Re: Universal flu jab may be better than existing flu jab

[Guest guest]

Anyone know if the nasal spray version of the flu vaccine is okay?

-- In EOHarm , <jw4994@...> wrote:

>

> from the BBC news webpage:

> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7171118.stm

>

> Universal flu jab works in people

>

> A single jab that could give lifelong protection against all types of

> flu has produced promising results in human trials.

>

> The vaccine, made by Acambis, should protect against all strains of

> influenza A - the cause of pandemics.

>

> Currently, winter flu jabs have to be regularly redesigned because

> the flu virus keeps changing.

>

> The new vaccine would overcome this and could be stockpiled in

> advance of a bird flu outbreak, say experts.

>

> Promising results

>

> Each year winter flu kills around 4,000 people in the UK.

>

> Globally, between 500,000 and one million people die each year from

> influenza.

>

> But a pandemic of the human form of bird flu, which experts believe

> is inevitable, could kill as many as 50m people worldwide.

>

> The US trials show that the jab is safe and it works fast to make the

> body immune against flu.

>

>

> It could be stockpiled in advance of a pandemic

> Dr of Acambis

>

> Nine out of 10 of those who had two doses of the jab ACAM-FLU-A

> developed antibodies against flu virus.

>

> Scientists at Acambis are now working to perfect the formulation

> before doing larger human trials.

>

> Dr of Acambis said: " As a universal vaccine, ACAM-FLU-

> A can potentially overcome many of the drawbacks of existing

> influenza vaccines.

>

> " It can be manufactured at any time of the year, and could be

> stockpiled in advance of a pandemic or potentially used routinely to

> ensure population protection against future pandemics. "

>

> Unique action

>

> Current flu vaccines work by giving immunity to two proteins called

> haemagglutinin and neuraminidase, which are found on the surface of

> flu viruses.

>

> However, these proteins keep mutating which means doctors have to

> keep making new vaccines to keep up.

>

> The Acambis vaccine homes in on a different protein, called M2, which

> is found on the surface of all A-strains of flu and does not appear

> to mutate so readily.

>

> Professor Ian , a University of Reading virologist, said the jab

> could end the scramble to produce a new winter jab each year.

>

> But he said it would still be some years before it was widely

> available for patients.

>

> " Larger trials and tests on a wider range of viruses will be needed

> before the full potential for pandemic protection can be assured, " he

> said.

>

[Guest guest]

As far as I know, the nasal version contains a live virus as opposed

to the deactivated (dead) virus in the flu jab. I would avoid any

live virus preparations like the plague for kids with

possible " virosis " (sp?), aka, chronic viral infections from previous

vaccinations/collapsed immune systems. There's also a bunch of toxic

crap in the nasal form as far as I know, aside from dreaded live

viruses.

Is there a reason you're especially concerned about a member of the

family getting the flu?

> >

> > from the BBC news webpage:

> > http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7171118.stm

> >

> > Universal flu jab works in people

> >

> > A single jab that could give lifelong protection against all

types of

> > flu has produced promising results in human trials.

> >

> > The vaccine, made by Acambis, should protect against all strains

of

> > influenza A - the cause of pandemics.

> >

> > Currently, winter flu jabs have to be regularly redesigned

because

> > the flu virus keeps changing.

> >

> > The new vaccine would overcome this and could be stockpiled in

> > advance of a bird flu outbreak, say experts.

> >

> > Promising results

> >

> > Each year winter flu kills around 4,000 people in the UK.

> >

> > Globally, between 500,000 and one million people die each year

from

> > influenza.

> >

> > But a pandemic of the human form of bird flu, which experts

believe

> > is inevitable, could kill as many as 50m people worldwide.

> >

> > The US trials show that the jab is safe and it works fast to make

the

> > body immune against flu.

> >

> >

> > It could be stockpiled in advance of a pandemic

> > Dr of Acambis

> >

> > Nine out of 10 of those who had two doses of the jab ACAM-FLU-A

> > developed antibodies against flu virus.

> >

> > Scientists at Acambis are now working to perfect the formulation

> > before doing larger human trials.

> >

> > Dr of Acambis said: " As a universal vaccine, ACAM-

FLU-

> > A can potentially overcome many of the drawbacks of existing

> > influenza vaccines.

> >

> > " It can be manufactured at any time of the year, and could be

> > stockpiled in advance of a pandemic or potentially used routinely

to

> > ensure population protection against future pandemics. "

> >

> > Unique action

> >

> > Current flu vaccines work by giving immunity to two proteins

called

> > haemagglutinin and neuraminidase, which are found on the surface

of

> > flu viruses.

> >

> > However, these proteins keep mutating which means doctors have

to

> > keep making new vaccines to keep up.

> >

> > The Acambis vaccine homes in on a different protein, called M2,

which

> > is found on the surface of all A-strains of flu and does not

appear

> > to mutate so readily.

> >

> > Professor Ian , a University of Reading virologist, said the

jab

> > could end the scramble to produce a new winter jab each year.

> >

> > But he said it would still be some years before it was widely

> > available for patients.

> >

> > " Larger trials and tests on a wider range of viruses will be

needed

> > before the full potential for pandemic protection can be

assured, " he

> > said.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

My younger son has asthma. So do I. Last year I had pneumonia and I

don't ever want to go through that again, or have him go through it.

But I'm not subjecting him to a vaccination either.

Not quite sure what to do other than send him to school with a vat of

Germ-X every day.

>

> As far as I know, the nasal version contains a live virus as opposed

> to the deactivated (dead) virus in the flu jab. I would avoid any

> live virus preparations like the plague for kids with

> possible " virosis " (sp?), aka, chronic viral infections from previous

> vaccinations/collapsed immune systems. There's also a bunch of toxic

> crap in the nasal form as far as I know, aside from dreaded live

> viruses.

>

> Is there a reason you're especially concerned about a member of the

> family getting the flu?

>