Flu Vaccine: New Vaccines

How the "regular" flu shot is made
FDA advisory panel is entrusted with the task of selecting the three influenza strains which are thought to be in circulation for the time-span of the upcoming flu season and this process of selection is accomplished in each january at the middle of January and March.

However, assuming the whole process as an "educated guess," CDC gets into the job of sending the selected seed virus to the FDA in order to have the approval which is truly prior to distributing the viruses to the manufacturers for production.

It is three separate strains that make the annual flu shot and to name those, these are two influenza A strains and one strain of influenza B. Moreover, herein lies a interesting factor to denote that two of the strains are those same viruses which, had been in the list of the preceding year's shot.

To talk about the third new strain, it is selected each year and then gets into the modification process in the lab before it is added to the new seasonal shot.

New Cell Lines…are they really new?
Well, if we talk about the new technology, it is undoubtedly in its experimental process but in spite of this fact, it has been able to draw all major players in the vaccine industry into the craving process of a development of cell culture technology for flu shots. This new technological aspect was first brought into consideration and was described in the mid-1990s. one of its advantages is that the government can expand this methodology they desire to do so at the time of emergency.

When we talk about cell-culture technology, it has to mentioned that it is, by no means, new, though, it is absolutely new for flu shots. 1950 is the period when it was brought into use for the production of polio, measles, mumps and tetanus vaccines.

There are, in fact, some reasons for which the Cell-line technology was not used for flu shots. As for instance we can say that it requires complete retooling of production facilities prevalent at that time. The actual scenario was that the manufacturers were not too eager to invest the hundreds of millions of dollars and also was very time consuming factor.

But, pandemic possessed a threat for that and as a result of which the government decided to provide tens of billions of dollars to produce a bird flu vaccine. Once this process started, the manufacturers had a rapid proceed.

Flu Cell Culture Technology: The Next Frontier Overview
"Flu cell culture" is nothig but a term that refers to influenza vaccines derived from cell culture. The vaccines we are atlking about are made not from chicken eggs but from animal cells. This is unique in another aspect as it enables batches of vaccine to be produced taking not even six weeks.

Novartis flu cell line, which is also known as Madin-Darby (MDCK), has been found from the kidneys of a healthy female cocker spaniel. However, "immortalized cells" are perpetually divided cells and Solvay Pharmaceuticals, a Dutch company, has been in that project since the early 1990s.

Flu Vaccine: Hype or Truth?

We are repeatedly being told that once we get a flu vaccine, we can roam about freely without any fear of ever getting the disease. We are made to believe that we will stand to become absolutely immune once we have the shots administered. Despite this entire claim the authenticity of this vaccine is being continuously challenged by medical practitioners.

The primary reasons why many of the eminent medical practitioners refuse to believe in the flu vaccine is because of a natural scientific event called “antigenic shift and drift”

This largely means that the viruses are constantly changing their forms. Flu has become unpredictable; you cannot possibly predict the beginning of the flu season, its end or even how severe it is going to be.

Pharmaceutical companies come with a vaccine that is based on the virus of the last year. The entire idea of doing this is absolutely insane. These companies are making protection for a virus that must have evolved in to something entirely new by the time the vaccine hits the stand.

The most evident proof that these flu shots are not working is the fact that although the cases of flu patients were 20000 a decade before, the number of patients last year was 40000. What can we say has accounted for this drastic increase in the number? Population? We must know that the population has increased only by 25% but the number of victims have simply doubled.

The truth lies there naked, Shots are not working.
You should also have an idea as to what is being administered to you through the needle. Here are some of the substances that form a part of the vaccine. Antibiotics such as neomycin, gentamicin, polymyxin B are included in the vaccine. Thimerosol which is known to cause brain injury is used as a preservative. The other ingredients used are sure to shock you.

There is a use of Triton-X 100 a detergent. Formaldehyde and Polysorbate 80 are used, both of which are carcinogenic. Irrespective of the fact that many people are allergic to eggs the vaccine includes residual egg proteins.

Carbolic acid a known caustic poison is used. Also aluminum is used which is notorious for causing Alzheimer disease, seizures and cancer.
And this is not the end. There are more shocks waiting for you.

There are certain risks that are directly related to injecting the vaccine. They are Vasculitis, which is a severe inflammation of the blood vessels. Anaphylaxis, which is a medical term for severe allergic reaction to the vaccine. Shots can also cause the patient to get high fever within the 48 hours in which the shot is administered.

The facts are clear in front of you, now whether or not you want to get a shot or not rests entirely on you. You should although, definitely consult your doctor before taking the shots.

Flu Vaccine: Questions

The results of a government funded studies shows that a large dose of a vaccine called avian influenza vaccine, supplied by Sanofi-aventis are needed to provide a protection against the flu virus. To test the effectiveness of this vaccine 54% of the volunteers agreed to receive 90 micrograms of the shot, twice 28 days apart.

Based on the studies, the US government’s current stock of vaccine is sufficient to provide enough for only 4 million people. This shortage of vaccine isn’t the only matter of concern. Another issue that is coming up is the matter of production.

Flu vaccines are produced using hen’s eggs. Using a 50 years old technology the eggs are automatically injected then begins an 11 day waiting period when the eggs are left to incubate. This leads to brewing of viruses that are later killed and bottled. It takes around a period of 6 months to produce a million of these viruses.

The most important question that arises once we go through the process of making the vaccine is that, if we are using chicken eggs to incubate H5N1 virus, how do we know that H5N1 virus will not kill the eggs? We know that H5N1 virus kills chicken, how can we rule out the possibility that it kills the chicken eggs too?

Sanofi –Aventis is spending $150 million of its own money to build a vaccine making plant based on the belief that H5N1 virus does not kill chicken eggs. But another question that arises is, where does Sanofi-Aventis hope to find such a large number of eggs laying chicken? Millions of chicken are slaughtered all over the US and all over the world reducing their number drastically.

Apart from this there is also another technology that is relatively new. It is called cell based vaccines. Giant vats of living cells, such as dog kidney cell are multiplied and are then administered with the virus. Although there are two companies, one in Holland and the other in Germany who are already manufacturing, but the FDA must review the entire method before any equipment can be imported to the US.

It is clear that US isn’t prepared to fight against the H5N1 virus that causes avian influenza. We seem to have waited too long to find a vaccine to fight this dreadful virus.

It is a very dangerous virus that is spreading quickly and widely.

If you have been hoping to get a vaccine shot to stand protected against this virus, then let me warn you that you may not be entirely safe. There are still a lot of unanswered question and uncertainties surrounded with the entire process of manufacturing the vaccines.

Flu Vaccine: Meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is caused by different strains of bacteria. Several childhood immunizations like Heamophilus influenzae type B and pneumococcal helps to protect against the many types of bacteria that causes bacterial meningitis.

If your child is currently administered with all the right vaccines at the appropriate time and also has taken the flu shots then you need not worry about his health, your child does not need an additional meningitis vaccine.

But to be surer you can consult with your doctor to get a second opinion.

Bacterial meningitis is an infection of the fluid that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord. It can be very serious. The symptom of bacterial meningitis in infants includes excessive sleepiness and irritability and also constant crying and a poor intake of food.

But if you are regular with the immunization shots you can keep your child healthy.

For little older children ranging between the age group of 11 or 12 a vaccine against bacterium Neisseria meningitides is recommended. This bacterium is a common cause of meningitis. This vaccine is also recommended to infants who have been exposed to the disease as well as those infants who are at high risk of bacterial meningitis.

You can also opt for antibiotics if you want protection from meningitis. These antibiotics do reduce the risk of getting the disease but are unable to provide a 100 percent protection.

Even if your child has taken the shots you should be very careful and watch out for symptoms if any, of your child contracting the disease, if you notice that your child is not eating well or feels dizzy then you ought to consult a doctor right away. Meningitis is a complicated disease and any delay in its treatment will only lead to it getting worse.

Many parents also wonder if their children need to get flu shots. For their information the centers for disease control and prevention has recommended flu vaccines to those children who are at increased risk from influenza.

Also other children who need flu shots are the ones that are within the age group of 6 to 59 months. Children having chronic diseases such as heart diseases, lung problems, kidney failure or HIV/AIDS are at increased risk.

The center of disease control and prevention also recommends that all the people who are in regular contact with such kids who are highly susceptible to get flu should also be administered with vaccines. The care takers of these children, their siblings and parents stand high risk of getting the disease and thus must be immunized.

The best time to get a shot is before the flu season. For children below 9 years of age two shots are required.

These shots must be placed one month apart. Only one shot does not suffice in providing the full protection to your child and hence you must make sure that you child has got both the shots at the proper time.

Flu Vaccine: Kids

Flu is most common during the months of December to March. It is in the span of these months that most people contract this disease. Although everyone is at risk of getting the disease yet, children and the elderly are the must vulnerable.

Due to the shortage of shots the American academy of Pediatrics along with ACIP has come up with a recommendation as who should get the flu vaccine.

Although every year the number of people recommended to get the shot increases this year the figures are the same as that of last years in many respects. The CDC has come up with the announcement that about 14.2 million doses of vaccine will be distributed over the next two months. These shots will be allocated through Aventis Pasteur contracts to high priority vaccine providers.

These high priority vaccine providers include hospital, private providers and nursing homes that care for the children. The greatest need of this vaccine is for children ranging from 2 months to around 2 years of age.

The immunity system of such infants is quite weak and these children are most susceptible of getting the flu. The children of this age group must be administered with the shots as now is the time when they are at highest risk.

Apart from children any body, young adults, elders or any other person with chronic illness such as heart or lung disease should get themselves vaccinated. Any person up to the age of 18 who is on aspirin therapy is also advised to take the shots.

According to most doctors the elderly and the infants are the biggest victim of flu. They are the ones who are at highest risk of getting the disease. According to the statistics the largest numbers of flu patients last year were kids below the age of 2 years.

Although the shots administered to kids provide the same protection as that to the adults but the amount of the vaccine differs. In case of infants half a dose suffices when compared to adults.

Any one undergoing treatment for any chronic illness is strictly advised to get him self immunized from flu. The main reason is that a patient takes a long time to recover from flu and in the meantime his existing illness also gets worse.

So it is important that such patents take care and avoid degrading their health condition by taking the flu shots.

Flu Vaccine: Protect Yourself

The manufacturers of flu vaccines are quick to point out that their products are a key to making it through the winter without succumbing to the flue. There has been no serious flu epidemics for nearly 4 decades but the flu vaccines are administered to millions of people every year.

This brings up the question as to why healthy people willingly inject themselves against a harmless little virus that mutates every year and needs a new vaccine. The truth is that most of these people are just hoping that the vaccine shot will see them through the chilly days without having to lose up on work and spending several days in bed.

Influenza always begins in the Far East and then moves towards the West by early winter. It peaks out between February and March. There are three basic types of influence (named A, B, and C). The A type of the influenza virus has become the dominant among the three strains.

The reason you need a vaccine every year is that the virus mutates into a new strain making the previous vaccine useless. The protection of any vaccine lasts only for around 6 months. In effect, you are vaccinated against a new virus every year.

The real problem is that the manufacturers do not know what new form the virus will take every year. The vaccines are grown using live viruses in eggs. These injections can cause illness and injury in people who suffer from egg allergies. People with an immune system disorder or heart disease are at a much higher risk level. Taking a flu shot under these circumstances can be really harmful.

For a normal person in good health there is nothing to concerned about. Staying away from vaccines actually signals the immune system to work harder to keep the disease out whereas taking regular shots weakens the same immune system and increases risk of infection.

Having a strong immune system also means that you are protected against the yearly mutation of the virus. Immune suppression is another concern to be addressed when you are considering a flu vaccine shot.

People prone to infections typically have a large number of stones in the gallbladder or liver. Gallstones can easily cause immune suppression. Cleansing the bladder is a good idea. In fact, people who have gone through the process of detoxifying their liver and gall bladder have reported that they rarely ever catch cold or the flu.

Flu Vaccine: Facts You Need To Know

Here are some flu vaccine facts that will help you make an informed decision about whether or not you should get one.

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) states that the best protection from flu is to either get a shot or get the nasal spray vaccine. However, there is some dispute on the actual benefit of the flu vaccine.

Most of the problems with vaccine are related to an ingredient called thermisol. All vaccine manufacturers commonly use this as a preservative for many vaccines.

Thermisol is based on mercury and that makes it toxic. Though the majority of the people have no complains it can cause long term damage and even instant allergic reactions in others.

Thermisol has been banned from use in many health care products but so far the authorities have done nothing to stop its use in vaccine preservation. Recent studies are showing clear evidence that thermisol is related to autism and Alzheimer's. Because of this some states have banned the use of such vaccines on pregnant women and children.

Thermisol is a neurotoxin. Which means that it causes damage to the nerve tissue. The human body can deal with mercury in small quantities but an accumulation over time can be very destructive as the body is not able to flush out the poison.

Though one shot per year does not contain enough thermisol for dangerous toxicity, some people do not have bodies that are good at taking out toxins and this can cause a "building up" of mercury in the system. A flu shot is not the only place where you get mercury. It can enter the body from several other sources as well and the flu shot may simply be contributing a small part.

If you do plan to get a flu shot then make sure that you get one that is free of preservatives and hence free of thermisol. These preservatives must be specially asked for.

A flu shot also contains dead influenza viruses. The FDA and WHO decide which strains of the virus should be cured for that year based on which antibodies mobilize in the body. There is no single flu shot that can protect you against all known strains of the flu virus.

The nasal spray form of the flu vaccine contains live but weakened influenza viruses and is only meant for people between the ages of 5 and 49 and who are in good health.

You should not take a flu shot or spray without consulting your doctor because it can often conflict with other medical conditions, medications, and trigger allergies.

Flu Vaccine: Ingredients

A good part of the ingredients of a flu shot are dead influenza viruses. There are many strains of the flu virus in the air at any given time but pharmaceutical companies typically focus on only 3 of them. This is why a flu shot is no guarantee that you will not catch the flu.

At best you are playing with statistics because if the vaccine protects you from three strains there are more strains being recognized every year as the virus mutates. The best protection in such a scenario is to keep your immune system as strong as you can and keep yourself generally fit.

Because of the ingredients, a common flu shot can cause many side effects like body ache, fever, pain and soreness at the point of injection. These are just some of the side effects that people go through after taking the flu shot.

Besides the vaccine related ingredients, manufacturers also tend to include preservatives in the vaccine. Until recently there were simply no vaccines available without preservatives. This meant that the presence of thermisol, a commonly used vaccine preservative, could cause illness or injury. Thermisol is based on mercury and that makes it toxic in nature.

Other studies have also indicated a strong link between thermisol and other disorders resulting from its use. Autism is now believed to be linked to thermisol, since it is a neurotoxin. This is why you should be careful when giving a child a flu vaccine.

Some doctors are also of the opinion that ingredients like thermisol and aluminum increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's. However, you should not that this is a very rare condition and cannot be directly linked to a flu vaccine because of the time lapse involved. It is a claim based in numbers.

For example, one physician has demonstrated that people who take regular flu shots for ten years are at 10 times the risk of developing Alzheimer's. Though the body is quick to rid itself of toxins it does not work equally well in all people. The result is that in some individuals, mercury tends to accumulate and this can lead to nerve and brain damage.

Allergy is another thermisol related problem. Some people tend to have a serious allergic reaction to flu vaccine if it contains thermisol. Some states have already placed a ban mercury in flu vaccines that are meant for pregnant women or children.

Health advocates have already petitions the FDA to ban thermisol from flu vaccines but so far no action has been taken. Most vaccines continue to use thermisol so you should be careful.

The dead influenza viruses mentioned earlier are grown in chicken eggs. This is why people with egg allergies are warned against flu vaccines.

Though fatigue and some other side effects are often blamed on the flu vaccine there is no supporting evidence for that claim. The nasal spray vaccine contains live influenza virus that has been weakened.

Though free of preservatives, it is only recommended for people between 5-49 years of age and in good health.