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Have you had your swine flu vaccine?

Positive Living article • Adrian Ogier • 4 December 2009

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) have endorsed the federal government’s immunisation plan to offer free swine fluA highly contagious and relatively common viral infection of the respiratory system, transmitted by infected droplets of moisture which may be spread through coughing and sneezing. Most people with flu recover but some go on to develop secondary infections such as pneumonia which may be fatal. pandemic vaccination to all Australians ten years and over.

The H1N109 vaccine is especially important for those with any preexisting medical condition and can be safely used by people with compromised immune systems, experts have said, including people with HIV.

Influenza vaccines can be made from live virusA small infective organism which is incapable of reproducing outside a host cell. or they can be made from the harmless or killed byproducts of the virus. All of the injected H1N1 vaccines so far approved are of the killed variety.

Live vaccines, which often come in the form of nasal sprays, could pose a problem for people with poor immune systems and should be avoided.

Clinical trials are underway in the US to test the safety and effectiveness(Of a drug or treatment). The maximum ability of a drug or treatment to produce a result regardless of dosage. A drug passes efficacy trials if it is effective at the dose tested and against the illness for which it is prescribed. In the standard procedure, Phase II clinical trials gauge efficacy, and Phase III trials confirm it. of higher doses of the H1N1 vaccine in HIV positive women and younger people.

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From Positive Living

This article was first published in the December 2009 issue of Positive Living — more than two years ago.

While the content of this was checked for accuracy at the time of publication, NAPWA recommends checking to determine whether the information is the most up-to-date available, especially when making decisions which may affect your health.

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