Isn’t it true that this new H1N1 vaccine has not had adequate testing?
A. Typically the seasonal flu does not receive yearly testing since it varies little from the previous year’s vaccine. There is considerable experience with the seasonal flu vaccine development and production. The technology used has a long track record for safety and effectiveness in the US. Every year the flu vaccine is modified based on small genetic changes the virus undergoes each year (referred to as antigenic drift). The seasonal vaccine actually has a H2N3 flu component, a NON-novel H1N1 flu component and an Influenza B component. The new (novel) H1N1 vaccine is produced the same way and has actually had more testing done than the seasonal flu vaccine. It has been found safe, but the primary reason for the extensive testing was to determine effectiveness. It was learned only one dose was necessary for an adequate immune response for those 10 years of age and older (not the two doses originally expected). In addition the testing revealed that adequate protection was achieved wit
Related Questions
- Why do I have to provide a credit card number during the online registration process, isn’t the H1N1 vaccine free?
- Do the Canadian clinical trials for testing the safety of the H1N1 flu vaccine include Aboriginal Canadians?
- Was the H1N1 vaccine subjected to the same testing and clinical trials as seasonal flu vaccine?
