CDC Urges Vaccination due to rise in Swine Flu Cases

In U.S. number of Swine Flu cases going to rise; CDC officials inspire the public for getting vaccinated against Seasonal Flu and Swine Flu.

CDC held a media briefing pn Swine Flu. There MD, Director of CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Annie Schuchat, said ''Unfortunately we are seeing more illness, more hospitalizations, and more deaths."

Virtually all, she says, is due to the H1N1 virus. By this date 37 states of US has been infected due to Swine Flu virus and last week nineteen pediatric deaths were reported added Annie Schuchat,. "We are now up to 76 children having died'' this year from swine flu -- many more already, she said, than the typical toll from influenza in past years.

From Aug. 30 to Oct. 3, 1,784 U.S. adults and children have died from pneumonia or influenza of all types, according to the CDC.

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Influenza A H1N1 Vaccines : with or without Adjuvant?

An adjuvant is a substance added to vaccines to enhance immune response. Its inclusion reduces the dose of antigen required, thus producing more doses of vaccine with the same amount of antigen.

The vaccine against seasonal influenza does not typically contain an adjuvant. Some, however, contain an oil in water emulsion containing squalene (MF59 of Novartis).

Vaccines against influenza A (H1N1) occurred either without adjuvant (especially the U.S.) with an adjuvant containing squalene (especially in Europe).

Squalene, said WHO is a substance found naturally in plants, animals and humans. In humans, it is synthesized in the liver. It is commercially extracted from fish oil.

"Since 1997, 22 million doses of flu vaccine from Chiron (the FLUAD) were administered without safety concerns. The vaccine contains about 10 mg of squalene per dose and he was not associated with any serious adverse reaction. It has been observed some moderate local reactions, "says the WHO.

The effects of this adjuvant, however, are little known on special populations such as pregnant women, immunocompromised persons or very young children. The High Council of Public Health (HCSP) recommends the use of non-adjuvanted vaccines for children 6 to 23 months, pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals.

In Canada, GlaxoSmithKline will provide a version without adjuvant, which will be offered to pregnant women.

3 weeks period is recommended between seasonal and pandemic vaccines

The French authorities advise not to delay the seasonal vaccine, then to meet a deadline of at least three weeks before receiving the pandemic vaccine, as recommended by the High Council of Public Health.

People over 65, those suffering from certain illnesses, those residing in a medical facility in the medium or long stay and health professionals are covered by the vaccination for seasonal influenza. More than 9 million policyholders Monday will receive a voucher that will allow them to get free, from Friday, September 25, the vaccine in their pharmacy.

The seniors do not, however, among the first people targeted for vaccination against influenza A H1N1, which will be ready in October, because they would be even better protected against pandemic viruses because their immune system has already met with the same virus type . those priorities for the new vaccine against influenza are pregnant women, young children, immunocompromised patients and caregivers.

Seasonal flu annually affects 2.5 million people in France. It causes about 2,500 deaths per year, of which 90% are over 65 years.