Betsy McCaughey
Opinion
By Betsy McCaughey
Published April 9, 2024, 6:34 p.m. ET
Researchers wearing protective suits collect samples of wildlife, where the H5N1 bird flu virus was detected, at Chilean Antarctic Territory, Antarctica. via REUTERS
The H5N1 virus which for 30 years affected mostly birds is rapidly evolving and spreading globally.
The Biden administration is dangerously unready.
Over the last two years, H5N1 has jumped from birds to mammals, sickening some 30 species.
South American scientists publishing in the prestigious journal Nature report massive sea lion die-offs and warn about mutations of concern potentially evolving into the next global pandemic.
Here in the United States, dairy cows, never before vulnerable to bird flu, are infected in six states.
Is the public in danger?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the risk is lowbut is advising states to be ready with rapid tests.
In the United States,only two human cases have been reported. Neither person died.
But nearly 1,000 people in other parts of the world have contracted the virus almost always from touching a sick or dead bird or bird feces. Half died.
Some food-safety experts caution against eating runny egg yolks, cheeses made with raw milk and foods made with uncooked eggs.
There are too many unknowns to predict whether H5N1 will kill people here.
It seems unlikely, but better to be prepared.
Heres what needs to change:
Like H5N1, COVID-19 was full of unknowns.
The federal governments biggest mistake was to aim for an illusion of consensus rather than welcoming debate.
The feds silenced anyone, including scientists, who disagreed.
The result was a long string of deadly mistakes, from shuttering businesses to mandatory masking to school closures.
Stanford health professor Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and former Harvard medical professor Martin Kulldorff coauthored the Great Barrington Declaration in October 2020 showing that protecting the elderly and vulnerable, rather than shutting down the entire nation, would save more lives.
Within hours, federal bigwigs Francis Collins and Anthony Fauci launched a smear campaign to label Bhattacharya and his fellow signers fringe epidemiologists.
Worse, the CDC and Department of Homeland Security conspired with major social-media platforms such as YouTube and Twitter (now X) to keep the public from hearing from the governments critics.
Censored scientists sued. The case, Murthy v. Missouri, is before the US Supreme Court.
The Biden administration is taking the wrong side, claiming censorship protects the nation from disinformation.
Thats a sign the administration cant be trusted to tell us the truth during the next health scare.
When COVID-19 struck, the United States was caught short of masks, respirators and other hospital gear.
One-third of Americas imported medical supplies for COVID came from China.
In early 2020, the Chinese Communist Party nationalized medical supplies, cutting off exports.
US shortages continue even now.
On Nov. 27, 2023, Biden called for assessments of the nations domestic production capacity.
Sorry, too late for more reports.
Time to act.
During COVID-19, state Legislatures like sheep ceded their authority to governors, allowing them to shutter schools, churches, businesses and recreational facilities.
Fortunately, some states eventually came to their senses, including New York, and undid those grants of authority or time-limited them.
Biden and the left-wing media were highly critical of these states a sure sign more states need to curb emergency health powers before the next health crisis.
Not even four months ago, when public-health authorities were already tracking H5N1s arrival in the United States, the National Institutes of Health awarded funding for a project Virus Hunters tasking New York City high schoolers with collecting bird feces from public parks to map the spread of avian influenza.
Students will wear face masks and gloves and collect the bird poop with cotton swabs.
What could go wrong?
Students could contract the virus by touching bird excrement and then their own eyes, nose or mouth, cautions Brown University infectious-disease expert Leonard Mermel.
Trust this government with your life?
Ridiculous.
To prepare for a pandemic, start by curbing governments power over your decisions.
Betsy McCaughey is a former lieutenant governor of New York and chairman of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths.
Twitter: @Betsy_McCaughey
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Last week, a Texas dairy farm worker who had exposure to dairy cattle was confirmed to have tested positive for a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza also referred to as A(H5N1). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this is the second-ever instance of H5N1 reported in the United States, although it is the first contracted from cattle. The previous case, which was reported in 2022, was of a Colorado inmate at a state correctional facility who was infected after processing infected birds while he was participating in a work program at a poultry farm.
The Texas patient suffered only mild symptoms eye redness consistent with conjunctivitis and is being treated with antiviral medication while in isolation. This infection does not change the H5N1 bird flu human health risk assessment for the U.S. general public, which the CDC considers to be low. However, people with close or prolonged, unprotected exposures to infected birds or other animals (including livestock), or to environments contaminated by infected birds or other animals, are at greater risk of infection.
Avian influenza has officially been confirmed in the states of Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, and Texas. And goats in Minnesota have also tested positive.
And while there is no indication of person-to-person spread or that anyone has contracted the diseases by way of milk, meat, or eggs theres an understandable concern among U.S. citizens about how to stay safe. Heres everything you need to know about the current avian influenza outbreak.
Bird flu is caused by an influenza virus that affects birds both wild and domestic. The viruses are categorized as avian influenza A viruses and there are two main types, according to the CDC: Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
The former, which is more common, causes either no signs of disease or mild disease in chickens/poultry (such as ruffled feathers and a drop in egg production). But it can potentially mutate into highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses, given the right conditions. In contrast, the latter, is responsible for severe diseases and high mortality in poultry.
Its uncommon for avian influenza to infect humans, but it happens. Illness in humans from bird flu virus infections have ranged in severity from no symptoms or mild illness to severe disease that resulted in death, per the CDC.
Humans contract the disease when the virus is inhaled or gets into a persons eyes, nose, or mouth. Human infections with bird flu viruses have occurred most often after unprotected contact with infected birds or surfaces contaminated with bird flu viruses, the CDC says. This can happen when virus is in the air (in droplets or possibly dust) and a person breathes it in, or possibly when a person touches something that has virus on it then touches their mouth, eyes or nose.
Symptoms include upper respiratory issues (such as cough, sore throat, or a stuffy nose), pneumonia, eye redness, headaches, fever, fatigue, muscle pain, diarrhea, nausea, seizures, vomiting, and shortness of breath. If you experience any of the above in relation to potential H5N1 exposure, call your primary care physician in addition to your state or local health agency. You should be treated with antiviral medication.
The majority of avian influenza cases in humans are typically contracted through birds, and human-to-human transmission is incredibly rare. But it has happened in the past and is not unheard of. So its important to take precautions if you think youve been exposed.
The Food and Drug Administration recently stated that it does not currently have concerns about pasteurized milk and cheese, given that the pasteurization process destroys pathogens through the heating of milk. Beyond that, milk from infected cows has either been diverted or destroyed so you can feel safe in the assurance that none of the milk on supermarket shelves is contaminated.
As for raw or unpasteurized milk, there are still a lot of unknowns regarding transmission, but Because of the limited information available about the possible transmission of HPAI A (H5N1) viruses in raw milk, the FDA recommends that industry does not manufacture or sell raw milk or raw milk cheese products made with milk from cows showing symptoms of illness, including those infected with avian influenza viruses or exposed to those infected with avian influenza viruses.
Cal-Maine Foods, the largest supplier of eggs in the United States, had chickens that tested positive for H5N1. Does that mean that we should all be worrying? No but its best to be cautious. Infected hens will likely lay contaminated eggs, and because most eggs sold in cartons arent pasteurized, its important to cook your omelets all the way through in accordance with U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service time-temperature guidelines. Dough and other food items that may contain raw eggs should be avoided at this time. It should also be noted that there are strict industry controls in place that aim to prevent infected eggs from making their way to the U.S. market.
In terms of meat, the USDA remains confident that the meat supply is safe. Just make sure to use standard precautionary measures when handling raw products: Wash your hands frequently, dont leave cooked food at room temperature for longer than two hours, and use a food thermometer.
Avian influenza typically affects wild birds such as ducks, geese, chicken, and turkeys. Commercial poultry are also vulnerable. But its important to note that not only wild or barnyard animals are susceptible. Backyard flocks, as well as pet birds that may come in contact with infected wildfowl, could contract the disease. As for cats and dogs, they could get bird flu if they consume or are around sick animals.
If your domestic animals go outside and could potentially eat or be exposed to sick or dead birds infected with bird flu viruses, or an environment contaminated with bird flu virus, they could become infected with bird flu, the CDC said in a statement. While its unlikely that you would get sick with bird flu through direct contact with your infected pet, it is possible. For example, in 2016, the spread of bird flu from a cat to a person was reported in NYC.
tianyu wu / Getty Images
Pet birds, like any other pet you may have, should be moved indoors and kept away from potential exposure to wild birds or rodents. If your pet bird shows symptoms of avian flu such as diarrhea, reduced egg count, lack of coordination, or nasal discharge you should monitor your own health and watch out for signs of infection. And if you find a dead bird elsewhere, get in touch with your state wildlife agency, state veterinary diagnostic lab, or state health department. As for backyard flocks, the American Veterinary Medical Association has these guidelines, which are simple enough to follow.
Pharma giant Pfizer said on Tuesday that it plans to seek regulatory approval to expand the allowed use of its RSV vaccine, Abrysvo, for adults 18-59, following positive results from a last-stage clinical trial. There is currently no approved vaccine for adults under 59 years old who have an increased risk for the respiratory virus.
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We are excited to address a significant unmet need, pending regulatory authority approval, as ABRYSVO has the potential to become the first and only RSV vaccine for adults 18 years and older, Pfizer Senior Vice President and Head of Vaccine Research and Development Annaliesa Anderson said in a press release.
RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common cause of respiratory illness among young infants and older adults. In the U.S., RSV is responsible for 60,000-160,000 hospitalizations and 6,000-13,000 deaths among older adults each year, according to Pfizer.
The pharmaceutical company launched its RSV vaccine last year, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved for adults older than 60 and pregnant woman as a way to protect their infants. The FDA also last year approved AstraZenecas RSV vax for infants.
In this new study, Pfizer tested its vaccine on 681 individuals between 18 and 59 years old who have chronic conditions that make them vulnerable to RSV. About 10% of that demographic lives with such a condition.
The trial found that the vaccine resulted in a similar immune response to its previous phase 3 trial of the drug for older adults. One month after taking the vaccine, participants developed at least four times increase in levels of neutralizing antibodies for the two primary types of RSV.
The news comes as Pfizer is trying to catch up with U.K.-based GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Its RSV vaccine for adults was approved by the FDA in May. The company is already undergoing priority review with the FDA to expand the approved use of its jab for adults 50-59 years old. The agency is expected to make a decision by June 7.
GSKs vaccine, Arexvy, generated 1.2 billion pounds ($1.6 billion) in revenue for the company in 2023.
For comparison, Pfizers Abrysvo generated $515 million in revenue in 2023.
Adding a personalized anti-tumor vaccine to standard immunotherapy is safe and about twice as likely to shrink cancer as standard immunotherapy alone for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer, according to a clinical trial led by researchers at theJohns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Centerand its Convergence Institute.
The study will be published April 7 in Nature Medicine, with findings also presented at 1:30 p.m. PT at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Fewer than one in 10 patients survive five years post-diagnosis. Existing immune therapies such as PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors, aimed at releasing restraints cancer cells place on the immune system, have limited effects.
A preliminary clinical trial led by Kimmel Cancer Center investigators shows that adding a personalized anti-tumor vaccine to PD-1 inhibitor therapy may improve patient outcomes. The study enrolled 36 patients with HCC. All patients received the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab in combination with a personalized anti-tumor vaccine. The most common adverse effect associated with the vaccine was mild injection site reactions. There were no serious adverse events. Nearly one-third of the patients treated with the combination therapy saw their tumors shrink-;about twice as many patients as seen in studies of anti-PD-1 therapy alone in HCC. About 8% had a complete response with no evidence of tumor left after the combination treatment.
The study provides evidence that a personalized cancer vaccine can enhance clinical responses to anti-PD-1 therapy. A larger randomized clinical trial will be needed to confirm this finding, but the results are incredibly exciting."
MarkYarchoan, M.D., lead author,associate professor of oncology at theJohns Hopkins University School ofMedicine
Decades of experience and research with cancer vaccines from study co-author Elizabeth Jaffee, M.D., deputy director of the Kimmel Cancer Center and the Dana and Albert "Cubby" Broccoli Professor of Oncology, and other visionary Johns Hopkins scientists have made the successful trial possible. Jaffee and her colleagues saw the potential of cancer vaccines early on and worked to overcome challenges to their development.
"We are at an exciting time in new therapy development. Personalized vaccines are the next generation of vaccines that are showing promise in treating difficult cancers when given with immune checkpoint therapy. Our Cancer Convergence Institute provided technology and computational tools to make the analyses possible," says Jaffee, who is also director of the Convergence Institute.
To make personalized cancer vaccines, scientists take tumor biopsy cells to identify cancer-associated genetic mutations in the tumor. The scientists use a computer algorithm to determine which of the mutated genes produce proteins the immune system can recognize. Then, scientists manufacture a personalized vaccine containing the DNA for the selected mutated genes. Each vaccine may include up to 40 genes. The vaccine helps the immune system recognize the abnormal proteins encoded in the selected genes and destroy cells producing them.
Combining the personalized vaccine with the PD-1 inhibitor provides a one-two punch to the tumor. The PD-1 inhibitor helps revive immune cells, called T-cells, in the tumor that have become exhausted and unable to destroy the tumor cells. The personalized vaccine calls in the cavalry, helping recruit a fresh set of T-cells that target the specific mutant proteins in the tumor.
When the research team evaluated tumor biopsy samples taken from the study participants after they received the vaccine, they found evidence that T-cells were created in response to the vaccine that travelled to the tumor and attacked tumor cells. They also found that patients who received vaccines targeting the greatest number of mutant proteins had the best responses. This finding may help scientists create even more effective personalized cancer vaccines.
Recent studies have demonstrated that personalized cancer treatments may prevent recurrence in patients who had surgery to remove skin or pancreas cancer tumors. The new study adds to our understanding, suggesting that personalized cancer vaccines may also help shrink or eliminate established tumors, and is therefore an approach that could be helpful across many types of cancers beyond liver cancer.
"The role of personalized cancer vaccines is expanding," Yarchoan says.
Additional study co-authors were Daniel H. Shu, Elana J. Fertig and Luciane T. Kagohara of Johns Hopkins. Other researchers contributing to the work were from the New Zealand Liver Transplant Unit at the University of Auckland in New Zealand; the Tisch Cancer Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York; Personalis Inc. in Fremont, California; Confluence Stat in Cooper City, Florida; University of Central Florida College of Medicine in Orlando; and the Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center at The Wistar Institute and Geneos Therapeutics in Philadelphia where the vaccine platform was developed.
The trial was sponsored by Geneos Therapeutics.
Source:
Journal reference:
Yarchoan, M., et al. (2024). Personalized neoantigen vaccine and pembrolizumab in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a phase 1/2 trial.Nature Medicine. doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-02894-y.
Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide
Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and its Convergence Institute have revealed promising results of a personalised vaccine for liver cancer in a clinical trial.
Results from the study were published in Nature Medicine and were recently presented at the American Association for Cancer Researchs annual meeting.
Recognised as the most common type of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths globally, with fewer than one in ten patients surviving five years after diagnosis.
Researchers took tumour biopsy cells from 36 HCC patients to identify cancer-associated genetic mutations in the tumour to manufacture a personalised vaccine containing DNA for selected mutated genes.
Involving 36 patients living with HCC, investigators added a personalised anti-tumour vaccine to Merck & Cos known as MSD outside the US and Canada PD-1 inhibitor therapy, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), a standard immunotherapy.
The personalised vaccine works by helping the immune system recognise abnormal proteins in the selected genes and destroy the cells producing them.
Sponsored by Geneos Therapeutics, results from the preliminary clinical trial demonstrated that nearly one-third of patients treated with the combination therapy saw their tumours shrink significantly, around twice as much as HCC patients receiving anti-PD-1 therapy alone in separate studies.
In addition, around 8% of patients had a complete response, with no evidence of tumour left after the combination treatment and no serious adverse events reported.
By combining the personalised vaccine with the PD-1 inhibitor, the immune cells known as T-cells are revived in the tumour to target the specific mutant proteins in the tumour.
Mark Yarchoan, associate professor, oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said: The role of personalised cancer vaccines is expanding and this study provides evidence that a personalised cancer vaccine can enhance clinical responses to anti-PD-1 therapy.
A larger randomised clinical trial will be needed to confirm this finding, but the results are incredibly exciting, added Yarchoan.
Pearl River's Pfizer is looking to expand its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine approval for Americans as young as 18.
The drug, Abryso, was approved for those over the age of 60 last year.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say RSV is a common virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious. Infants and older adults are more likely to develop severe RSV and need hospitalization.
Pfizer says a clinical trial showed people between the ages of 18 to 59 had an immune response similar to the trial results for older adults. The company says the vaccine was also well-tolerated and safe.
The results of the clinical trial have not been peer-reviewed or published in a medical journal yet, but Pfizer says it is planning to submit the data to the Food and Drug Administration.
TUESDAY, April 9, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- The novel viral-based personalized cancer vaccine, TG4050, which encodes up to 30 patient- and tumor-specific sequences is feasible and safe for patients with resected head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, held from April 5 to 10 in San Diego.
Ana I. Lalanne, Ph.D., from the Institut Curie in Paris, and colleagues randomly assigned eligible patients with completely resected stage III or IV human papillomavirus-negative squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx to receive TG4050 immediately (arm A; 17 patients) or upon relapse (arm B; 16 patients) after completion of standard-of-care adjuvant radio-chemotherapy.
The researchers found that TG4050 adverse events were mild to moderate, and most of them were injection site reactions. No relapse occurred in arm A, and three patients relapsed in arm B after 6.2, 8.8, and 18.5 months, after a median follow-up of 16.2 months. T-cell responses were de novo or amplification of preexisting responses (82 and 18 percent, respectively). There was a median of six vaccine responses observed. An effector memory phenotype was indicated in cytometric characterization of vaccine-specific T-cells. In five patients, T-cell receptor sequencing of blood T-cells evidenced expansion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte clonotypes. In the blood of two patients, the most expanded vaccine-specific CD8 T-cells represented oligoclonal expansions expressing an effector phenotype.
"Our findings indicate that TG4050 is safe and promotes an immune response against several neoantigens in most patients," coauthor Olivier Lantz, M.D., Ph.D., also from the Institute Curie, said in a statement.
Several authors disclosed ties to pharmaceutical companies, including Transgene, which sponsored the study and jointly funded it with NEC.
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Diakonos Oncology reports that an interim analysis of a Phase I open label trial of its dendritic cell vaccine (DOC1021) showed substantially increased survival of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients beyond the expected median overall survival (mOS) of 12.7 months for patients receiving the standard of care (SOC). The median overall survival for the trial of newly diagnosed GBM has not yet been reached with 12-month survival among evaluable patients currently is 88 percent.
The analysis was presented in a poster at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting in San Diego. Twelve of 16 patients with newly diagnosed GBM remain alive with no serious adverse events attributable to DOC1021. As a result, DOC1021 has received Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations from the FDA.
These very encouraging results support our confidence in the potential for our dendritic cell vaccines to significantly improve the lives of patients with the most deadly cancers, said Mike Wicks, Diakonos CEO. DOC1021 is a first-of-its kind dendritic cell vaccine that represents an entirely new strategy for engaging a complete immune response against a patients cancer.
Findings from the ongoing analysis also reveal that with an average 12.9 months of follow up among the 16 newly diagnosed GBM patients enrolled in the study, median overall survival has yet to be reached. The company expects to begin Phase II trials of DOC1021 for GBM patients within the next year and is conducting two other clinical development programs in pancreatic cancer and angiosarcoma.
Both newly diagnosed and recurrent GBM patients were enrolled in the Phase I study and received DOC1021 across four dose levels following SOC treatment. The first GBM patient enrolled in October 2021 survived more than two years. Each of the next four patients enrolled survived more than 15 months, and two remain alive at 20.3 months and 17.5 months, despite receiving less than 25 percent of the projected therapeutic dose.
In addition, Diakonos trial has been commended for its inclusive trial design, according to company officials. Fifty-six percent of patients enrolled likely would have been excluded from other GBM clinical trials due to issues such as progression prior to treatment, subtotal resection status, or advanced age.
Despite their challenging prognosis, notes Wicks, these patients saw a statistically significant improvement in expected overall survival of 7.7 months for similar patients. The trial did exclude patients with IDH mutation status as such patients are no longer classified as GBM.
Diakonos dendritic cell vaccines are made with a patients own immune cells combined with RNA and proteins prepared from a sample of their tumor. This approach allows targeting of the complete cancer antigen profile without any genetic modification.
I often had to call out-of-hours doctors, and in 2015 while on my honeymoon in the United States, I ended up paying $600 to see a doctor who prescribed me antibiotics. The combination of being a newlywed, being in and out of the pool, and drinking alcohol had left me doubled over with cramps and nausea. Ive had to do the same (call out of hours doctors) on more recent holidays with our son, who is five, when Ive had another bout. Its a big expense and it stops you enjoying your holiday when you just want to be playing in the pool with your family, and having a few drinks, but its hard when youre worried about it leading to another UTI. I started to become so stressed over holidays I simply preferred not to go away at all.
Over the years Ive learnt through trial and error what helps me. Meditation and breathing exercises have really helped, mostly because they help regulate the nervous system and reduce stress, she says. For that I also take Bach Remedies [a natural flower remedy which claims to calm nerves and reduce anxiety]. Diet-wise, anything acidic isnt great for me, so I tend to avoid things like tomatoes, coffee and alcohol, especially white wine. Ive tried aloe vera supplements, which helps, and drinking cranberry juice, which helps a little, but drinking plenty of water is the main thing. Peeing before and after sex also helps prevent a recurrence, as does showering after sex.
Davina says her UTIs have finally calmed down now shes in her 40s, which she says could be due to hormonal changes. However, if youre having regular UTIs then this new vaccine could potentially help so many people. For a long time I felt like my pain and suffering were just being dismissed as just one of those things women have to put up with.
A UTI is a bacterial infection caused by bacteria entering the urinary tract.
Symptoms include a burning pain when you urinate, an urgent and frequent need to urinate, feeling like you need to even when your bladder is empty, pain in the lower abdomen and back, a general feeling of being unwell and fatigue; and in older people a UTI can cause a dementia-like condition called delirium.
UTIs can lead to cramps and nausea and can also carry a small risk of sepsis. Both men and women can get UTIs, although women are overwhelmingly affected (getting UTIs up to 30 times more than men) and they get them more often, largely because a womans urethra, which is the tube that goes from the bladder to where urine comes out of the body, is shorter than a mans so bacteria is more likely to enter it.
Antibiotics are often used to treat UTIs, but they can become less effective over time because the bacteria can become resistant to them.
If you are living with someone vulnerable, you should consider vaccination, as this will prevent you from spreading the flu, and so protects your loved ones."
LIFESTYLE NEWS - With influenza season fast approaching, stock of this years flu vaccine is currently available in South Africa.
There are different forms of flu caused by various virus strains, and each year the influenza virus mutates. A new vaccine is developed and needed every year for us to remain protected, says Dr Cathelijn Zeijlemaker, a family physician and medical director of Netcares Primary Care division.
Worldwide, between three and four million people fall seriously ill with influenza each year, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Healths National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) recognise vaccination as the most effective way to prevent flu.
Most at risk are those with a chronic condition, the elderly, pregnant women, and small children.
If you are living with someone vulnerable, you should consider vaccination, as this will prevent you from spreading the flu, and so protects your loved ones. This is also why every year Netcare encourages their healthcare personnel to receive the influenza vaccination.
Each year in September, the WHOs technical consultants advise which strains of the influenza virus should be included in the next years flu vaccine for the Southern Hemisphere to ensure that the protection provided is up to date.
The influenza vaccine does not cover all the common colds that one is exposed to during the winter season. Though the symptoms are similar, these are milder and shorter in duration.
Symptoms of influenza commonly include body aches, fever, nasal congestion, tiredness and coughing and stop you from continuing with your normal daily activities. Children tend to have the highest rates of seasonal flu infection, which can lead to wider transmission within communities.
Although most people start to feel better after a few days of rest, influenza can cause severe prolonged illness and complications. It is therefore very important to seek medical advice if you are not getting better, start to feel worse or experience chest pains or shortness of breath, she says.
To beat the seasonal flu, it is worthwhile having your annual influenza vaccine early, as it takes approximately two weeks for your body to develop full protection. Although the peak flu season usually coincides with the colder weather in winter, it is unpredictable when a flu outbreak will occur, she says.
Dr Zeijlemaker points out that it is not uncommon for the influenza vaccine to give mild side effects, like redness, mild swelling, and pain over the injection site, or a mild fever, mild rash, headache, or body aches. These begin soon after vaccination and are usually mild and short-lived. As with other medications, there is always a small chance of a severe allergic reaction.
Make sure you tell your doctor about your recent medical history before your vaccination, or if you are feeling unwell, as you may be advised to postpone the vaccination, she says.
Those who should consider vaccination include
In addition to having the flu shot, tips to help prevent the spread of flu include:
Prevention is always preferable to a bout of seasonal flu, and the doctors practising at Netcare Medicross facilities countrywide are here to take care of your familys every primary healthcare need all year round, Dr Zeijlemaker says.
Contact your local Netcare Medicross Medical and Dental Centre to book your familys influenza vaccinations or visit https://www.netcare.co.za/ to make an appointment with a general practitioner.
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