H1N1 vaccine tests on kids begin

[beast]

H1N1 vaccine tests on kids begin

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

[beast]

This isn't good. Why are people so afraid of getting sick that they are willing to expose their bodies to chemicals that could prove to be much more detrimental to their health.  Didn't they learn anything from the past swine flu panic in the 70's? :cow:

[beast]

Half of GPs refuse swine flu vaccine over testing fears

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 8:42 AM on 25th August 2009


Of the GPs surveyed, almost a third said they would not have the swine flu vaccine because they did not think it had been through sufficient safety trials

Of the GPs surveyed, almost a third thought the swine flu vaccine had not been tested enough

Up to half of family doctors do not want to be vaccinated against swine flu.

GPs will be first in the line for the jabs when they become available but many will decline, even though they will be offering the vaccine to their patients.

More than two thirds of those who will turn the jab down believe it has not been tested enough. Most also believe the flu has turned out to be so mild in the vast majority of cases that the vaccine is not needed.

Last night Government experts criticised GPs who decide not to have the jab, saying they will put vulnerable patients needlessly at risk.

A week ago, a poll of nurses showed that a third would turn down the opportunity of being vaccinated against swine flu.

News that medics are unconvinced by the need for a vaccine will cause grave concern to patients who will be invited for the jab over the next few months.

A poll of doctors for Pulse magazine found that 49 per cent would reject the vaccine with 9 per cent undecided.

A separate survey for GP magazine found that 29 per cent would definitely opt out of having the jab, while a further 29 per cent were unsure. Just 41 per cent said they would definitely have the jab.

Of those who said they did not want to jab, 71 per cent said it was because of safety concerns.

Richard Hoey, editor of Pulse, said: 'The medical profession has yet to be convinced by the Government's whole approach to swine flu, with most GPs now feeling that the Department of Health overreacted in its policy on blanket use of Tamiflu.

'Inevitably, that has coloured feelings about the planned immunisation campaign.

'The view among many doctors is that the Government hasn't yet made its case for why such a huge vaccination programme needs to be rushed in for what seems to be an unusually mild illness.'

But Professor David Salisbury, the Department of Health's director of immunisation, told GP magazine that frontline health workers had a duty to themselves regarding vaccination.

'They have a duty to their patients not to infect their patients and they have a duty to their families,' he said.

The Pulse survey questioned 15 doctors, while GP spoke to 216.

The poll raised further questions over the Government's planned mass vaccination programme. The jab, currently being processed, will be fast tracked and will not be fully tested before it is administered to patients.

There are also concerns the jab can spark cases of Guillain Barre Syndrome, which can lead to paralysis and even death.

A mass swine flu vaccination programme in the U.S. in 1976 caused far more deaths than the disease it was designed to combat, and the Health Protection Agency watchdog has asked doctors to look out for cases of GBS when the vaccinations begin.

Earlier this month, Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson announced that the jab will be given to people in high-risk groups, such as those with asthma or diabetes, as well as health workers such as GPs and nurses.

Some 14million people will be covered by the first wave of the vaccination programme, with everyone else following over the next few months.

The BMA is still negotiating with doctors over how they should be paid to give out the jabs. The union is demanding £7 for every injection.

A spokesman for the BMA said: 'The new vaccine has been thoroughly tested and we believe it should provide good protection against swine flu.

'It is important that doctors are among the first to be offered the vaccine as it will not only protect them but the patients they care for.

However, doctors like all individuals have the right to decide whether they are vaccinated or not.'

Read more:
Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1208716/Half-GPs-refuse-swine-flu-vaccine-testing-fears.html#ixzz0PMFe34J0