Today we will be talking to my two smartest friends, Holly and Jenni.
Holly is a super smart scientist with a BA in Biology/Chemistry and an MS in Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology. She is working on a targeted influenza vaccine: ideally, anything that invades the body could be better "fought" if the immune response was prepared correctly at the point of entry. (At least, that's what I pasted from her email. I had to read it a few times to get the gist.)
I think that also means she enjoyed dissecting the frog in biology class in ninth grade. Also, it looks like Holly enjoys homework because DAMN THAT IS A LOT OF SCHOOL.
Jenni is ALSO a super smart scientist with a Ph. D. in Genetics and Veterinary Pathology. She works for St Jude in Memphis and runs a lab that studies secondary bacterial infections that are a result of influenza. She enjoys Punnett Square drinking games.
(Just kidding, Jenni enjoys good old-fashioned beer pong as much as the rest of us do. She's not THAT nerdy.)
(Also, wow, there is no way I could ever go back to school for as long as you two did. You are awesome.)
Together, they form my Super Smart Scientist Friends and they will forever and always be on-call for all of my influenza related questions.
Today they're providing me with anecdotal advice that is intended for my personal use as close friends who are giving me their opinion based on the aforementioned decades in school and years of professional work "in the field." (Is that what they call it when you have to get federal clearance to work with certain viruses?) I'm sharing it with you because I think it's interesting.
This is not intended to give you information to make important medical decisions. You should always talk to your doctor about those. (Bloggers make very poor doctors.)
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Holly, you're pregnant! Congratulations! Your kid is going to be so freaking SMART. So, you are totally not going to get that weird H1N1 vaccine, are you? I mean, it's all new and strange and unfamiliar and not tested on pregnant ladies. Sounds risky, right?
I am definitely getting the H1N1 flu vaccine. I've had seasonal flu vaccines before, with no ill effects, and because I am pregnant, I can help protect the baby with my vaccination and also by BF'ing afterwards. The baby will be born at the end of February, right when the flu could be serious business, and we may be unable to get the vaccine at that point.
Hmm. Really? But it's....new. And untested. Doesn't that freak you out? I mean, I have heard STORIES about vaccines. Stories on THE INTERNET.
They prepare it the same way as they do the seasonal vaccine - it's a dead bit of the virus, so if anything, it just might not work effectively. There is always the risk of Guillen-Barre Syndrome, but you could get that with any flu vaccine.
That's what a lot of the hoopla is about; back in the 70's with the "first swine flu" this was associated with the vaccine. People are concerned it would happen again. But, it's always a risk. Basically, if your immune system is primed in a unique way, it could rebel against you. You can't do anything to stop it. Other things can trigger that response too, so it's not a unique risk to the vaccine.
But Holly. Seriously, they whipped this up faster than a box of brownies. That just seems...weird. What if they totally screwed it up?
You're probably worrying a bit much if your concerns are that they "prepared this too fast." If they had known about H1N1 back in February or March, they would have included it in with the regular seasonal flu vaccine anyway. (I'm not sure if people would have felt better about it in that situation or not though.) The seasonal flu vaccine has the "top picks" of the season in it; several strains (I can't remember how many) all in one go. The H1N1 vaccine will just have the one.
Jenni, what do you think? I've seen you work with those test tubes and giant droppers with petri dishes. I know you mean business when you boss around your research underlings. What's the word at St Jude?
I highly advise all of you getting both flu shots. If you're worried about giving the H1N1 vaccine to Claire, at a minimum you and Chris should get it to help keep from passing it on to Claire.
The last time a swine flu circulated and was included in the vaccine formula was 1976. With the new H1N1 strains circulating, our age group has the highest mortality rate, likely because we weren't around for exposure back than and don't have any immunity to it.
The CDC has a really great website that is updated weekly. That is the website we use to follow the epidemiology for this flu season, and you don't have to be a scientist to understand it.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluactivity.htm
You should all also get the pneumococcal vaccine. I got mine last month, it made my arm really sore for a couple of days, but no other side effects for me. I didn't run a fever from this year's seasonal flu shot either, and I usually do.
I don't know a ton about the H1N1 vaccine production, but it should be made just as the seasonal flu vaccine. I know that the swine isolates don't grow well in eggs (which is the traditional method for producing vaccine strains), so it may have been grown differently, but shouldn't be a big deal.
I am actually impressed with how quickly they are getting this vaccine out. Sanofi-Aventis shipped their first batches yesterday.
Um, ok. Got it. You both think we should all get seasonal flu shots and at a minimum Chris and I get the H1N1 vaccine. You think it's safe and the benefit outweighs the risk. Point being that even if we don't give the H1N1 vaccine to her, we can provide a sort of "mini-herd" protection to Claire and not bring H1N1 home from work.
So, guys, what should I worry about then? Because I'm feeling like I need to worry about something.
Jenni: Just constantly wash your hands anytime you're out of the house and as
soon as you get home! And I mean wash them: with warm water and for at
least 30 seconds. Take the time to wash your hands before you eat and
try not to rub your eyes or stick your fingers in your mouth!!
Holly: You're absolutely right about secondary infections being the real concern. Remember that is also takes 2 weeks for the vaccine to "kick in" for full protection.
And any nasal-spray "flu-mist" should be avoided - it's just weakened live vaccine, pretty much guaranteed to make you at least a little sick.
I've already had my seasonal flu shot (beginning of Sept), and managed to avoid catching whatever my husband brought home from his dirty high schoolers. He was out for a solid weekend. Stuff is already flying all around So Cal.
Dude, I bet high schoolers aren't any dirtier than kids at daycare.
You'd be surprised.
Any other thoughts, Super Smart Scientist Friends?
What irritates me the most is that I feel we shouldn't even have to worry about vaccinating very young children for flu. If adults were more responsible and got vaccinated themselves we could provide a better herd immunity and shield the little ones that way.
Instead, you worry about all the idiots who go to work sick, out in public sick, whatever, exposing the vulnerable ones.
Agree Holly. Totally agree. Sick adults who traipse into the office and grocery store as if they are soooo important they can't be bothered to stay home and keep their germs to themselves are complete morons.
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This concludes today's interview with Super Smart Scientist Friends. If you have additional questions for SSSF please leave them in the comments and I'm sure they'd be happy to weigh in.
What's my take after talking to my smarty-pants buddies? My entire family will get seasonal flu vaccines next week as planned. At the very least Chris and I will get the H1N1 vaccine. I feel pretty solid that it's safe and not a wacky last-minute effort that might accidentally have antifreeze in it.
I'm going to talk next week to our pediatrician about giving it to Claire, but my gut is leaning towards giving it to her.
I don't want to get sick. I don't want my family to get sick. Even though I know we could still all get the flu, I think the benefit outweighs the potential risk for us.

