Flu Vaccine Misses Flu Strains....Again! - Have they EVER got the correct strain? maybe 2x?

February 22, 2008

NVIC Vaccine E-Newsletter

February 18, 2008

Flu Vaccine Misses Flu Strains....Again

by Barbara Loe Fisher

Every year, officials at the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) look into a crystal ball and try to figure out which strains of Type A and Type B influenza will be prevalent in the U.S.. Sometimes they guess right and sometimes they guess wrong. This year, they guessed wrong as more than half of the influenza virus strains circulating in the U.S. right now are Type A and B strains that are not covered in this year's influenza vaccine. http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0 850501820080208? feedType=RSS & feedName=domesticNews & sp=true In a typical flu season, only 20 percent of all flu-like illness is actually influenza. In 2003-2004 a mini-epidemic of a more severe type of influzenza caused by the A/Fujian strain occurred around the world, including the U.S. In spring of 2003, federal health agencies and the pharmaceutical industry knew the genetically mutated type A flu was emerging out of Asia and causing significant complications, including death, but chose not to include it in the 2003/2004 flu vaccine formula after the WHO voted to stay with strains that had been included in the previous year's formulation (A/Panama, A/Caledonia and B/Hong Kong). Without informing the public that the flu vaccine did not contain the strain of flu causing severe flu that season, the CDC heavily publicized child flu deaths in the fall of 2003 and Americans stood in long lines that fall and winter to get flu vaccine, which caused a vaccine shortage and subsequent CDC-recommended rationing of flu vaccine supplies. (http://www.nvic.org/History/News letters/%203770Reaction.pdf). The FDA stated that "between October 2003 and early January 2004, the deaths of 93 children younger than 18 had been reported to the CDC, according to preliminary data" and eventually the CDC would state that 152 flu related deaths occurred in children younger than 18 that year.This year, the CDC is wisely admitting that this year's influenza vaccine does not match the circulating strains and is advising common sense strategies for prevention and management of flu, such as hand-washing. http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20080208/flu-vaccine-most-flu-bugs-dont-match?src=RSS_PUBLIC Those who are suffering with an especially nasty bout with the flu this year can take comfort in the fact that natural experience with type A or type B influenza will produce immunological memory that will help minimize the risk of a severe case of that same strain of influenza when it circulates in the future. In fact, pandemic flu planners are counting on the superior, longer lasting cell mediated immunity of those Americans, who have actually recovered from influenza infection in the past, because drug companies won't be able to produce pandemic flu vaccine fast enough to provide doses for everyone for up to a year after the pandemic begins.Many Americans are taking steps to deal with influenza or flu-like illnesses by enhancing the functioning of the immune system through diet, exercise and other positive lifestyle and health care changes. And if they do get the flu, they are taking a common sense approach. To prevent and treat influenza or flu-like illness that does not involve a fever over 103 F, pneumonia or serious complications which may require special medical intervention, here are a few non-toxic suggestions:1. Wash your hands frequently.2. Avoid close contact with those who are sick.3. If you are sick, avoid close contact with those who are well.4. Cover your mouth if you cough or sneeze.5. Drink plenty of fluids, especially water.6. Get adequate sleep.7. Eat a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals, especially foods containing vitamin C (such as citrus fruits) and vitamins A and D (such as cod liver oil) and spend a few minutes a day in sunlight to help your body make and store vitamin D.8. Exercise regularly when you are well.9. Lower stress.10. Consider including holistic alternatives in your wellness or healing plan, such as chiropractic adjustments, homeopathic and naturopathic remedies, acupuncture and other health care options.***********************************************************

U.S. expresses concern about vaccine as flu cases up

ReutersFebruary 8, 2008by Will DunhamClick here for the URL:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The influenza vaccine given to Americans may not protect as well as expected, U.S. health officials said on Friday as the number of flu cases increased nationwide.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said slightly more than half of the influenza virus strains reported to its surveillance system are not good matches against the strains included in this flu season's vaccine.The number of states reporting widespread flu activity jumped to 31 this week compared with 11 a week ago, the CDC said. But Dr. Joe Bresee of the CDC's influenza division said there are no indications this flu season is worse than usual."Seasonal flu activity was slow to start this year but has increased sharply in recent weeks," Bresee told reporters.One measure officials use to gauge the severity of the season is the number of flu-related child deaths. Bresee said the CDC has heard of six U.S. children who have died from the flu, a relatively low number compared with recent years.Flu viruses mutate and change all the time, so every year a different vaccine is created as officials predict which particular strains will circulate.The vaccine is designed to protect against three influenza strains -- two from Type A, an H1N1 and an H3N2 version, and one for Type B.Bresee said about 30 percent of the overall strains of influenza in the United States may be a Type A strain that emerged in Australia called H3N2 A/Brisbane. It emerged too late to be included in the flu vaccine offered in the United States beginning in September and October.The Type B strain chosen for this year's vaccine also was not a good match for most of the B virus strains seen in the United States this flu season, Bresee said."While a less-than-ideal virus match between the viruses in the vaccine and those circulating viruses can reduce vaccine effectiveness, we know from past influenza studies that the vaccine can still protect enough to make illness milder or prevent flu-related complications," Bresee said.Bresee noted that decisions on the composition of the annual vaccine are made about nine months before it is made available to the public in the fall, and it is sometimes hard to know that far in advance which strains will circulate.Flu vaccines take months to make. Bresee also said some resistance is being reported to the antiviral drug Tamiflu, made by Switzerland's Roche Holding AG and Gilead Sciences Inc of the United States. Of the viruses tested in CDC flu labs, 4.5 percent are resistant to the drug, Bresee said. Influenza kills an estimated 36,000 Americans in an average year, and puts 200,000 into the hospital, the CDC said.(Editing by Maggie Fox and Xavier Briand)

Most Flu Bugs Don't Match Flu Vaccine

Vaccination Still Beneficial, Although Protection May Not Be Optimal, Flu Expert Says

WebMD Medical NewsFebruary 8, 2008by Daniel J. DeNoon Click here for the URL:

As the U.S. flu season soars, the CDC says this year's flu vaccine doesn't match two of the three main types of flu bugs now in circulation.That doesn't mean the vaccine won't work. Vaccinated people who catch the flu get a much milder disease. This can make a life-or-death difference to people who are at high risk of flu complications, such as the elderly.Flu season is officially under way. No U.S. state is flu free, says Joe Bresee, MD, the CDC's chief flu tracker. As of Feb. 2, flu was widespread in 31 states, regional in 17 states, and local in the two remaining states and in the District of Columbia."I don't think we are peaking yet," Bresee tells WebMD. "If you look at hospitalizations or outpatient illnesses or mortality, everything still has an upward slope. I wouldn't be surprised if we continue to trend upward for the next few weeks."Will this be an especially bad flu season? It's too soon to tell. So far, the surge in flu cases is typical for this time of year.But there's an ominous finding coming from flu surveillance labs. The predominant type A flu virus this year is the H3N2 strain; 87% are the "Brisbane" strain. And 93% of this year's type B flu bugs are from the "Yamagata" lineage.The current flu vaccine's H3N2 component is the "Wisconsin" strain; the type B component is from the "Victoria" lineage. That means reduced protection against the Brisbane and Yamagata bugs. Last year, when the Brisbane strain was predominant in Europe, the "Wisconsin" vaccine was only 52% protective against infection."Protection may not be optimal, but flu vaccination can still protect enough to make illness mild and prevent complications," Bresee says. "While vaccination is the best way to prevent flu, good hand hygiene and flu etiquette are also effective in preventing flu transmission."Since the 2003-2004 flu season, when news reports called attention to child flu deaths, the CDC has tracked the number of children under age 18 who die from flu complications. Since then, the annual number of confirmed child flu deaths has ranged from 44 to 153.So far, there has been one confirmed child flu death this year, but Bresee says the CDC received unconfirmed reports of five more child flu deaths in the week ending Feb. 2.Last year, staph infections -- especially the scary, drug-resistant MRSA bug -- complicated many fatal child flu infections. Bresee says it's too soon to know what role MRSA will play in this year's flu season.Also alarming is that a small but significant percentage of this year's type A flu bugs have become resistant to one of the two flu drugs. About 4.5% of circulating flu bugs -- all of them the type A H1N1 strain against which the flu vaccine remains fully effective -- have developed Tamiflu resistance.There's been no resistance to Relenza, the other major flu drug. Both Relenza and Tamiflu can shorten flu duration if taken soon after a person develops flu symptoms.

National Vaccine Information Center

NVIC E-News is a free service of the National Vaccine Information Center and is supported through donations.NVIC is funded through the financial support of its members and does not receive any government subsidies. Barbara Loe Fisher, President and Co- founder.Learn more about vaccines, diseases and how to protect your informed consent rights www.nvic.org

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