Posts Tagged ‘vaccination’

Everyone is on flu alert this season due to the H1N1 scare. Despite efforts in early vaccine deployment and increased production, public demand is still not being met, especially among patients who belong to small private clinics that have not been allocated shipments of the vaccine. As I found out this weekend, it is very difficult to find even one pharmacy or clinic that has the vaccine in stock. One tool I did find helpful is a Flu.gov widget that displays sites in your area which carry the vaccine and whether it is available. Although I found the information on availability to be very inaccurate, it does compile for you a comprehensive list of locations which should guide you in your search. Try it out here:

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Believe it or not, we’re still only in the middle of flu season. With the H1N1 flu hitting early, this may be a flu season that just seems to go on forever. Since arriving in the US in April the H1N1 flu has killed nearly 10,000 Americans, including 1,100 children and 7,500 younger adults, and infected one in six people (between April and November 14 there had been nearly 50 million cases). The good news is vaccine availability is on the rise. In fact, 12 million more doses will be available this week and a large part of that should be now available to the general public. Getting the H1N1 vaccine is the best way to protect oneself from H1N1 infection. Unlike the seasonal flu vaccine, which protects from what we think will be the most prevalent strains of the current season, we know exactly what we’re dealing with in regards to the H1N1 strain, so the vaccination is formulated to target it specifically. Getting the vaccination also protects those around you since it decreases the number of people who can catch H1N1 and go on to spread it, a concept called herd immunity. [via MedlinePlus]

Go to the Guide To H1N1 Flu.

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Last month researchers from the US Army and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases announced the successful trial of a new HIV vaccine. However, because the study was based on very few cases, skeptics argued whether the vaccine had any effect after all. Fast forward to this week’s AIDS Vaccine 2009 meeting in Paris where researchers reviewed more data from the trial and found the claims in which the vaccine reduced HIV infection rates by 31% were sound. Additionally, it appears that the vaccine actually was even more effective during the first year of immunization, reducing infection rates by as high as 60%. “It looked like there’s an early effect that wanes with time,” said Seth Berkley, chief executive of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. “It may be that the vaccine generates only weak antibodies against HIV, and these are only effective early on.” Although this vaccine isn’t ready for public use, the knowledge we gained from this research will certainly help in the production of new and improved HIV vaccines. [NEJM via New Scientist]

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According to the World Health Organization the number of reported cases of H1N1 influenza has increased by at least 24,000 in just the past two weeks. And with the new H1N1 vaccine just recently being distributed to the public the CDC is reaffirming the current vaccination guidelines. The groups most at risk, and therefore should be vaccinated are:

Please note that the  H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine. The seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines may be administered on the same day.  [via CDC]

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Historically, pregnant women have been one of the groups least likely to get the flu vaccine for a variety of reasons. Not surprisingly, their reluctance to take any medication during pregnancy is one of the reasons for the low vaccination rates. Additionally, the majority of obstetricians do not routinely vaccinate their patients due to costs involved and that it’s not part of routine obstetrician training. Therefore, the CDC and American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology are urging obstetricians to partner with hospitals or drugstores to guarantee their patients a place to get the flu shot. A vaccine is a two-for-one deal during pregnancy. It can protect both mom and baby because the flu-fighting antibodies made by mom will cross the placenta to the fetus and can help protect the baby during its first few months of life. This is why health officials are working on increasing the number of vaccinated pregnant women this year, especially since pregnant women make up 6% of H1N1-confirmed deaths even though they account for only 1% of the population. [via NBC News]

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This is going to be a busy flu season, especially considering that there will be two different flu vaccines available – one for the seasonal flu and the other for H1N1 (swine) flu. There are different recommendations for both vaccines, but only the seasonal flu vaccine is currently available. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends any adult who wants to reduce their risk of becoming ill with influenza to get the vaccine. However, if you are on the fence about the decision here is an up-to-date list from the CDC of high risk groups that should not think twice about getting the vaccine:

• persons aged 50 years and older;
• women who will be pregnant during the influenza season;
• persons who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, cognitive, neurologic/neuromuscular, hematological or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);
• persons who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus;
• residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities;
• health-care personnel;
• household contacts and caregivers of children aged <5 years and adults aged 50 years and older, with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children aged <6 months; and
• household contacts and caregivers of persons with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe complications from influenza.

*If you have concerns about thimerosal or other vaccine preservatives, this year’s flu vaccine only comes in two flavors – latex-containing and latex-free. Neither contains thimerosal.

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Does the idea of a doctor’s office without vaccines sound almost absurd? Well, that may be the reality for some practices that can no longer afford to stock vaccinations due to their high costs. It’s a case of simple economics. For example, the chicken pox vaccine costs about $115, but insurers will only cover between $68 to $83 of that. Add to that the cost of staff to administer the vaccine and you’ve got a negative return. The cost of vaccines set by pharmaceutical companies is another issue. As much as physicians have an obligation to help others, at some point it just doesn’t make sense. It’s unclear exactly how widespread vaccine cutbacks are, but in a recent survey, as high as 5% of pediatricians and 11% of physicians indicated that they’re seriously considering no longer offering immunizations. [via CNN.com]

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I’ve had quite a number of patients come in lately for general check-ups because they will soon be losing their job-sponsored health insurance coverage. I commend them for coming in. After all, late is sometimes better than never. Therefore, for today’s post I’d like to share some tips on things you should consider when your coverage is about to end.

1. Get an annual physical exam, including a skin check for possible skin cancers. It could get pricey should you need a biopsy and subsequent treatment.

2. Get your routine tests done. Those over 50 years of age should get a colonoscopy every 10 years. Women over 40 should have an annual mammogram. Women should also get annual pap smears.

3. Know your numbers: check your blood pressure, cholesterol, basic chemistries, urine analysis.

4. If you’re a smoker, speak to your doctor about ways to help you quit. Quitting smoking greatly reduces your risk of cancers and cardiovascular disease.

5. Ask your doctor about your risk for osteoporosis. In general all women over the age of 65 should get a DEXA bone densitometry scan at least once.

6. Speak to your doctor about weight loss. Keeping your weight under control can reduce your risk of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, and high cholesterol, among a multitude of other diseases.

7. Get a flu shot and update your vaccinations. For adults these may include hepatitis A and B, herpes zoster (shingles), Tdap, chickenpox. If you are aged 65 or older you should have a pneumovax vaccination as well.

8. Refill your medications. Depending on the medicine, it may be possible for your physician to give you more refills. Similarly, if you are diabetic make sure your doctor gives you plenty of refills for glucose testing supplies.

*There are always exceptions to the rules. These are only general guidelines. Speak to your doctor to find out what is appropriate for you.

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Flu season is here again, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is reminding pregnant women to get their annual flu vaccine because pregnant women have higher rates of illness and death from the flu. If you’ve previously had severe reactions to flu vaccines, an allergy to eggs (flu vaccines are made from chicken eggs), developed Guillan-Barre Syndrome within 6 weeks of receiving the flu vaccine, or currently have a fever, you should speak to a physician prior to receiving the vaccine. What’s your perspective on vaccinations? Share your opinion. Read more.

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Flu season is fast approaching. Each year from October through February, and even later, millions of Americans will catch an influenza virus. The CDC advises anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu to get the vaccine, and for the first time this year, children aged 5 to 18 years should also get flu shots. This is why almost 146 million doses of the vaccine are expected to be available this season. Influenza can cause fever, chills, muscle and joint aches, in addition to cold symptoms. Full story, Discuss this story.

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