Seasonal Flu Vaccination May Be Delayed or Cancelled

Some parts of Canada may delay or even scrap this year's seasonal flu vaccination programs due to issues surrounding H1N1 swine flu. While only days ago health authorities were urging citizens to get both the seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines, recent developments may result in changes to recommendations and plans to distribute vaccines.

H1N1 is This Year's Seasonal Flu

A spokesperson for the Quebec Health Department spoke about the various possibilities for vaccination programs earlier this week. According to a September 22 Gazette article, worldwide health experts looking at influenza trends are seeing one predonimant virus circulating this fall, and it is H1N1. ("Quebec might scrap seasonal flu shots") Quebec and other Canadian provinces are looking into possible options that include either delaying vaccinations or shortening the period during which the seasonal flu vaccine will be offered- or possibly scrapping seasonal flu vaccination this year altogther.

Some experts, like Mount Sinai Hospital's chief nicrobiologist Dr, Donald Low, feel delaying seasonal flu vaccination makes sense logistically, as it frees up resources to ensure that more people can receive prompt vaccination against H1N1. ("Unpublished studies question whether seasonal flu shot raises swine flu risk")

Possible Risk Associated with Seasonal Flu Vaccination

An as yet unpublished study showed that people who received last year's seasonal flu vaccine were more at risk for getting H1N1, says the Canadian media. The study has been submitted to a peer reviewed journal but the review process is incomplete at this time. While many scientists were reluctant to talk about the findings of the study, information was leaked to the press. Scientists asked for comments were quick to point out similar patterns have not been reported in the US, UK or Australia - often a red flag for some sort of flaw in the study. however Dr. Low does state that simi;ar effects have been observed in other communicable diseases such as dengue fever. ("Unpublished studies question whether seasonal flu shot raises swine flu risk")

It would be costly and time consuming to mount the kind of controlled study that would provide more solid confirmation, says Dr. Danuta Skowronski of the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, one of the authors of the study. In the meantime the Public Health Agency of Canada is reaching out for information to help it decide on the best course of action for public vaccination this year. The concern is that, while focusing on H1N1 now seems to be a logical course of action, other strains of the seasonal flu may become active after the Christmas season. Cancelling seasonal flu vaccines would, of course, have an impact on the immunity of the population.

Which Vaccine Do I Need?

Canadian health officials are still debating what course is the best one to take. Meanwhile in the United States, the CDC is still recommending people receive both vaccines as soon as they become available.

Those who live in an area where both vaccines are available should consult with their health care provider before you come to a decision about which vaccines to take, amd which family members should be vaccinated. Remember to inform your doctor about the type of work you do, and the people in your entourage. You may be at an elevated risk for complications from flu because of your age or health concerns, or because you are pregnant. You may also be advised to take vaccination as soon as possible because you are taking care of a person at risk who cannot be vaccinated, like an infant under six months old. School children are at elevated risk for contracting influenza because they spend a significant amount of their time in close quarters with large groups of people. Attendance at a daycare or university can similarly represent an elevated risk for contracting flu.

If you are in an area where there is some debate over which vaccine to offer and when, it is not likely you will have much choice in the matter. Decisions about vaccine availability will be made at the governmental level, probably the provincial or even federal level in Canada. Discussing options with your care provider is still a good idea, however, because there may be a small amount of vaccine available for individuals even if the seasonal flu vaccine is not being offered through a larger public health program. People over the age of 65, for example, are being advised to take the seasonal flu vaccine regardless of whether they need the H1N1 vaccine.

The bottom line is, ask your health provider and don't be afraid to get into a thorough discussion. A discussion that consists merely of Should I...? and a yes or no answer, is probably not going far enough. Be sure to write down all relevant information and questions before you leave home, so you won't forget anything when you are at your appointment.

Source:

"Quebec might scrap seasonal flu shots" Charlie Fieldman (The Gazette)

"Seasonal flu shot may increase H1N1 risk" CBC News

"Unpublished studies question whether seasonal flu shot raises swine flu risk" Helen Branswell (Canadian Press)