Heather Latter
Given some confusion over the seasonal ’flu and H1N1 vaccinations, a recent poll suggests many Canadians are not planning to get either one of them.
But Dr. Jim Arthurs, acting medical officer of health for the Northwestern Health Unit, is recommending everyone get both.
“Do I think it’s safe? Absolutely,” stressed Dr. Arthurs. “Then what’s the risk?
“Never ever can we say the risk is zero,” he admitted. “But the risk is very minimal and because H1N1 is different, it tends to be more prevalent and even more serious in children and teens and young adults who are otherwise perfectly healthy, which is backwards from what we’re used to.
“Certainly my recommendation personally, my recommendation with my ‘OH’ hat on, is we all should consider individually what we think our personal risks are,” Dr. Arthurs remarked.
“But I strongly recommend that people get the vaccine when it’s available.”
Dr. Arthurs understands some people feel this wave is going to be here, peaked, and on the downslide before they even get vaccinated in the first place.
“I think that is a reality,” he admitted. “The whole issue is a combination of science and recommendations coming from Health Canada, as well as the Ministry of Health in Ontario, and locally we all think [the vaccinations are] a good idea.
“So our citizens have to trust us a little bit.
“The more I’ve read and studied the situation, this is the best approach,” Dr. Arthurs stressed. “It’s certainly more conservative than what the U.S. is doing, but conservative is okay.
“We don’t want to be giving people a brand new vaccine we don’t think is safe.”
The Ministry of Health has recommended health units across Ontario use a three-phase process for ’flu vaccination coverage this season, beginning by offering the seasonal ’flu vaccine to those aged 65 and over.
These became available here last week.
The health units then will offer H1N1 vaccinations in November, followed by the resumption of seasonal ’flu vaccinations in late December or January.
Dr. Arthurs, who is over 65 himself, planned on getting his seasonal ‘flu vaccination last week and intends to get the H1N1 vaccine when it is available.
“We want to include all the studies that have been done and hopefully include them in their final report, not initial,” Dr. Arthurs explained about what appears to be a delay in offering the vaccinations.
“That has gotten people confused, especially border communities where people do watch a lot of U.S. TV and read U.S. media,” he added.
In the U.S., they’ve begun their vaccinations both with seasonal ’flu and with H1N1, and are having quite a significant uptake in people wanting the vaccinations to that point that they already seem concerned about running short.
“The high-risk population clearly should be vaccinated early, so the remote communities, specifically aboriginals and people who have chronic illnesses, young children, and young working adults who are healthy—that’s our biggest concern,” Dr. Arthurs stressed.
He explained they would prefer to have several weeks between the two vaccinations, so people planning to have both, like those over 65 years of age, should get their seasonal ’flu shot as soon as possible.
“Everyone else should get their seasonal vaccine after the H1N1, which would be late December or January,” he noted.
“Even though that’s a little later than we would otherwise have recommended, at this point we think it’s the best.”
But Dr. Arthurs indicated they generally won’t turn away people who don’t fit in the categories properly.
“It depends on supply and demand,” he remarked. “If the demand is down, then clearly the supply will be sufficient.”
In November, when the H1N1 vaccine is available to those who want and need it, it generally will be offered following national sequencing guidelines, which includes people under 65 with chronic conditions, pregnant women, healthy children aged six months up to five years, persons residing in remote and isolated settings or communities, and health-care workers involved in pandemic response or the delivery of essential health care services.
Dr. Arthurs said the issue with pregnant women is separate and significant.
“For them, basically they should either call their health-care provider or the health unit and get person-to-person information,” he urged.
“They are not necessarily more likely to get H1N1, but if they get H1N1, they are more likely to be sicker.
“They are a separate group of high-risk and should get personal information. Same for newborn babies and very young children,” he added.
Meanwhile, should there be an outbreak of H1N1, Dr. Arthurs said there are antivirals available for early treatment, but it must be administered within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.
“It’s difficult because that’s a really short window,” he admitted. “But there is evidence that it works well to reduce the severity of the illness, if you have been identified as high-risk and have symptoms of cough, fever, aches and pains, and fatigue.”
Dr, Arthurs indicated they can’t wait to get a positive test because that takes longer than 48 hours. So if H1N1 has been identified in the community, then the symptoms make the diagnosis and the person should seek early treatment.
And he reiterated the best way for people to prevent H1N1 is to wash your hands often, sneeze and cough in your sleeve, avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, and limit close contact with others, especially if you are sick.
