In June of 2009, the swine flu was officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The swine flu is an influenza variant that mutated in pigs. It’s believed that the H1N1 variant was dormant in farm animals for several years before it spread to humans. The first occurrence of the disease was in Mexico and the southern states bordering the country. It’s believed the variant originally infected a farm worker in Mexico in April of 2009. Swine flu cases quickly increased and spread throughout the world. Because of its deadly effects on immunocompromised patients and children, a swine flu vaccine has been discovered. Parents can take additional measures to protect children from infection of swine flu.
Adjuvants in the Swine Flu Vaccine
The main concern from patients is the adjuvants used. Adjuvants are used in most vaccinations to spread the swine flu vaccine further. Adjuvants stimulate the immune system more efficiently, allowing smaller doses for immunity. The main purpose of adjuvants is to give physicians the ability to provide more patients with the vaccine but provide the same amount of protection as a larger dose.
Adjuvants Used in the Swine Flu Vaccine
The scare over the swine flu vaccination stems from a 1976 epidemic where patients received the swine vaccine. Some patients developed Guillain-Barré syndrome, a peripheral nerve degenerative condition that leads to paralysis of the muscles. Guillain-Barré is different from other nerve conditions such as Lou Gherig’s Disease, since it does not affect the brain, brain stem, or spinal cord. The scare over vaccines became more prominent after the Gulf War. Gulf War veterans were shown to develop nerve damage after anthrax vaccination for overseas protection from biological warfare.
The most common type of adjuvant is aluminum salts, which is the adjuvant used in the swine flu vaccine. The side effect of aluminum salts is possible hyperactivity of the immune system. Just like an allergy, if the patient is allergic to the swine flu vaccine, the body’s immune system causes extreme inflammation, which is more dangerous than the helpful benefits. The inflammation causes nerve damage and health concerns for some people. However, these side effects are rare and have not caused concern for the FDA or CDC. The swine flu vaccine continues to be a promising cure for the current epidemic.
Healthy people with strong immune systems can consider avoiding the swine flu vaccine. Immunocompromised individuals can benefit from the cure. Although many concerns continue to stir, the swine flu vaccine protects against the virus and the side effects are rare. Speak to your doctor before receiving the swine flu vaccine.
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