‘Getting a vaccine is a good option for high risk groups’

The rise in the number of swine flu (H1N1) cases and the resulting deaths in Telangana have stirred up a lot of discussion on the issue of vaccination. With a section of doctors maintaining that vaccines are not necessary, there is confusion among people on whether to opt for a vaccine shot or not.

For a typical family, there is no denying the fact that taking the vaccine is an emotional issue because of the involvement of children, elderly and pregnant women. So what should one do? Should one decide to ‘ride out the storm’ of swine flu this season and put off the decision? Or go to nearest general/ chest physician to get inoculated?

Recently, representatives from corporate hospitals here and even health officials from New Delhi had brushed aside the need for a swine flu vaccine arguing that the virus has the ability to mutate hence the vaccine will be ineffective. Can we afford to take this argument seriously?

Most doctors agree that pregnant women, children below five years, persons suffering from heart ailments, cancer, lung and kidney ailments are better off taking the vaccine. They argue that adverse reactions to vaccines are very rare and getting a vaccine administered is a far better option for high risk groups.

“Definitely, every year, the strains of virus worldwide do change but that’s only for seasonal flu virus. H1N1 is different and has not changed much over the years. Here, you have a proven vaccine that can save lives and yet there are people who needlessly doubt it. The argument of ineffective vaccine is totally out of place and misguiding,” insists CMD, Bharat Biotech, Dr. Krishna Ella.

Healthcare providers also say administering Tamiflu is enough. Senior doctors while pointing out that there is a merit to the stance, also caution that “already in United States and Europe, Tamiflu resistant swine flu is in circulation and doctors there have stopped recommending it frequently. Resistance is possible here too after frequent use.”

Physicians also urge the public to understand that Tamiflu is given for treatment when persons have already contracted swine flu but a vaccine is for prevention. “If you take a cancer patient or a person suffering from end-stage kidney or a heart ailment, there is absolutely no harm in taking the swine flu vaccine,” says Dr. Praveen Saxena, the metal toxicology expert who has done extensive work on vaccines.

N. Sai Gopal