H1H1 Vaccinations Approved in Canada

October 22, 2009 by Mohamed
Filed under H1N1 Human Swine Flu, Weight Loss

After a long wait and just getting into the flu season, Canada has authorized the release of the H1N1 flu vaccination. Canadian health officials have said that there will be enough of the vaccine to immunize everyone that wants it – but as is being reported in the news, many simply do not want it and are willing to deal with the flu as they with. It’s not just individuals that are refusing to take it, but some health care workers also are not wanting to take the vaccine.

Canadian Information Source: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/10/21/h1n1-vaccine-us-uk.html

The story goes on to hilight the need the US has to expand its own manufacturing capacity for vaccines and indeed this needs to be on the forefront of many government officials minds.

Lieberman told the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee he was “not blaming Canada.”

Canada’s response is understandable, he said, but it highlights how the U.S. urgently needs to expand its own manufacturing capacity for vaccines.

There is quite a bit of information out there, some good and some bad – the best source will be your local health organizations and speaking with your doctor.

The vaccine is already being administered in the United States but based on news reports, there may not be enough to go around.

US Information Sources:

H1N1 (Human Swine Flu) Symptoms

What are the symptoms of H1N1 (swine flu) in humans?

It is important that you learn the symptoms of the H1N1 (swine flu) virus so you can easily recognize it in yourself and others.

To date, the vast majority of H1N1 (swine flu) cases have been mild, with symptoms similar to those of the seasonal flu. Only a small percentage of people have had more serious symptoms and required professional medical attention.

It is important to have a working thermometer at home, as an increase in temperature is a key symptom.

The typical symptoms of H1N1 (swine flu) are:

a sudden fever of 38°C/100.4°F or above, and
a sudden cough.

Other symptoms of H1N1 (swine flu) may include:

headache,
extreme tiredness,
chills,
fatigue,muscle aches,
limb or joint pain,
diarrhea or upset stomach,
sore throat,
runny or stuffy nose,
sneezing, or
lack of appetite.

Some people with H1N1 (swine flu) have also reported vomiting.

If you or a member of your family has any of the above mentioned symptoms, you may have the H1N1 (swine flu) virus.

Cases have been confirmed in all age groups, but children and younger people are much more likely to be affected. To date, few cases have been confirmed in older adults.

The severity of H1N1 (swine flu) symptoms can vary from mild to severe and may sometimes require hospitalization. Like the seasonal flu, H1N1 (swine flu) may worsen existing chronic medical conditions.

In some cases, severe complications such as pneumonia and respiratory failure can cause death. Death occurs more often in cases of H1N1 (swine flu) from secondary bacterial infection of the lungs.

If you believe that you may have H1N1 (swine flu), the next step is to determine if you are in a high-risk group or have emergency warning signs.

What to do if I show symptoms of H1N1 (swine flu)?

The question of what to do if you show H1N1 symptoms varies greatly from country to country. In England an online questionnaire determines if you have the flu and issues an antiviral medication prescription number that a ‘Flu Friend’ collects from a local collection point. In other counties the procedure varies from driving to the front of the doctor’s office and honking your horn to contacting officials, who will promptly come to treat you and quarantine your home.

We have developed a list of ‘norms’ from national and international centers for disease control of what to do if you think that you are infected with the H1N1 flu virus.

All of the major health agencies stress that, for the vast majority of people, H1N1 (swine flu) is a mild illness. They say that most people recover by staying in bed, drinking plenty of water and taking over-the-counter flu medication.

This seems to contradict the use of an antiviral drug such as Tamiflu, which can help reduce the symptoms and duration of the infection. It is believed that Tamiflu is most effective if you start the medication within the first 48 hours after the onset of symptoms. If you lay in bed treating H1N1 as a mild illness, two days and the effectiveness of antiviral medication can easily pass.

Some people are at more risk of serious illness if they contract the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. These include persons in high-risk groups and persons with emergency warning signs.

If you or someone you know have H1N1 symptoms AND are in a high-risk group OR show emergency warning signs it is important to contact your personal physician or other medical professional immediately to determine your next steps and if you should start taking antiviral medication. The majority of health agencies seem to suggest that the initial contact with your health official should be via telephone.

H1N1 (swine flu) high-risk groups

If you fall into any of the following high-risk groups, contact your personal physician or other medical professional immediately.

pregnant women,
children under the age of five,
persons aged 65 and older,
persons who have had drug treatment for asthma within the past three years,
persons with chronic lung disease,
persons with chronic heart disease,
persons with chronic kidney disease,
persons with chronic liver disease,
persons with chronic neurological disease (neurological disorders include motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease),
persons with immunosuppression (whether caused by disease or treatment)
and
persons with diabetes mellitus.

If you show any of the following emergency warning signs, contact your personal physician or other medical professional immediately.

H1N1 (swine flu) emergency warning signs in children

fast breathing or trouble breathing,
bluish or grayish skin color,
not drinking enough fluids,
not waking up or not interacting,
being so irritable that the child does not want to be held,
flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough or fever with a rash

H1N1 (swine flu) emergency warning signs in adults