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Vaccinations
A vaccine is the preparation of dead microorganisms, living weakened microorganisms or inactivated toxins. Its administration induces the development of immunity and protection against a pathogen or toxin and is called a vaccination.
1,376 Questions
Are you protected if expired flu vaccine was used?
Probably not. Each year the ingredients in the flu vaccine are different, because each year different strains of the influenza virus are going around. They have to make up a new vaccine each year, to be sure it contains all the right strains that will provide immunity for the kinds of flu that are circulating at that time. Since the vaccine for the seasonal flu for this year in the Northern Hemisphere has just been manufactured and released very recently, it would not seem possible for it to be already expired. If you use a vaccine from a prior year (the more likely scenario if the expiration date on the bottle has already passed), then you will not be fully protected against the strains of virus that will be causing flu this year and may be taking something that could be harmful in addition to providing no protection.
You should talk to those at the source of the vaccine to find out why the vaccine would be expired.
How effective is the flu mist?
The seasonal flu shot is thought to be 70 - 90 % effective in prevention of the flu strains for which it is being given in otherwise healthy adults. It is slightly less effective for the very young or very old due to the immaturity of the young immune systems or the loss of function of some immune responses in the infirm or elderly. The variation for healthy adults is caused by how well (or not) the strain chosen to make the vaccine is matched to the actual strain of that flu that is in current circulation. The match between the flu vaccine and swine flu H1N1/09 is a very good match and it is projected to be over 90% effective, for example.
See the CDC Q&A on the subject in the related links section below.
The N1H1 vaccine will go to health care workers first, then to those that have weakened immune systems (elderly and small children, those will underlying health issues). Once that is done it will be available to the remainder.
If a large enough majority of the population is vaccinated then the spread of the infectious disease is hindered as there are not enough available hosts. As a result people who are not vaccinated are less likely to be exposed.
Why are vaccinations given only when child is small?
Because babies are more prone to developing complications from some of the diseases we vaccinate against. That's why children need to be immunized early in life - so they are protected as early as possible.
Is it common for kids to get fever post vaccination?
yes it is normal but if the child is 0-1yr don't let the fever get above 99.6 and if they are 2-4 101.6 degrees and 5 and up take to hospital if fever is 102 and rising because death will come at 106-108 degrees Fahrenheit.
Why is it difficult to vaccine against HIV?
HIV is a very complex, highly changeable virus. Even if it gets killed by the medicines or vaccines, it gets reactivated. Scientists are continuing to make and test HIV vaccines in animals, and even in human subjects.
Does flu immunization cover pneumonia?
Not directly. The flu shot will only prevent the specific type of viral influenza that the vaccine has been developed to prevent. Most pneumonia is due to bacterial infections and not viral, although viral pneumonia and bacterial pneumonia are both common secondary complications of influenza. So, in the sense of preventing the flu that might have a secondary complication of pneumonia, it could be somewhat effective but not assured. For better prevention of pneumonia, there is a pneumonia vaccine that can be received at the same time as the flu vaccine, which is often done in the elderly or those with underlying health problems, especially chronic lung or heart diseases.
Do you need vaccinations for India?
I would say so.
The risks to health whilst traveling will vary between individuals and many issues need to be taken into account, e.g. activities abroad, length of stay and general health of the traveler. It is recommended that you consult with your General Practitioner or Practice Nurse who will assess your particular health risks before recommending vaccines and /or antimalarial tablets. This is also a good opportunity to discuss important travel health issues including safe food and water, accidents, sun exposure and insect bites. Many of the problems experienced by travelers cannot be prevented by vaccinations and other preventive measures need to be taken.
Ensure you are fully insured for medical emergencies including repatriation. The 'T7' leaflet (from Post Offices) gives details of health care agreements between countries and is accompanied by an application form for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The completed form must submitted about 6 weeks before you plan to leave to allow the card to reach you on time. The EHIC entitles travelers to reduced-cost, sometimes free, medical treatment in most European countries.
For Travel Safety Advice you should visit the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office website.
Immunizations- Confirm primary courses and boosters are up to date as recommended for life in Britain - including vaccines given to special groups because of risk exposure or complications (e.g. hepatitis B for health care workers, influenza and pneumococcal vaccines for the elderly).
- Courses or boosters usually advised: diphtheria; tetanus; poliomyelitis;hepatitis A; typhoid.
- Vaccines sometimes advised: hepatitis B; rabies; tuberculosis; Japanese B encephalitis; cholera.
- Yellow fever certificate required if over 6 months old and entering from, or being in transit through, an area with risk of yellow fever transmission within the previous 6 days.
- Tetanus is contracted through dirty cuts and scratches and poliomyelitis spread through contaminated food and water. They are serious infections of the nervous system.
- Typhoid, hepatitis A and polio are spread through contaminated food and water. Typhoid causes septicemia and hepatitis A causes liver inflammation and jaundice. In risk areas you should be immunized if good hygiene is impossible. Polio has in the past but also continues to cause crippling disease in those countries who have not managed to eradicate it.
- Cholera is spread through contaminated water and food. More common during floods and rainy seasons. Those unable to take effective precautions, for example, during wars and when working in refugee camps or slums may consider vaccination.
- Tuberculosis is most commonly transmitted via droplet infection. BCG vaccination is recommended for travelers under 16 years of age who will be living or working with local people for a prolonged period of time (three months or more). Following individual risk assessment, vaccination may also be considered for travelers under the age of 35 years who may be at high risk through their occupation abroad eg healthcare workers.
- Diphtheria is also spread by droplet infection through close personal contact. Vaccination is advised if close contact with local personnel is likely.
- Diphtheria is also spread by droplet infection through close personal contact. Vaccination is advised if close contact with locals in risk areas is likely.
- Hepatitis B is spread through infected blood, contaminated needles and sexual intercourse, It affects the liver, causes jaundice and occasionally liver failure. Vaccination is recommended for those at occupational risk (e.g. health care workers), for long stays or frequent travel to medium and high risk areas, for those more likely to be exposed such as children (from cuts and scratches) and those who may need surgical procedures.
- Japanese B encephalitis is spread by mosquitoes. It is a serious infection of the brain and vaccination is advised for those in risk areas unable to avoid mosquito bites, staying for long periods (e.g. more than 4 weeks) or visiting rural areas.
- Rabies is spread through bites or licks on broken skin from an infected animal. It is always fatal. Vaccination is advised for those going to risk areas that will be remote from a reliable source of vaccine. Even when pre-exposure vaccines have been received urgent medical advice should be sought after any animal bite.
- Malaria precautions are essential in all areas below 2000m, all year round. There is very low to no risk in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Kashmir and Sikkim, which are at high altitude (go to Malaria Map).
- Avoid mosquito bites by covering up with clothing such as long sleeves and long trousers especially after sunset, using insect repellents on exposed skin and, when necessary, sleeping under a mosquito net.
- Check with your doctor or nurse about suitable antimalarial tablets.
- Chloroquine together with proguanil is usually recommended for risk areas (except for Assam).
- For Assam where resistance is more widespread atovaquone/proguanil OR doxycycline OR mefloquine is the first choice.
- If you have been travelling in a malarious area and develop a fever seek medical attention promptly. Remember malaria can develop even up to one year after exposure.
- If travelling to high risk malarious areas, remote from medical facilities, carrying emergency malaria standby treatment may be considered.
Taken from http://www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk/destinations/india.htm
For the latest information about any travel related vaccines, & diseases, including outbreaks, you MUST talk to a travel health specialist. You can do this 4-6 weeks before traveling in your home country. If not, then you can meet a travel health specialist in India. Big cities have good medical facilities, but travel health specialists are difficult to find. In Delhi or Chandigarh, you can find Travel Health specialist at TravelSafe clinic - a specialized center serving the needs of travelers to & from India.
because they shove a HUGE needle into your stomach a bunch of times....
Describe two examples of when vaccination is used apart from the vaccination schedule?
If you are travelling to a country with diseases for which you have no immunity, then a shot may be in order. For instance, if you are travelling to the carribean, then Hep A and B shots might be in order.
Secondly, if there is a sudden outbreak of some disease, a new vaccine might be developed to be given to the populatoin. Such as H1N1 outbreak.
Who are the people that produced vaccines?
Two were made at almost the same time Saulk is credited with the one we used first. We certainly had issues at first and some contracted polio that would not have otherwise. It was still overall a great success story, savings millions over the years.
Why is there no effective vaccine against the flu?
Vaccines take months to make, so people have to guess which strains of flu are going to be active long in advance.
How do I get my child's shot record?
The person/place that gave the immunizations has the records. Call your doctor or the clinic where you received them and ask for a copy.
Why are vaccines used to kill bacteria?
Vaccines are used to make your body produce antibodiesand T-cells against viruses or bacteria! The Measles and Flu vaccines are viral. The Whooping Cough (Pertussis) and Tuberculosis vaccines are bacterial.
How long are the Hep a and b shots good for?
Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccines are good for life as long as you take all of the scheduled doses when your doctor recommends it.Ê Your body will remember if you ever get exposed to it again in your life and willÊprotect you.
Who were the early pioneers in vaccinations?
Some well-known pioneers:
- Louis Pasteur
Pasteur wrote "the germs of microscopic organisms abound in the surface of all objects, in the air and in water." He figured out these microorganisms could be killed by heating liquid (55 C/130 F) for short periods of time, which is known as pasteurization, i.e., used for milk. With his work in microbiology, He showed that diseases (like rabies) could be prevented by vaccination (a term created by Pasteur!), that is, injecting an organism with weakened forms of the disease, thus opening up the field of Immunology.
- Edward Jenner
Jenner observed that for some odd reason milkmaids did not get smallpox. He speculated that the pus in the blisters they got from cowpox (they were around cows all day) protected them from smallpox.
In 1796, Jenner tested his theory: He inoculated a young boy with the pus from cowpox blisters (he extracted from the hand of a milkmaid who had caught cowpox from a cow) and lo and behold! There we have our first smallpox vaccination!
What did people do before child vaccines?
They died young, watched their friends, children and loved ones also suffer with lifelong effects of diseases that can now be prevented. There are people in other countries that still get diseases like rubella, polio, measles etc. I work as a nurse at a doctors office and just last month the Doctor diagnosed an infant with whooping cough. And this was a child of an upper middle class loving family who were just a little late getting vaccinated. The diseases are not eradicated they are waiting out there for an unvaccinated host. Go to cdc.gov to learn more about vaccines.
How much does it cost to make a vaccine?
Very little for many vaccines. Vaccines are inexpensive to produce and many were never patented at all. Only a the newest ones are patented today.
Is it possible to transfer the virus even if you're vaccinated with hepatitis B?
There is no vaccination available for hepatitis C as of early 2015.
Can flu infection be prevented if you do not get flu shots?
Yes. Each year many people do not catch the flu. Some have been immunized, some have been careful to wash their hands thoroughly and frequently, and some simply were not exposed to the flu virus.
Did Merck invent chickenpox vaccine?
Michiaki Takahashi is the one who invented the chickenpox vaccine. He invented it in 1974 and it has been used in the United States since 1995 as a regular childhood vaccination.
