I know that our campus here at VCSU is really tackling the issue of the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu. I see posters up everywhere I go and I have started being more Monkish about keeping my hands clean.Although there is a vaccine for the H1N1 virus, it is not readily available to all, including our campus. However, in recent news, American Health officials are even questioning if a "one shot" H1N1 flu vaccine will be effective, even though both China and a Swiss pharmeceutical company, Novartis, has approved a single dose vaccine (FoxNews.com).
The World Health Organization (WHO) said that "it is encouraged after reviewing the test details from the vaccine by Beijing-based drug maker Sinovac Biotech Ltd". However, the WHO would not comment on Novartis' vaccine since it hasn't seen the data. The WHO commented that "a number of companies were working on one-dose formulations that could theoretically increase the world's swine flu vaccine supplies.
The United States is not taking a position on this issue right now, saying that they are waiting for data to come in from the clinical trials. The U.S. is expecting to announce the inital test results from its vaccine in about two weeks. The vaccine is the same type as one of the Chinese versions, said Dr. Anthony Fauci of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
Novartis, the Swiss pharmeceutifcal company, said its results were based on a British trial of 100 people between the ages of 18 and 50 years old. The people in the trial received either one or two shots of its swine flu vaccine. According to this study, people who got two injections had a better immune response, but getting just one injection provided protection as well, within two weeks.
According to FoxNews.com, it is unclear what this could mean for the earth's vaccine supply. The Novartis vaccine was made using cell culture, while about 90 % of the world's flu vaccines are made using chicken eggs. The Novartis vaccine also includes adjuvents, which are commonly used in European flu vaccines. However, it is uncertain how safe flu vaccines with adjuvants are for pregnant women and children, who coincidentally are some of the groups believed to be most vulnerable to the H1N1 virus. The Chinese vaccine did not use an adjuvant, like most of the vaccines being tested in the U.S.
What do you think about the "two-shot" theory? Do you think it will really take two shots to beat the virus, or do you think that one shot will suffice?
