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H1N1 Flu Vaccine Latest in Canada « Thread Started on Oct 21, 2009, 12:26pm »
H1N1 Flu Vaccine Latest in Canada
*Note: If you end up in hospital, emergency, ambulance, long term care facility (visiting etc.) or even just at your doctor's office this winter, they may insist you be given the vaccine if you haven't had it already. If you encounter that situation, ask for or take (if you have it on hand) extra meds (Benadryl especially) before and after the shot. Tell them they have to monitor you closely and stay there for at least 30 minutes following the vaccine administration.
21/10/2009 12:43:19 PM CTV.ca News Staff Health Canada has approved the H1N1 vaccine, meaning the first Canadians to take part in Canada's largest-ever immunization campaign could get their shots as early as the end of the week.
"I am happy to say that today Health Canada has authorized the H1N1 flu virus vaccine," Health Minister Leon Aqlukkaq announced to reporters Wednesday.
"This means the adjuvanted vaccine has been judged safe and effective for use in Canada by the manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, as well as by Health Canada regulators," she said.
"...I encourage all Canadians to get vaccinated, since there is simply no better way of fighting the H1N1 virus."
Two million doses of the vaccine have already been shipped to the provinces and territories, but health officials had been waiting for regulatory approval before they were able to give the go-ahead.
The government now aims to ship around 3 million doses a week to the provinces.
Aglukkaq reiterated that all Canadians can access the vaccine, since the federal government has ordered 50.4 million doses.
Another 1.8 million doses of the vaccine without an adjuvant, a compound that boosts immune system response, are also on the way. But the timing of when that will be available remains unclear; the unadjuvanted vaccine is being manufactured, packaged and shipped separately.
Canadian clinical trials of the vaccine are still underway, and the results won't be available until next year. So federal health authorities have relied on data from clinical trials done on the same vaccine in Europe. Those trials have found the vaccine safe.
The adjuvant used in Canada's swine flu vaccine, AS03, has also been tested in about 45,000 people around the world using a "mock" H5N1 vaccine. No significant safety concerns were detected, Health Canada reports. Canada has never approved a flu vaccine containing an adjuvant before.
The Canadian clinical trials are expected to add to the safety and effectiveness data, by focusing on the vaccine's effects in select population groups, such as First Nations, people who are HIV-positive, children and pregnant women.
Because some reactions from vaccines are so rare they arise in only one in a million cases, the final picture of the vaccine's safety won't be clear until after the immunization program is underway, Health Canada has acknowledged.
Dr. David Butler-Jones, Canada's chief public health officer, says that while pregnant women are encouraged to receive the vaccine without the adjuvant, the risks of the adjuvanted vaccine to pregnant women and their babies are only theoretical, whereas the risk of swine flu to pregnant women are real.
"The risks to pregnant women from contracting H1N1 are much, much higher than any theoretical risk posed by adjuvanted vaccine," he said earlier this week.
About 4,700 people worldwide have died of H1N1 to date, including 83 deaths in Canada. Another 300 or so Canadians have required care in intensive care in hospital.
The Public Health Agency of Canada says everyone aged six months and older should get the vaccine, but those who will benefit most, and those who care for them, include:
* People under 65 with chronic health conditions * Pregnant women * Children aged six months to less than five years * People in remote and isolated communities * Health care workers involved in the delivery of essential health care services * Household contacts and care providers of persons at high risk who cannot be immunized
The vaccine will be distributed by the provinces and available through flu clinics offered by local health units, which will decide on costs, if any, to patients.
Adults will need one dose, but children under the age of 10 will need two, just as they do with seasonal flu shots. The vaccine is not intended for infants younger than six months.
OTTAWA — The long-awaited H1N1 vaccine, Canada's principal defence against a "second wave" of swine-flu, was poised to deploy across the country Wednesday after winning the approval of the federal government.
That approval clears the way for the province-by-province administration of the vaccine. Here's the schedule for those provinces that have announced their vaccination plans:
In New Brunswick, public health officials expect to start administering swine flu vaccine Thursday, with health-care workers, First Nations people and school-age children first on the list. The province has received more than 83,000 of 600,000 doses ordered.
In Nova Scotia, where 1.4 million doses of the vaccine are on order, needles start going into arms next week, with the priority on high-risk groups like people under the age of 65 with chronic conditions, health-care workers and children six months to less than five years of age.
Pregnant women are also a high-priority group across Canada, but many doctors recommend they wait a few more weeks for a version of the vaccine that has no adjuvants or compounds to boost the immune system's response.
Groups that are at high risk for seasonal flu can receive both the seasonal and swine flu vaccines at the same time. Shots given together will be administered to opposite arms.
In Prince Edward Island, doses of the vaccine will be available starting next week. Aboriginals, health-care workers, people with chronic conditions under 65 and children six months old up to the age of school entry are among those considered a priority. Mass public clinics are scheduled to begin Nov. 16.
Mass immunization clinics in Newfoundland and Labrador will start offering the vaccine as early as Monday.
Ontario already has 722,000 doses of vaccine, which will be offered starting Monday to certain groups that are more vulnerable to contracting swine flu: adults under the age of 65 with chronic conditions, health-care workers, caregivers for high-risk groups, people living in remote and isolated communities, pregnant women and healthy children six months to five years of age.
Because of an increasing number of cases in Ontario, pregnant women who either have underlying conditions such as asthma or diabetes, or are past the 20th week of their pregnancy, should get vaccine as soon as possible, said Dr. Arlene King, Ontario's chief medical officer of health.
The Manitoba government says as of Monday, clinics will be set up in targeted areas offering free vaccinations to those first on the priority list: preschoolers, aboriginals, people with chronic medical conditions and others who are deemed most vulnerable.
The province will also fly in teams of health professionals to remote northern reserves that were hit hard by the flu's first wave last spring. Dozens of people from the Island Lake region were hospitalized, even though the area has just 10,000 residents.
In Quebec, where an elderly woman was the province's first casualty of the so-called second wave, vaccination is set to get underway on Monday. The province is spending $115 million to administer a total of 11.5 million doses, and distribution has already begun.
Alberta is expecting to have 400,000 doses on hand by Monday, and will begin its inoculation program then, health officials said. The province is urging those in the high-risk groups to seek the shot as soon as possible, but won't be screening recipients.
British Columbia gets underway "early next week" for women who are over 20 weeks pregnant, people under 65 who have chronic health conditions, and members of the First Nations. The province currently has 230,000 doses of vaccine on hand.
The program will expand to children and infants and health-care providers in the second week, while everyone else can get in line the following week.
delina Between 0 and 50 Posts! (I'm new to posting) member is offline
Joined: Sept 2009 Gender: Female Posts: 28
Re: H1N1 Flu Vaccine Latest in Canada « Reply #2 on Oct 22, 2009, 5:38pm »
Hey Carrie, I have heard that anyone allergic to eggs needs to avoid the shot, do you think this applies to masto patients as Emma can tolerate eggs from time to time, just depends...you know. Thanks, Delina
Re: H1N1 Flu Vaccine Latest in Canada « Reply #3 on Oct 22, 2009, 6:02pm »
Hi Delina,
I have the same egg sensitivity. I've had the flu shot in the past and I was fine. This particular vaccine, the H1N1, may not have egg in it, but other components may be troublesome.
Best idea is to give extra medication before and after the shot and stay there for 15-30 minutes to ensure all is okay.
delina Between 0 and 50 Posts! (I'm new to posting) member is offline
Joined: Sept 2009 Gender: Female Posts: 28
Re: H1N1 Flu Vaccine Latest in Canada « Reply #4 on Oct 23, 2009, 7:25am »
Hey Carrie, It is CBC news that is reporting not to get this flu shot if you have an allergy to eggs as it contains egg!! I think it's like playing with fire either way don't get the shot yikes....do get the shot yikes.....at least if you get the shot and have a reaction that can be dealt with don't get the shot and you don't know if your one of the ones who's immune system can't take it, it's already here in Manitoba [another reason to move here]. Other than the egg component CBC reported it contains oil I think CBC said they have a list of ingredients on their website which of course I can't remember right now. Anyhooooo, it's going to be a longer than usual winter. Take care, Delina
Re: H1N1 Flu Vaccine Latest in Canada « Reply #5 on Oct 23, 2009, 7:30am »
Hi All,
I do what Carrie said (take extra meds, wait a while after the shot before leaving) but also continue taking medication for the period allergic reactions have occurred. Some vaccines it's a few days and other vaccines it could be 20 days or longer. Also, several vaccines have two allergic periods...immediately after getting the shot and a second one 3-5 days later. I tend to get a reaction (usually rash and itch) three to five days later and tend to have my BP fluctuate a bit for several days but both are helped with benadryl.
Re: H1N1 Flu Vaccine Latest in Canada « Reply #7 on Nov 4, 2009, 1:12pm »
Help avoid the flu - H1N1 or regular flu. These tips match what Canadian nurses shared with me a few weeks ago so I'm posting it in hopes it helps someone.
The following advice, given by Dr. Oz, makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know:
The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.
While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).
2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat or bathe.)
3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine or Hydrogen Peroxide if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water, or hydrogen peroxide. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose softly once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*
5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
Re: H1N1 Flu Vaccine Latest in Canada « Reply #10 on Nov 14, 2009, 12:54pm »
Hi Hem,
We've heard from several members who got the H1N1 vaccine. Ages ranged from 4 years old to 60+. All reported they were fine with no complications. They all took extra meds before leaving to get the shot and had Benadryl and Epi Pen on hand in case of reaction afterwards.
Arm will be sore, but that is standard for everyone getting this vaccine.
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