September 25, 2009
Vaccination has saved more lives than any other single technology in modern medicine. Smallpox, polio, measles, bacterial meningitis and many other devastating diseases have been eradicated or vastly reduced in the United States and the world. Within this context of enormous benefit to mankind, it is recognized that no vaccine is without side effects or risks. In general however, the risks are extremely small.
Influenza vaccines in particular have been widely used for many years and are very safe. The new H1N1 vaccine has been developed and tested in the same way as the seasonal influenza vaccines and is expected to be just as safe. In fact H1N1 vaccine has undergone more safety testing than the usual seasonal influenza vaccine. None of the several hundred volunteers receiving the H1N1 vaccine this summer had any serious side effects of any kind. The rapid deployment of H1N1 vaccine is justified in light of the known impact of H1N1 disease in the United States so far this year: thousands of hospitalizations (often involving ventilator support and intensive care) and several hundred deaths (including 46 children).
When H1N1 vaccination begins in October, intense surveillance for adverse effects will be in place nationwide. This will include reports from all vaccine providers and ongoing review of over 8 million patients enrolled in managed care systems and a special program of targeted, active surveillance for Guillian-Barre Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that increase slightly (1 additional case per 100,000 vaccinations) with the swine flu vaccine of 1976.
Thus, the potential benefits of H1N1 vaccination for targeted groups far outweigh the risks. We encourage those within the targeted groups: health care workers, pregnant women, adults who care for infants, adults with chronic health conditions and everyone 6 months to 24 years of age, to be vaccinated.
Thomas Schlenker, MD, MPH, Director
Public Health - Madison & Dane County
