Health

H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine Breakthrough: Just One Dose Is Enough

by Yuliya Talmazan | September 10, 2009 at 02:23 pm

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New developments in H1N1 swine flu vaccination effort today – experts now say, just one dose of the vaccine will be sufficient to protect against the virus, not two doses as was previously recommended.

Typically, two doses of the vaccine are necessary because the second dose is supposed to mimic a secondary exposure for the immune system, so that the response mounted becomes even stronger and the antibodies produced stay around for longer. The second dose typically carries an adjuvant, a chemical which stimulates the immune system to build up anti-viral protection better.

But what does this new development mean for the general population and the pharmaceutical industry? For an average person out there, it really means less pokes and visits to the doctor’s office, which again reduces the chance of contracting the virus while sitting in the waiting room with other patients. For the industry, it means some degree of cost cutting. Less vaccine to inject implies less resources used to make it, transport it and actually administer it – the industry and government will spend less on chemicals, trucks and overtime pay for the nurses. What it also means is that the vaccine produced is strong enough to build decent protection after just one dose -- a testament to the work of hundreds of scientists since the H1N1 virus started making the news. Finally, less vaccine per person means more vaccine for world’s population in general.

Mass vaccination programs against swine flu are going to be a lot easier to mount than first thought, experts said Thursday after the fast-tracked publication of studies showing one dose should be enough to protect most people.

Originally there has been concern a total of three shots would be needed.

Australian shot maker CSL Ltd. published results of a study that found 75 percent to 96 percent of vaccinated people should be protected with one dose. U.S. data to be released Friday confirms those findings and shows the protection starts rapidly, lead U.S. scientist Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health told The Associated Press.

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Healthy Eating Tips (not verified)

at 19:07 on September 10th, 2009

I am rather skeptical of swine flu, its origins and its effects. I know of some people who have caught it and they have made a full recovery and stated it is no worse then the common seasonal flu. Weather the motives behind the vacination are financial, to scare people, or to make people acustom to mass vaccinations, I know I will not be taking the shot. If I contract swine flu I will let my body fight it off and build its own immunity.Too often vaccinations have been rushed into the market and have had worse side effects then the actual disease they are preventing. In 1976 there was a so called "out break" of swine flu in the US at Fort Dix. It did not spread beyone Fort Dix. A mass vaccination program was established to combat this major pandemic for those who remember. In October 1976 the immunization program began which led to 22% of americans being vaccinated. On the first day of the program 3 senior citizens died. There were numourous reports of guillain Barre syndrome and other disorders resulting from the vaccination. The program was canned shortly after it commenced. I wont be getting my shot.

healthy eating tips (not verified)

at 19:12 on September 10th, 2009

Forgot to say , do your reasearch about it before you take the shot! www.healthyeating-tips.com

healthy eating (not verified)

at 19:13 on September 10th, 2009

Forgot to say you must do your own research and understand all the implications and benifits of such a vaccination. history usally repeats. www.healthyeating-tips.com

healthy eating (not verified)

at 19:17 on September 10th, 2009

There has also been evidence that the flu originated from New Zealand not Mexico, anyway do your reasearch

healthy eating tips

Pythiian1

at 19:28 on September 10th, 2009

NIH is confirming this based on their adults' trial although children may still need two doses.

Good post, Yuls.source.

Barry Artiste

at 22:33 on September 10th, 2009

WOW! Thats Amazing,with that logic One Lottery Ticket is enough to win the lottery! Stunning some moron would publish this when it is a known fact that the H1N1 Mutates rapidly, so what was one type of flu last year does not necessarily means the same one will be prevalent this year or the next !

Thanks for the story Yuls