By now, we have all heard of the H1N1 flu, commonly known as the "swine flu." In April and May of 2009, thanks to the uncertainty of the H1N1 flu and the near hysteria fueled by the media, we were all ready for a pandemic of historic proportion. But in the time since then, things have calmed a bit. The H1N1 flu has been found to be less severe than initially predicted, so many other big news stories took the spotlight off H1N1 during the summer of 2009. But the big question is a H1N1 flu vaccine; when is it coming? This feature looks at what we know about the H1N1 vaccine.
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Here’s what we do know about H1N1. It is a direct decedent of the same virus that caused the pandemic of 1918 which infected half the world’s population and killed 50 million people.
Like the virus of 1918 the H1N1 virus appeared in the spring, a really off season for a flu virus to show up. In 1918 the virus showed up in a really mild version then backed off during the summer and hit in the fall with a vengeance.
Like the virus of 1918 the H1N1 virus seemingly came out of nowhere. Meaning that it, nor any previous versions of the virus, had been present in the most recent flu seasons so the community had no version of immunity when the virus hit.
Media hype? I used this term in a blog I did early this spring. I was, frankly, a little disgusted with the way the media was blowing the virus out of proportion. While other reporters sought to cover the outbreak from any possible angle I put my foot down. I crossed my arms and refused to write anything about the swine flu.
That is until my husband, an RN in the ICU started coming home with stories of patients infected with H1N1. At one time the unit was completely full of swine flu patients, many on the brink of death, and their stories were mostly the same: in their 20’s otherwise healthy except for asthma or obesity or pregnancy (other ICU’s in the country reported a similar patient population).
Some of my more recent articles show a little more respect for the virus.
When the vaccine comes out I will get it. There has been a lot of rumor regarding the vaccine because of an isolated H1N1 outbreak in 1976. I look at it this way: I’ve been getting the seasonal flu vaccine for probably the last ten years. This vaccine will be subjected to all the same trials and tests as the seasonal flu vaccine so in my eyes it should be as safe.
Kristin Hayes
ent.about.com
h1 n1?
I have bought Tamiflu here and I am pleased. Delivery all over the world!
pharmtablet.com