjust its criteria for annoucing a pandemic. Most people would think a pandemic had much to do with a combination of factors to possibly include the ease of spread person to person and difficulty to contain, the difficulty and cost of treatment, and the response to treatment with death tolls or permanent disabilities. Currently, the main factor which triggers the WHO's status in sounding the pandemic alarm centers around the chief factors of when and where did the disease occur, and how quickly it spread to locations which indicate an international spread and uncontained outbreak. At first there was much alarm over the deaths. However, since following its spread, it seems that deaths connected with infection is influenced by a number of factors ..... some of which have to do with the health practices and status within the population. The maturity of one's immune system appears to also be a factor..... and the elderly may actually be (generally) less susceptible to infection as their bodies, already the recipient of years of exposures to flu and other viruses and bacteria and immune response, are quicker to recognize and throw off a viral attack. Of course the natuaral slower immune response in the elderly, for those who get a loading dose of virulent exposure and who have no natural immunity retained.... may not recover or have complications if infected.



    It is difficult to separate the truth from the hype regarding this epidemic and the vaccine.

    Personally I hope to avoid the vaccine and trust the immune system God gave me to respond successfully if exposed or infected. As I live in the country with better than 500 feet between neighbors on either side..... it is my intention to try to reduce exposure to crowds and limit contact during the height of flu season. I may add supplementation to regular diet of vitamin D3, ascorbic acid (vitamin C)..... both in several doses each day of 1000mg, reduction or elimination of all concentrated sweets, and drink plenty of fluids. If an infection develops, my home care will consist of maintaining fluids with supplements of salts (cycle altenate potassium with sodium ..... and maybe add calcium/ magnesium and zinc) to replace electrolytes loss in sweating and occassions of naseau, vomiting or diarhea...... monitor fever advance...... and try not to interfer with natural fever response unless it reaches 103%..... as some fever is connected with healing and limiting the multiplication of bugs causing the disease. I think it is each person's responsibility to determine what is their best course.... and while there is time to examine and learn what we can.... to use this time to prepare and include prayer for God's guidance in our choices and decisions.
     
  9. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    Except it's not a "failure" by the government. It was anticipated early on that a vaccine might not be ready. The pharma companies (not the government) tried to have it ready earlier, but it didn't happen.

    It's no different than someone saying "It will take a month, ut I'll try and have it ready in a week". If that person doesn't get it done in a week, it's not a failure.
     
  10. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    Good general advise...


    "Stay away from it and you won't get it!"
    • Please stay away from places where people congregate (like church)!
    • Don't go to grocery stores.
    • Don't open or even touch your mail.
    • Don't use money - (recent news is that there are traces of cocaine on most bills -- imagine the viruses it could carry :eek: )
    • Don't go to the doctor (particularly if you have flu-like symptoms!)
    Pity the millions of flu victims who died during the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918.
    Imagine, if only they had the opportunity to get vaccinated; Would they have turned it down?

    We've become a far more mobile society since 1918.

    The odds are far greater that someday (soon perhaps?) some virus will arise that is virulent enough to kill again.

    As a health professional with lots of exposure to the public, I will be getting the vaccine as soon as it's available.

    Rob
     
    #10 Deacon, Aug 19, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 19, 2009
  11. windcatcher

    windcatcher New Member

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    True, that was then and this is now......
    But most of the deaths from flu are not the direct result of having the flu but having the flu weaken our system and compromise our breathing and mobility and then getting an opportunistic infection following the flu, like pneumonia, which can kill. But we have antibiotics for bacterial infections which may follow the flu today. They didn't have antibiotics in 1918.

    We look back and not having lived then.... think that life must have been quite primitive by todays standards.. Indeed it was.... there was less hygiene. But mobility in the population was increased with WWI and that futhered the spread of the flu throughout the world. In some parts of the world there was food rationing. The Communist revolution was taking its hold in Russia. Tubuculosis was rampant..... as were some other diseases. Little was understood about a viral infection whose cause couldn't be seen in a microscope. 25% of Americans became infected with the flu and estimates are by the end of the pandemic..... 650,000 had died due to the flu and its sequellae.





    Yes, I intend to use avoidance in an outbreak whereever possible, but I don't intend to isolate in fear.

    The virus can mutate faster than new vaccines can be tried and updated.... so i really don't see the point in stressing my immune system with a vaccine which is likely too obsolete to confer immunity by the time a current mutated version shows up in my community.

    But, my choice might be different if living in a densely populated area.
     
  12. Matt Black

    Matt Black Well-Known Member
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    The main problem with the second wave of Spanish flu (autumn and winter 1918) was the cytokine storm phenomenon where the body's immune system basically turns against it, which accounted for the high proportion of fatalities among healthy fit young adults. There is a possibility that the present H1N1 virus may do this, particularly if it mutates...in which case antibiotics, which aren't really effective against viruses at the best of times (they only treat secondary bacterial infections), could be positively deadly...
     
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