By Peggy O'Farrell
pofarrell@enquirer.com
Researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center began administering an experimental H1N1 flu vaccine to children and teens Wednesday as part of a national effort to fast-track testing of the vaccine.
And even though scientists are just beginning to test the vaccine on children, nervous parents are already demanding to know when their children can get the shots, local pediatricians say.
“There’s absolutely a sense of panic out there for some patients,” said Jeff Drasnin, a pediatrician with practices in Hyde Park and Milford.
Cincinnati Children’s is one of eight hospitals participating in a national study to determine if the vaccines are safe and effective. Cincinnati Children’s is only testing vaccines made by Sanofi Pasteur, whose U.S. headquarters is in Swiftwater, Pa.
The trial, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, is moving at an unprecedented pace, said David Bernstein, director of infectious diseases at Cincinnati Children’s.
“We’re not doing this trial differently than other vaccines,” he said. “We’re not cutting corners. We’re just doing it faster. All hands have turned to this project.”
Normally, Bernstein’s clinical trials group, which includes about 20 doctors, nurses and other staff, sees about 10 patients a day who are participating in various vaccine tests.
With the H1N1 trials under way, they’re seeing about 30 patients a day, he said. Work on other vaccines is continuing, but at a slower pace.
No adverse effects have been logged among adults who have taken the experimental H1N1 vaccine, he said.
Patricia Evers of Hamilton brought her four teen-aged children in Wednesday for the vaccine trial.
“I’m so worried about this swine flu, and I just think the vaccine would be a very good thing for them to have,” Evers said.
Her children – Donald, 17, Carl, 16, Jacob, 15 and Jenna, 14 – said they’re not worried about the vaccine’s safety. “What we hear about it is it’s supposed to be a breakthrough for it,” Jacob said.
Cody Jaques, 17, of Huber Heights also got the vaccine Wednesday. He said he doesn’t know much about H1N1, “but I know it’s kind of deadly.”
His parents got the vaccine during the adult portion of the clinical trials.
Federal health officials expect the first batch of H1N1 vaccine to be available in mid-October, with more doses available after that. There should be enough vaccine for everyone by the end of November.
The first thing parents ask about the vaccine is, “Is it safe?” said Chris Cunha, a Crestview Hills pediatrician.
The next question: When and where can my child get it.
Those aren’t questions doctors can answer with much certainty right now. The federal government has already pre-purchased all of the vaccine, and it will determine how the vaccine will be distributed.
“I’m telling parents to watch the news,” Drasnin said. “You’ll know when it’s been approved.”
H1N1 has already made an appearance on local college campuses. Earlier this week, Miami University, Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati all reported cases of the new flu virus among their students.
His mother, Tammy Jaques, said she's not concerned about the vaccine's safety.
"Cody gets a flu shot every year anyway, and I know there's going to be a short supply this year for the swine flu, so it seemed like a good idea to make sure he got it early," she said.
Federal health officials are fast-tracking testing of the new vaccine at an unprecedented pace, said David Bernstein, director of infectious diseases at Cincinnati Children's. With children and college students heading back to class, public health officials worry the new flu strain will begin spreading rapidly.
The University of Cincinnati, Xavier University and Miami University have all reported H1N1 cases on campus this week.
Concerns the new strain could infect up to half of the U.S. population mean there's a big push to get a safe vaccine on the market as quickly as possible, he said.
"Unfortunately, we have to proceed as if this strain could come into our community at any time," Bernstein said. "We are increasingly concerned with the schools coming back, because the children are all there together. If this virus takes a kid in a school and begins to spread, it really moves up our timetable."
Source: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090826/NEWS01/308260052/H1N1+vaccines+tested 
