It's that time of year again. Doctors are planning their 'flu vaccine
clinics and posters are appearing reminding us to get our annual dose.
Since last year there have been several interesting new developments in ‘flu
research.
Over a hundred cases of H7N9 'flu in humans, probably contracted from
poultry, have been seen in China. The high death rate emphasises the importance
of influenza research. It's a race against time before a variant emerges that
can easily be transmitted between humans. When it does it could cause a lethal
pandemic with catastrophic death rates.
Even the usual winter 'flu sometimes causes serious illness and up to
half a million people die of it, every year.
Some of this year's new information is based on analysis of existing
data.
A systematic review of a large number of studies highlighted that new
mums (but not pregnant ones) and obese individuals seem to be at an increased
risk of dying of the complications of 'flu. These two risk groups have not been
previously identified. Good quality research in this area is rather thin and
more is needed so vaccination programmes can be targeted appropriately.
Another analysis found that in the 2009 outbreak of swine 'flu,
pregnant women who had been vaccinated were less likely to go into premature
labour than the non-vaccinated. It seems then that 'flu vaccines during
pregnancy may protect both babies, from the dangers of being born too soon and
mums from becoming seriously ill with 'flu, or even dying, in the month
following delivery.
An Australian study looked at links between heart attacks and 'flu,
using data on middle-aged people admitted to hospital. It found that having a 'flu
vaccination seemed to have a protective effect against heart attacks. If other
research confirmed this result it would, again, lead to a change in the
recommendations for priority groups.
One of the most interesting, and surprising, findings of the year is
that 'flu vaccines are not as specific as everyone thought. Immunology theory is
clear - that the immune system develops antibodies, one virus at a time. So every
variant of the virus requires a vaccine to match it. Each year the vaccine is a
cocktail of the three types that are currently most common worldwide. This new
study found that the vaccine gives significant protection against types of 'flu
that are not included as well as those that are. This highlights the fact that
there is a lot more to the immune system than just antibodies - and that there
is still a great deal to learn about how it works.
Finally, for the needle-shy, there is hope on the horizon. Nasal spray 'flu
vaccines are being introduced, (initially for use with children in the UK) and research
on mice has revealed that a micro-needle patch can deliver 'flu vaccine
effectively. I imagine this would be a bit like pressing a bit of Velcro or
sandpaper against your skin.
In the UK the 'flu vaccine is free to priority groups and the rest of
us have to pay. I always think that £10 spent on a 'flu jab is fantastically
good value if it means I can get through another winter without a bout of this
debilitating illness.
New risk groups
Vaccine in pregnancy
Heart attacks
Wider protection
Micro patches
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