Get the shot not the flu
Vaccines encouraged for students, people with infections, asthma
David Taintor
Issue date: 10/6/08 Section: Money/Health
Showsh said there was a shortage of vaccinations last year.
"I think it was a production problem, if I'm not mistaken," he said. "The company had contamination problems so their production was offline."
Showsh thinks that production was started early enough this year that supply shortages will not be a problem. He said it takes six months to create a vaccine and at the time of creation scientists look at what virus they think will be traveling this year.
"You can't predict what it will look like, but you can collect viruses that are present now and create a vaccination from the combination of those forms," Showsh said. "One of the problems is if a mutation does occur and the virus changes, the vaccine becomes less effective."
Mellema said there are many flu strains that can make people sick, adding that the vaccination protects against three strains. There is some scientific guesswork involved in the vaccination, but it can provide some protection even if it's not an exact match of a given strain, she added.
Showsh said that the many of the flu strains originate in Asian countries, where there are large amounts of pigs and poultry. He said people traveling from one country to another can transmit it, because it takes only 10 to 12 hours to travel to the U.S.
He said the flu season usually begins in November or December.
"When it's colder outside, people have a tendency to be together and spending more time inside," Showsh said. "It makes perfect conditions for the flu."
Mellema said that most healthy, young adults who do get the flu this season will be alright.
"They'll feel crummy for a few days, and miss a few classes, but they should do fine."
"I think it was a production problem, if I'm not mistaken," he said. "The company had contamination problems so their production was offline."
Showsh thinks that production was started early enough this year that supply shortages will not be a problem. He said it takes six months to create a vaccine and at the time of creation scientists look at what virus they think will be traveling this year.
"You can't predict what it will look like, but you can collect viruses that are present now and create a vaccination from the combination of those forms," Showsh said. "One of the problems is if a mutation does occur and the virus changes, the vaccine becomes less effective."
Mellema said there are many flu strains that can make people sick, adding that the vaccination protects against three strains. There is some scientific guesswork involved in the vaccination, but it can provide some protection even if it's not an exact match of a given strain, she added.
Showsh said that the many of the flu strains originate in Asian countries, where there are large amounts of pigs and poultry. He said people traveling from one country to another can transmit it, because it takes only 10 to 12 hours to travel to the U.S.
He said the flu season usually begins in November or December.
"When it's colder outside, people have a tendency to be together and spending more time inside," Showsh said. "It makes perfect conditions for the flu."
Mellema said that most healthy, young adults who do get the flu this season will be alright.
"They'll feel crummy for a few days, and miss a few classes, but they should do fine."
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