| "But Are All The New Swine Flu Vaccines Safe"? | | | | safe and secondly that it is effective for the purpose |
| In the last week swine flu cases in the UK have | | | | for which it is meant. The agency will not get involved |
| almost doubled. A lot of this is down to the fact that | | | | in discussing which of the vaccines may be better than |
| children have returned to school and already 66 | | | | the other. Even though these two vaccines have been |
| schools have been hit by the virus since returning after | | | | approved at present it still has to be agreed by the |
| the summer break. | | | | European Commission but this is generally a rubber |
| The infections, which were, originally around 5000 have | | | | stamp job and is expected to be agreed next week. |
| suddenly soared to 9000 according to figures released | | | | What worries a lot of people is the fact that these |
| by the Department of Health in the UK. Sir Liam | | | | new vaccines have been fast tracked through the |
| Donaldson who is the U.K.'s Chief Medical Officer has | | | | system. The reason for this is that medical authorities |
| said that although this number is still relatively low it is | | | | want urgently to get them to high-risk patients prior to |
| the sign that a second wave of the pandemic is on | | | | the big surge in swine flu cases which is expected this |
| the way. | | | | winter. What actually happens is that the |
| Pupils at schools throughout the UK are being shown | | | | manufacturers of these drugs submit a mockup of the |
| how important it is that they wash their hands and use | | | | vaccine to the World Health Organization and their |
| tissues if they have a cold or a cough or are sneezing. | | | | experts will have been already working to identify the |
| Once used the tissues should be thrown away. He | | | | exact strain which has been causing the swine flu. |
| has said that the reason why children must fully | | | | Once this strain has been recognized they will then be |
| understand this is because it has been shown that this | | | | slotted into the model. |
| dramatically cuts the risk of infection. | | | | Because it appears to have been rushed through this |
| At present the two vaccines which have been | | | | is the bit that seems to worry the general public but |
| approved for use in the UK appear to be causing | | | | the European Medicines Agency have said that they |
| concern regarding the fact that members of the public | | | | do not think that a new strain added into the old model |
| are worrying that suitable tests may not have been | | | | will firstly effect the safety of the vaccine or its |
| done to guarantee their safety using these drugs. The | | | | efficiency. They have however requested the |
| two vaccines are Pandemrix and Focentria. The first is | | | | manufacturers of the vaccines to run extra trials. |
| made by a British company GlaxoSmithKline and the | | | | These trials will involve 9000 people per vaccine to |
| second by the Swiss company Novartis. Glaxo | | | | ensure that no problems are thrown up. |
| SmithKline is supplying the UK vaccines. | | | | In case you are wondering when these vaccines will |
| The European Medicines Agency who are the | | | | be available to patients in the UK the Chief Medical |
| regulatory authority have also mentioned Baxter who | | | | Officer has always indicated that this will be in October |
| also have a vaccine which there are hoping to | | | | although health officials at the Department of Health |
| approve next week. | | | | will not confirm any particular date. The one thing that |
| You may by now be wondering what it means when | | | | is known is that the first batches of vaccine will be |
| we say that a drug has been licensed. What this | | | | given to vulnerable people such as ones with heart |
| means is that the European medicines agency have | | | | problems asthmatics and people working in the health |
| firstly satisfied themselves that the drug in question is | | | | field. |