Covid-19 vaccinations against the Omicron variant will be available to vulnerable sections of population from Monday.
The vaccine will protect against three strains of the Omicron variant, BA.4, BA.5 and BA.2.
It will be administered with the roll out of the free flu vaccine to those aged over 65 and those aged 12 and over with weak immune systems.
Both flu and Covid-19 will be available at participating GPs and pharmacies and can be administered at the same time.
There are fears that a so-called twindemic of seasonal flu and Covid-19 will overwhelm the health service this winter with 500 people on trollies.
A draft plan by the HSE has warned staff that hospitals could see up to 20,000 patients this winter as the traditional flu season will be marked by an upsurge in cases of Covid-19.
HSE specialist in public health medicine Dr Aparna Keegan said it is very important that all those invited for both vaccines should take them.
From October 17th the childrens flu nasal spray vaccine will also be available free for all children aged 2 to 17 years from GPs and pharmacies.
For children aged 5 to 11 who have not had their primary Covid-19 vaccination, and for those with a weak immune system and due a booster dose, appointments are available at HSE vaccination centres by making an appointment on hse.ie.
Fifteen vaccination centres across the country will continue to provide Covid-19 primary vaccines and 2nd and 3rd booster does this winter.
The most up-to-date Covid-19 figures show the levels of Covid-19 in the community remains low. There were 1,648 cases in the seven days to September 26th, an average of 235 a day.
Responding to questions from Members of Parliament about safeguards to prevent overdosing or underdosing of COVID-19 vaccines, Dr Puthucheary said all providers under the National Vaccination Programme are licensed and regulated by the MOH.
Additional regulations stipulating eligibility criteria, dilution and administration of the recommended dosage for each vaccine have been issued specifically for COVID-19 vaccination.
Vaccination providers are expected to assess their staff competencies in COVID-19 vaccination administration, he added.
Dr Puthucheary said that in the event of any vaccine administration errors and medical emergencies following vaccination, vaccination providers are required to report to MOH no later than three hours after the incident.
Providers also need to inform patients immediately when a vaccination error has occurred, and monitor their health with daily calls for the next seven days to ensure their well-being.
In the event of an error, MOH will investigate and if there are any systemic issues, it will work with providers to review and improve their work processes, Dr Puthucheary added.
He said MOH was currently investigating ProHealth Medical Group about the incident and will take appropriate enforcement actions if there are any regulatory breaches.
"The vast majority of the clinics and vaccine providers do a great job of ensuring that the patients are cared for safely, the vaccines are provided safely with the correct dosage," said Dr Puthucheary.
"We have to identify, first of all, whether this is an issue with individual member personnel, whether it's something about the processes at the site or whether it is something systemic about the overall vaccination process.
"All our data, so far, suggests that the last is not likely, and the vast majority of our doses have been delivered quite safely. Nevertheless MOH continues to review all of this."
NEWS RELEASESIMCOE MUSKOKA DISTRICT HEALTH UNIT************************The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is continuing to offer one-day pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics at locations throughout Simcoe Muskoka, with upcoming clinics taking place from Oct 3 to Oct. 11. Walk-ins forindividuals aged 5 years and older will be available, including the bivalent booster dose for people 18 years of age and older,as capacity allowsas follows:
Wednesday, Oct. 5
Thursday, Oct. 6
Friday, Oct. 7
Tuesday, Oct. 11
GO-VAXX busand mobile clinics continue to operate on an appointment only basis. Appointments for the GO-VAXX clinics may also be booked up to four days prior to the clinic through theCOVID-19 vaccination portalor by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at1-833-943-3900.
The health unit continues to offer COVID-19 vaccinations on an appointment only basis to individuals aged six months and older at theGeorgian Mall, 509 Bayfield St. (upper level) in Barrie:
Appointments are also available at the health unit office immunization clinic locations in Midland, Orillia, Cookstown, Collingwood, Huntsville and Gravenhurst and can be booked through theCOVID-19 vaccination portalor by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at1-833-943-3900.
In addition, the RVH COVID-19 Immunization Clinic at 29 Sperling Dr. in Barrie continues to offer bookedappointmentsand walk-ins from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Appointments may also be booked with theCouchiching Ontario Health Team Clinic located in the Orillia Soldier's Memorial Hospital Kiwanis Building - West Entrance 170 Colborne St., W.
Individuals six months of age and older may also receive the vaccine at somelocal pharmaciesor booked appointments through some primary care providers, and Family Health Teams who are offering the vaccine as part of their regular clinical practice. Pop-up and GO-VAXX mobile clinics will continue to be scheduled throughout Simcoe and Muskoka.
Individuals are recommended to receive the bivalent booster six months after their last dose of COVID-19 vaccine or COVID-19 infection, however people who want to receive their booster earlier can do so at a minimum of three months. As we approach the fall respiratory season,high-risk populationsare recommended to receive their bivalent booster as soon as they are eligible (i.e. the minimum three-month interval) to protect themselves as people spend more time indoors.
Staying up to date with all COVID-19 vaccine doses you are currently eligible for remains the best defense against infection, severe illness, long term COVID-19 symptoms, hospitalization and death.
For more information about COVID-19 vaccination, dose eligibility and booking an appointment, please visitwww.smdhu.org/GetVaccinated.
************************
A doctor who spread false rumours about vaccines causing stillbirths at a Vancouver-area hospital and made other misleading claims about COVID-19 while standing in front of effigies portrayingB.C. politiciansbeing hanged will face a disciplinary hearing with his regulatory college.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. posted a notice onThursday announcing that a citation has been issued alleging misconduct by family physician Dr. Daniel Nagase.
Nagase, who has resigned his licence to practise in B.C., is accused of violating professional standards by "making public addresses regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and related issues that included his making misleading, incorrect, or inflammatory statements about vaccinations, treatmentsand measures for COVID-19," the public notice says.
That includes falsely stating, in public, that the vaccines are dangerous, publicly suggesting that the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin is a safe and effective treatment for the virus, and "making at least some of these public statements while appearing in front of effigies of political figures who were [hanged] from nooses."
The latterincident was caught on camera on Dec. 9, 2021, when Nagase spoke outside the B.C. Legislature while dummies labelled as Premier John Horgan, Health Minister Adrian Dix and Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth were raised behind him, with ropes tied around their necks.
During that speech, he falsely claimed that COVID-19 vaccines are "the most dangerous injection in the history of vaccination."
Dr. Charles Hoffe of Lytton, B.C., also spoke at the event, and is set to face his own disciplinary hearing with the college.
Just a couple of weeks before that speech, Nagase was filmed participating in an anti-vaccine protest outside the North Vancouver RCMP detachment.
He was shown repeating disinformation suggesting there were more than a dozen stillbirths in 24 hours at Lions Gate Hospital among mothers who hadreceived the COVID-19 vaccine.
That lie spread so widely that hospital operator Vancouver Coastal Health was forced to issue a statement making it clear that there was no truth to the rumours.
The health authority also clarified that Nagase has no connection to Lions Gate, and no hospital privileges anywhere in the region.
Nagase's claims about COVID-19 previously attracted attention in Alberta, where he has spent recent years working in rural hospitals.
Last fall, Alberta Health Services issued a warning about Nagase's public claims of using ivermectin to cure COVID-19 in elderly patients, stating that neither the veterinary nor human versions of the drug have been proven safe or effective treatments for the virus.
Nagase's medical licence has been cancelled in Alberta for non-renewal and non-payment of fees, and there's a notice next to his name in the College of Physicians of Alberta registry saying he's forbidden from writing mask or vaccine exemption letters, prescribing ivermectin or from treating any COVID-19 patients.
Nagase is the third doctor that the B.C. college has publicly acknowledged investigating for spreading misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines. Though disciplinary hearings have been announced for both Nagase and Hoffe,dates have yet to be scheduled for those proceedings.
Dr. Stephen Malthouse of Denman Island remains under investigation, but the college announced in March that it was suspending his licence to protect the public while that process is underway.
Funding of $11.1 million for two UBC projects that will improve pathogen response and boost the impact of B.C. biotechnology on the global stage
VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 3, 2022 /CNW/ - Pacific Economic Development Canada
British Columbians continue to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, whether at home, at work, or in their community. Throughout the pandemic, science has provided the greatest defense, particularly through mRNA vaccines. These vaccines trigger the body's immune response to help protect against infection and severe illness.
Today, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister for International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan), announced over $11.1 million in funding through PacifiCan for the University of British Columbia (UBC) to undertake two new projects to enhance the delivery and efficacy of mRNA vaccines.
The first of these two complementary projects is receiving $3.5 million in PacifiCan support. It aims to optimize how mRNA vaccines are administered on a cellular level, improving uptake into the body. This will reduce potential side-effects of mRNA vaccines, improve their efficacy and allow for a smaller vaccine dosage. Research conducted through this project will help to streamline the production of existing mRNA vaccines and inform the development of future medicines across the globe.
The second project, with $7.6 million in PacifiCan support, aims to identify and address new COVID-19 variants before they can spread. Through studying existing variants at the molecular level, researchers will use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to predict and develop mRNA vaccine treatments for potential future pathogens. This project will enable a nimble, home-grown response to emerging COVID-19 variants, helping to protect Canadians, and further solidify B.C. as a leader in the biotechnology sector.
Investing in the health and safety of all Canadians is a key priority for the Government of Canada. In British Columbia, PacifiCan is committed to advancing the research and commercialization of life-saving biotechnology, supporting the regional economy, and building pandemic resilience across the globe.
Quotes
"PacifiCan is committed to supporting British Columbia's life sciences sector andthese projects at the University of British Columbia reflect that commitment.Establishing a home-grown pipeline for mRNA vaccine researchwillnot only save lives, but create jobs for British Columbians and position Canada as a global leader in biotechnology innovation."
- The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
"With cutting-edge research led by some of the brightest minds globally, UBC continues to excel in biotechnology and life sciences research and innovation. With the generous support of the Government of Canada through PacifiCan announced today, our researchers will be able to help development treatments for new COVID-19 variants and improve the efficacy of mRNA vaccines and other therapeutics for a wide range of diseases."
- Santa J. Ono, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of British Columbia
"UBC has long been a major driver of the B.C. biotech sector, but those connections and their outputs really gained international attention during the pandemic. AbCellera, Acuitas, and Precision Nanosystems, among many others, are now major players in the treatment and prevention of diseases. This funding builds off many years of collaboration between UBC and local biotech companies and will enable us to continue developing and refining vaccines, drugs, and biologics."
- Dr. Leonard Foster, Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia
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Follow PacifiCanonTwitterandLinkedInToll-Free Number:1-888-338-9378TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired):1-877-303-3388
Backgrounder: Government of Canada announces funding for advancements in mRNA vaccine technology at the University of British Columbia
Today, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan), announced an investment of over $11.1 million through the Regional Innovation Ecosystem program for two projects at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
These projects will focus on advancing the delivery and efficacy of mRNA vaccine technology. The two project teams will work in tandem, meeting regularly and coordinating research to maximize the value and effectiveness of both projects.
Improve the delivery technology behind mRNA vaccines and other nanomedicines$3,500,000
The University of British Columbia will acquire key equipment and enhance lab resources to improve vaccine delivery technology. In partnership with leading B.C. biotechnology companies, UBC aims to accelerate the development of vaccine delivery techniques for commercial application on a global scale.
Through analyzing how mRNA vaccines interact with cells and create defenses against pathogens, researchers will work to optimize the administration of those vaccines. Key objectives in this research project include minimizing any potential side effects, reducing the necessary vaccine dosage, and optimizing the potency of mRNA vaccines, among others.
This work will advance the development of future mRNA vaccines and other medicines. Expected economic benefits of this project include the creation of 70 new jobs, the training of 80 new highly qualified biotechnology professionals, and revenue growth of at least $90 million for the B.C. biotechnology sector.
Grow B.C. biotech by advancing in-vitro and in-situ antiviral therapy for SARS-CoV2 variants$7,680,000
This project will see UBC acquire key equipment and enhance lab operations to advance antiviral therapy for COVID-19 variants. This will involve identifying, testing and developing responses to existing COVID-19 variants and establishing a vaccine development framework in B.C.
Working closely with B.C. biotechnology companies, UBC will study the COVID-19 Delta variant at a molecular level and use AI predictive models to create mRNA vaccine treatments for potential future variants. Through this process, UBC and its partners will develop a pipeline for rapid anti-viral drug development, enabling a local response to new and emerging COVID-19 variants for worldwide commercial application.
Overall, this will allow B.C. to provide international leadership in vaccine research and raise the visibility of B.C. biotech within the global community. Expected economic benefits of this project include creating at least 170 jobs at UBC and industry partners, training 75 highly qualified personnel and growing revenue by at least $70 million for the B.C. biotechnology sector.
SOURCE Pacific Economic Development Canada
For further information: Contacts: Haley Hodgson, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Economic Development, [emailprotected]; Amanda Costa, Senior Communications Advisor, Pacific Economic Development Canada, [emailprotected]
In a recent study published in Nature Chemical Biology, researchers investigated the use of aminoadamantane nitrate compounds as anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) drugs.
The United States Food & Drug Administration has approved memantine, an aminoadamantane drug, for the treatment of Alzheimers disease. Building upon their experience, researchers explored if they could target the SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) protein viroporin channel with a molecular warhead to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. ACE2 binds SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein which establishes the infection, and inhibiting this reaction could yield a novel drug action mechanism to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Aminoadamantane nitrates could act as chemical probes with dual mechanisms. While the aminoadamantane moiety could block the SARS-CoV-2 E protein viroporin channel, it could also target the delivery of nitric oxide (NO)-related group to S-nitrosylate to inhibit the S and ACE2 binding reaction.
Intriguingly, anecdotal reports suggest that aminoadamantane drugs offer some efficacy against SARS-CoV-2. NO-based therapies have also shown promise in human clinical trials for COVID-19 treatment. However, definitive data supporting these are lacking.
In the present study, researchers developed dual-mechanism aminoadamantane nitrate compounds for inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells by S-nitrosylating ACE2. Further, the researchers tested whether these compounds were non-toxic in vitro using HELA cells and in vivo using the Syrian hamster COVID-19 model.
They exposed HeLa cells stably expressing human ACE2 (HeLa-ACE2) to SNOC and assessed SNO-ACE2 formation by biotin switch assay. In other words, they studied the molecular mechanism whereby NO and its related species inhibit SARS-CoV-2 activity. Furthermore, they evaluated S and HeLa-ACE2 cell binding, for which they incubated the cells with purified recombinant SARS-CoV-S1 and S2.
The team tested the efficacy of memantine/NMT1, amantadine/NMT4, and other aminoadamantane nitrate compounds, NMT2, NMT3, and NMT5-NMT9 in a masked manner against live SARS-CoV-2 in HeLa-ACE2 cells to determine their therapeutic potential based on the selectivity index (SI). As positive controls, they used remdesivir, apilimod, and puromycin. SI compares a compounds half-maximal non-specific cytotoxicity (CC50) in the absence of infection to its half-maximal effective antiviral concentration (EC50).
To further investigate the effect of NMT5 on SARS-CoV-2 S-ACE2 binding, the team performed co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) experiments of these two proteins in the presence and absence of NMT5 using an anti-ACE2 antibody.
Human ACE2 contains eight cysteines (Cys) residues, of which Cys261 and Cys498 are present as free thiols. These two are likely available for S-nitrosylation via a reversible nucleophilic attack on nitroso nitrogen to form an SNO-protein adduct. Thus, the researchers also performed site-directed mutagenesis of these cysteine residues in ACE2 to validate the results of biotin switch assays. Furthermore, they performed mass spectrometry (MS) following exposure to SNOC to identify sites of S-nitrosylation.
The study findings evidenced that ACE2, the cellular receptor of SARS-CoV-2 S, could be S-nitrosylated by the NO donor and transnitrosylating agent S-nitrosocysteine (SNOC). This nitrosylation reaction appeared to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 entry, infectivity, and cytotoxicity. Site-directed mutagenesis confirmed that C261A/C498A mutation significantly inhibited SNOC-mediated S-nitrosylation on biotin switch assays, and MS confirmed the presence of S-nitrosylated ACE2 at Cys261 and Cys498.
Of the seven aminoadamantane nitrate compounds tested in the study, amantadine and memantine showed no efficacy against live SARS-CoV-2. NMT5 showed the highest protection against SARS-CoV-2, with an EC50 of 5.28 M and SI of 9.2. Moreover, this NMT5 concentration was within the micromolar amounts attainable in human tissues at well-tolerated doses, as observed in two animal species.
The five M of NMT5 diminished co-IP, indicating that it could inhibit the binding of S protein to ACE2 to a significant degree and that the intact Cys residue was essential for S-ACE2 binding. Either Cys mutation or S-nitrosylation could significantly decrease the interaction of S protein with ACE2.
The researchers developed a novel aminoadamantane nitrate compound, NMT5, as a chemical probe for inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 activity by protein S-nitrosylation. Its nitro group targeted ACE2 by blocking the E protein viroporin channel. These mechanistic insights would facilitate the development of aminoadamantane nitrate drugs for acute antiviral therapy for COVID-19.
Since NMT5 could prevent the SARS-CoV-2 S protein from binding to the ACE2 receptor by S-nitrosylating the receptor in a targeted fashion, it should be able to also inhibit new variants of the S protein from binding to ACE2 because ACE2 itself is blocked.
Moreover, aminoadamantane nitrates for COVID-19 drug therapy could complement other drug, vaccine, and antibody therapies that depend on S protein antigenic sites. Furthermore, the binding of NMT5 to the E viroporin channel may confer the ability to block the spread of SARS-CoV-2 from one host to another.
Doctors have a message forvaccine-weary Americans: Dont skip your flu shot this fall. Its important.
And for you seniors, ask for the special extra-strength kind.
Afterflu hit historically low levelsduring theCOVID-19 pandemic, it seems poised for a comeback. The main clue: A nasty flu season just ended in Australia, often a predictor of our season.
While theres no way to predict if the U.S. will be as hard-hit, last year we were going into flu season not knowing if flu was around or not. This year we know flu is back, said influenza specialist Richard Webby of St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis.
Annual flu shots are recommendedstarting with 6-month-old babies. Flu is most dangerous for people 65 and older, young children, pregnant women and people with certain health problems including heart and lung diseases.
Heres what to know:
Australia just experienced its worst flu season in five years, and what happens in Southern Hemisphere winters often foreshadows what Northern countries can expect, said Dr. Andrew Pekosz of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
And people have largely abandoned masking and distancing precautions that earlier in the pandemic also helped prevent the spread of other respiratory bugs like the flu.
This poses a risk especially to young children who may not have had much, if any, previous exposure to influenza viruses prior to this season, Pekosz added.
This year we will have a true influenza season like we saw before the pandemic, said Dr. Jason Newland, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Washington University in St. Louis.
He said childrens hospitals already are seeing an unusual early spike in other respiratory infections including RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, and worries flu likewise will strike earlier than usual like it did in Australia.
The CDC advises a flu vaccine by the end of October, but says they can be given any time during flu season. It takes about two weeks for protection to set in.
The U.S. expects 173 million to 183 million doses this year. And yes, you can get a flu shot and an updated COVID-19 booster at the same time one in each arm to lessen soreness.
As people get older, their immune system doesnt respond as strongly to standard flu vaccination. This year, people 65 or older are urged to get a special kind for extra protection.
There are three choices. Fluzone High-Dose and Flublok each contain higher doses of the main anti-flu ingredient. The other option is Fluad Adjuvanted, which has a regular dosage but contains a special ingredient that helps boost peoples immune response.
Seniors can ask what kind their doctor carries. But most flu vaccinations are given in pharmacies and some drugstore websites, such as CVS, automatically direct people to locations offering senior doses if their birth date shows they qualify.
Webby advised making sure older relatives and friends know about the senior shots, in case theyre not told when they seek vaccination.
They should at least ask, Do you have the shots that are better for me? Webby said. The bottom line is they do work better for this age group.
If a location is out of senior-targeted doses, its better to get a standard flu shot than to skip vaccination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
All flu vaccines in the U.S. including types for people younger than 65 are quadrivalent, meaning they guard against four different flu strains. Younger people have choices, too, including shots for those with egg allergies and a nasal spray version called FluMist.
The companies that make the two most widely used COVID-19 vaccines now are testing flu shots made with the same technology.
One reason: When influenza mutates, the recipes of so-called mRNA vaccines could be updated more quickly than todays flu shots, most of which are made by growing influenza virus in chicken eggs.
Pfizer and its partner BioNTech are recruiting 25,000 healthy U.S. adults to receive either its experimental influenza shot or a regular kind, to see how effective the new approach proves this flu season.
Rival Moderna tested its version in about 6,000 people in Australia, Argentina and other countries during the Southern Hemispheres flu season and is awaiting results.
Russ Daly| Special to the Farm Forum
The duck hunters were out in full force that Saturday morning.
The roadside caf in Webster seemed like a good breakfast stop on the way home after a raucous Friday spent with classmates at my high school reunion. The restaurant was filled with hunters rehashing stories on this morning of the duck opener. I was not intentionally eavesdropping, but the tables were close enough for me to hear tales of successes and challenges, duck species observed and the shot used in their shells.
One topic I didnt hear was that of avian influenza the bird flu. This wasnt really a surprise. Had the restaurant been filled with turkey growers instead of duck hunters, Im sure it would have come up.
Thats because, unfortunately, highly pathogenic avian influenza has reared up again this fall, as it did this spring. During that season, the disease has affected large commercial turkey farms as well as small backyard flocks, resulting in high death losses. By any account, its devastating to the affected producers. During the spring, almost 40 flocks totaling 1.7 million birds were infected with this virus.
It was much the same story back in the spring of 2015, with many flocks and millions of birds depopulated due to highly pathogenic avian influenza virus infections. But that year, problems were limited to the spring. As summer progressed, the number of new cases fell and the virus seemingly disappeared. In 2022, the story is unfortunately different. After a lull in cases this summer, newly infected bird populations have popped up this fall some in locations that were also hit in the spring.
The source of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus this fall is the same as the source of the infections last spring and how duck hunters intersect with the story. Wild migratory birds, especially waterfowl like ducks and geese, are the carriers of this virus. Virus fingerprinting tells us that the commercial flocks affected in South Dakota this spring were infected by virus strains carried by wild birds, not from farm-to-farm transmission.
While some sick or dying wild waterfowl have been documented, by and large these wild birds simply carry the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus from place to place without becoming sick themselves. How virus passes from waterfowl to domestic poultry, which are often housed in tightly closed barns, is not often clear. Since the virus remains alive in waterfowl droppings for a while, it could be blown or tracked into a barn. Direct contact between waterfowl and poultry might be possible in some cases, too.
The close association between the virus and waterfowl poses potential questions for hunters this fall. As of now, these concerns do not appear dire, but are worth considering nonetheless. After all, viruses, especially influenza viruses, are good at changing over time. Whats true about them now might not be in the future.
For one, waterfowl hunters should take steps to avoid carrying virus (which could come from handling normal-looking birds, or tracking through waterfowl habitats) to poultry they or their neighbors might have back home. Basic handwashing and proper management of boots and coveralls goes a long way.
Then there is the question of whether this avian virus could cause flu in people. Our department of health actually keeps tabs on this, contacting poultry workers who have been in contact with high concentrations of the virus to identify people who might become sick.
So far, these current bird strains seem to be adapted to birds only, with no crossovers to people in South Dakota yet. Its important to monitor though: in the spring, a poultry worker in another state was identified sick from the avian virus (they fully recovered). Internationally, past highly pathogenic avian influenza strains have sickened and killed people.
While wild waterfowl were suspected to play a role in past poultry influenza outbreaks, that connection is much more solid with this years outbreaks. If youre a hunter or someone spending time in the sloughs this fall, be aware that the avian influenza virus is likely present in the birds and their surroundings and take steps to make sure you dont track it somewhere its not wanted.
Russ Daly, DVM, is the Extension Veterinarian at South Dakota State University. He can be reached via e-mail at russell.daly@sdstate.edu or at 605-688-5171.
Doctors have a message forvaccine-weary Americans: Dont skip your flu shot this fall and seniors, ask for a special extra-strength kind.
Afterflu hit historically low levelsduring theCOVID-19 pandemic, it may be poised for a comeback. The main clue: A nasty flu season just ended in Australia.
While theres no way to predict if the U.S. will be as hard-hit, last year we were going into flu season not knowing if flu was around or not. This year we know flu is back, said influenza specialist Richard Webby of St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis.
Annual flu shots are recommendedstarting with 6-month-old babies. Flu is most dangerous for people 65 and older, young children, pregnant women and people with certain health problems including heart and lung diseases.
Heres what to know:
As people get older, their immune system doesnt respond as strongly to standard flu vaccination. This year, people 65 or older are urged to get a special kind for extra protection.
There are three choices. Fluzone High-Dose and Flublok each contain higher doses of the main anti-flu ingredient. The other option is Fluad Adjuvanted, which has a regular dosage but contains a special ingredient that helps boost peoples immune response.
Seniors can ask what kind their doctor carries. But most flu vaccinations are given in pharmacies and some drugstore websites, such as CVS, automatically direct people to locations offering senior doses if their birth date shows they qualify.
Webby advised making sure older relatives and friends know about the senior shots, in case theyre not told when they seek vaccination.
They should at least ask, Do you have the shots that are better for me? Webby said. The bottom line is they do work better for this age group.
If a location is out of senior-targeted doses, its better to get a standard flu shot than to skip vaccination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
All flu vaccines in the U.S. including types for people younger than 65 are quadrivalent, meaning they guard against four different flu strains. Younger people have choices, too, including shots for those with egg allergies and a nasal spray version called FluMist.
Australia just experienced its worst flu season in five years and what happens in Southern Hemisphere winters often foreshadows what Northern countries can expect, said Dr. Andrew Pekosz of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
And people have largely abandoned masking and distancing precautions that earlier in the pandemic also helped prevent the spread of other respiratory bugs like the flu.
This poses a risk especially to young children who may not have had much if any previous exposure to influenza viruses prior to this season, Pekosz added.
This year we will have a true influenza season like we saw before the pandemic, said Dr. Jason Newland, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Washington University in St. Louis.
He said childrens hospitals already are seeing an unusual early spike in other respiratory infections including RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, and worries flu likewise will strike earlier than usual like it did in Australia.
The CDC advises a flu vaccine by the end of October but says they can be given any time during flu season. It takes about two weeks for protection to set in.
The U.S. expects 173 million to 183 million doses this year. And yes, you can get a flu shot and an updated COVID-19 booster at the same time one in each arm to lessen soreness.
The companies that make the two most widely used COVID-19 vaccines now are testing flu shots made with the same technology. One reason: When influenza mutates, the recipes of so-called mRNA vaccines could be updated more quickly than todays flu shots, most of which are made by growing influenza virus in chicken eggs.
Pfizer and its partner BioNTech are recruiting 25,000 healthy U.S. adults to receive either its experimental influenza shot or a regular kind, to see how effective the new approach proves this flu season.
Rival Moderna tested its version in about 6,000 people in Australia, Argentina and other countries during the Southern Hemispheres flu season and is awaiting results.
Three Yale experts explain why getting vaccinated against influenza is important, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Jessica Kasamoto 11:14 pm, Sep 29, 2022
Contributing Reporter
Cate Roser, Illustrator
As part of the Yale Community Compact for the 2022-2023 school year, all Yale undergraduate, graduate and professional students are required to get their flu shot this fall.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention flu shots can not only prevent one from getting sick with the flu, but also reduce severity of illness and risk of hospitalization. They currently recommend flu shots for everyone 6 months and older, with exceptions for those with life-threatening allergies to any ingredient in the vaccine or those who have had a severe allergic reaction to flu shots in the past.
James Meek, an associate director of the Yale Emerging Infections Program, explained in an email to the News that flu shots work by preparing our immune system for exposure to the virus.
The influenza vaccine causes the immune system to create antibodies [that] about two weeks after vaccination, will protect against influenza illness, Meek wrote. Essentially, our immune system is being primed by the vaccine to recognize the proteins on the outside of the influenza virus as foreign and something that needs to be eliminated.
Meek continues to explain that there are two primary types of influenza, type A and type B, as well as different strains within these two types. The flu vaccine needs to be modified every year based on which strains are predicted to be dominant.
To do this, global surveillance data from the previous flu season is used by the World Health Organization and the US Food and Drug Administration to make a decision as to whether last years flu shot must be modified to be effective against next years strain. This year, the vaccines are quadrivalent, meaning that they offer protection against two strains of influenza A and two strains of influenza B.
According to Paul Genecin, the chief executive officer of Yale Health and an associate clinical professor of medicine, the efficacy of the flu shot will vary depending on how accurate predictions were about the dominant circulating flu strain. However, Genecin emphasized that fear of inaccurate predictions should not discourage people from getting their shot.
When there are mismatches between the circulating flu strains and the antigens in the vaccine, the vaccine has decreased efficacy in preventing infection, but the vaccines nevertheless protect against severe illness, Genecin wrote. Even in years with significant mismatch of antigens, the benefits of reducing severity, hospitalization and death are significant. The possibility of vaccine mismatch is never a reason to avoid vaccination.
According to Meek, flu shots are especially important this year. Since less COVID-19 mitigation measures are currently being implemented, chances of influenza exposure have increased drastically from the past two years, and natural immunity to influenza in the population has likely decreased as well.
Douglas Shenson, an associate professor at the Yale School of Medicine and an associate clinical professor at the Yale School of Public Health, explained another little known benefit of the flu shot that it may also be indirectly beneficial if a patient is infected with COVID-19 at some point.
COVID and influenza virus, while dissimilar in their characteristics, represent a two-fold threat to the respiratory system of those who are not fully vaccinated, Shenson wrote. That is, infection with one of these viruses may make the other more injurious. It is therefore important to get vaccinated against both viruses, thereby protecting oneself and others. There is already evidence that very sick COVID-infected patients on mechanical ventilators do significantly better if they have previously been vaccinated against influenza.
Meek, Genecin and Shenson all emphasized that influenza leads to hundreds of thousands infections annually, which can place a burden on healthcare systems. Therefore, getting the flu shot has been crucial to mitigating the strain on hospitals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
With so much respiratory illness due to COVID-19 and other pathogens going around, we need to do everything possible to minimize the complexity of diagnostic workups and overload in our healthcare facilities including hospitals, Genecin wrote. Remember that influenza is a major contributor to overcrowded hospitals a serious concern as the COVID pandemic continues to drive hospital and ICU admissions.
Genecin said that those in the northern hemisphere should aim to be vaccinated in September or October, although those who are contemplating getting the vaccine later in the winter should not hesitate to get it then.
Shenson reassured anyone that is hesitant to get a flu shot that there is substantial proof that the benefits outweigh the risks.
Getting a flu shot should give you peace of mind, Shenson wrote. The vaccination is provided to a great many people and so we know it is safe. On the other hand, we have equally strong evidence the disease it protects against can be dangerous. The best move is to get vaccinated.
Yale Health is currently offering free flu shots on an appointment basis for all Yale Health members, Yale students and Yale employees. Students can schedule their appointments through the Yale Flu Shot Finder.
Flu shots received through Yale Health will automatically be uploaded to ones Yale Health records; students who receive their shot through an outside clinic must record their vaccine date and provider through Yales external flu attestation form.
