Vaccination is the most effective measure against pandemic influenza
09.12.2009We protect ourselves against pandemic influenza through responsible conduct, in particular by following hygienic practices when sneezing and coughing, by washing hands, and by staying at home if we fall ill. However, the most effective is protection through vaccination. Vaccination is reasonable for everybody, and particularly for those people who have an increased risk of a more difficult course of illness. In the coming weeks, a rise in the number of ill people is expected.
According to expert assessments, without suitable preventive measures, and especially vaccination, more than a third of Slovenia’s population may fall ill. This would have a considerable impact on daily life and the economy, and the number of people affected by a more severe form of disease would also increase. In certain, rather rare, cases, a severe form of the illness and its complications can cause death.
Influenza caused by the A(H1N1)v virus is highly infectious, since people are not resistant to the pandemic influenza virus. Influenza, like all other diseases causing a fever, more severely affects people with weakened immunity and chronic patients. A special characteristic of infection with the A(H1N1) virus is that in certain young, otherwise healthy people, it develops quite unpredictably, causing severe illness.
In Slovenia, vaccination for chronic patients started in the first days of November and for other population at the end of November. Vaccination is carried out at a number of vaccination centres. The vaccination process is voluntary and, for individuals, free of charge; only the vaccination costs of EUR 7 are to be paid.
The vaccine is effective and safe
For the vaccine available in Slovenia, a marketing authorisation has been granted by the European Commission on the basis of the approval given by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA). The latter considered advantages and disadvantages and established that the vaccine is suitable for use.
The expert assessment, based on data from clinical tests of the vaccine, the components of the vaccine, theoretical findings and experiences with vaccination to date, data which are available to the public, established that the pandemic influenza vaccine used in Slovenia is of high quality, effective and safe. A vaccine equivalent to that used in Slovenia is used in numerous other European countries. One is Sweden, where more than 3 million people were vaccinated and there are no reports of specific and/or unexpected consequences of vaccination.
According to the data, the majority of negative effects reported by people who are vaccinated are mild and similar to those caused by vaccination against normal seasonal influenza. The most frequent negative effects are local reactions at the vaccination spot (hardening, swelling, pain, a red area), headache, aching muscles and joint pain, fever and fatigue. Most of the negative effects are mild and transient, and go away within a few days.
Serious negative effects of the influenza vaccination are very rare. Allergic reactions leading to anaphylactic shock are extremely rare. Practitioners know how to react in such a case so that the vaccinated person will have no consequences after appropriate treatment.
Adjuvants and Thiomersal are not harmful to health
The vaccine contains Adjuvant ASO3 (composed of squalene, DL-α-tocopherol and polisorbat 80), to stimulate the immune system's response, and through this provides better protection. In addition, the vaccine contains the following other auxiliary substances: octoxynol 10, thiomersal, sodium chloride, sodium hydrogen sulphate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride and water for the injection.
In nature, squalene is present in plants, animals and humans. In humans, it is synthesised in the liver and found in blood. Squalene is also present in food, cosmetic products, medicinal products and diet supplements. Squalene is used in vaccine production; it is distilled from shark liver oil and is highly purified. The purification process includes processes in which all potential allergens are destroyed. The examination of all reported allergies and anaphylactic reactions following vaccinations with vaccines containing squalene has established no allergic reactions to fish.
Because of the packing of several doses, thiomersal is added to the vaccine as a preservative prevents the vaccine from being contaminated with bacteria or fungi and has a stabilising effect to allow the vaccine to remain effective for a longer time. Thiomersal contains mercury in the form of ethyl mercury, which excretes rapidly from the body. Thiomersal has been used since 1930 as an additive to a number of medicines (to immunoglobulin, eye and nasal drops, etc.), cosmetic preparations and certain other vaccines. With the exception of mild local reactions at the vaccination spot, no other adverse reactions of thiomersal in the concentrations used in vaccines have been proven. Research has shown that there is no connection between vaccines containing thiomersal and autism or specific neurological development disorders.
The pandemic vaccine contains five micrograms of thiomersal per dose. This is much less than the recommended daily limit for mercury exposure. There is thus no reason why children or pregnant women should not be vaccinated with vaccines containing thiomersal.
The vaccine components are therefore known, have been tested and are safe. They are also used in some other vaccines, and no damaging experience has been reported to date.
Adverse effects are rare
Clinical studies, analysis and comparisons with model and seasonal vaccines have shown that adverse effects of pandemic influenza vaccination are rare. Most often, vaccination can cause a hard thickened area, swelling, redness and pain at the vaccination spot, which along with the possible fever, headache and tiredness, are similar reactions to those after seasonal influenza vaccination. At the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia, the procedure and adverse effects of vaccination have been closely followed.
Persons for whom vaccination is recommended
Vaccination is recommended for everybody, and in particular for those people who have an increased risk of a more difficult course of illness.
These are chronic patients with the following illnesses and states:
- chronic respiratory illness (including asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease);
- chronic cardiovascular disease (the exception is increased blood pressure without internal organ damage, which does not represent a high risk of influenza complications);
- chronic kidney disease (particularly renal failure);
- chronic liver damage;
- diabetes treated with medicines for diabetes;
- neurological disease that affects the lungs (particularly bad expectoration);
- weakened immune system because of a disease or treatment with medication that weakens the immune system (for example, chemotherapy agents, corticosteroids and biological medicinal products).
Vaccination is recommended to pregnant women, children over 6 months of age and persons older than 65 years. However, it is also recommended to all of the population, with the following temporary exceptions:
Vaccination is not recommended only to those with allergic reactions to vaccine components (e.g. to ovalbumin). However, another vaccine, intended specifically for those who have severe reaction to ovalbumin, will shortly be available in Slovenia.
Vaccination should be deferred during convalescence from acute disease.
Vaccination centres
Vaccination is carried out in vaccination centres, which are uniformly distributed across the country. Neither health attestations nor referrals are required for vaccination.
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