What are the important facts to know about Swine Flu Vaccine? |
The H1N1 influenza, also known as the swine flu, is a respiratory disease that is caused by the H1N1 virus identified to have originated from pigs. It has been named so because of the fact that the virus contains genes from human, bird and swine flu viruses. Although some antiviral medications have been showed by swine flu researchers to be effective to some extent in the treatment of swine flu, research is still being done to evaluate the effectiveness of these medications in patients of different age levels and stages of the disease. Studies have shown that swine flu does respond to antiviral medications like Relenza and Tamiflu. Although, they do not completely cure the disease, they can reduce the period of time, lessen the severity of the symptoms, as well as prevent the disease entirely if there has been an exposure. At present five pharmaceutical firms are making viruses that can fight swine flu. These firms include Novartis, Medimmune, Sanofi Pasteur, GSK and CSL. These vaccines can give up to 70-80% protection from swine flu. However, not everyone can take these vaccines. Whether or not these vaccines are safe for people depends on their heath conditions and age. It is imperative that all vaccines be taken only under the supervision of a health care provider and if prescribed by a doctor. |