Flu vaccine effectiveness ‘decent’
TORONTO This season's influenza vaccine is estimated to have been more than 40 per cent effective in preventing illness with the dominant H3N2 viral strain in Canadians who got their shots, a national network of infectious diseases experts says.
The Canadian Sentinel Practitioner Surveillance Network determines vaccine effectiveness by analyzing how many inoculated people tested positive for the flu virus compared to those who were unvaccinated.
“A vaccine effectiveness of 40 per cent against the H3N2 virus is decent,” lead researcher Dr. Danuta Skowronski of the B.C. Centre for Disease Control said Thursday from Vancouver.
“It’s lower than we would like to see, particularly because H3N2 epidemics tend to be associated with more hospitalizations and deaths. But reducing the risk by 40 per cent is really important, not only at the individual level, but also at the population level when we tally the serious outcomes at the end of the season.”
Young children, the elderly and people with underlying health conditions like heart disease are vulnerable to complications from flu; H3N2 flu is particularly hard on the elderly.
An effectiveness level of about 40 per cent means the risk of getting sick enough to require medical attention is almost cut in half, and Skowronski said that’s important for those at risk of complications.
This season’s vaccine, which contained components aimed at preventing illness from two A strains — H3N2 and H1N1 — and a B strain, has been much better at protecting people than the 2014-15 shot, which was mismatched to the H3N2 genetic variant that ended up circulating that season.
The decision on which influenza strains — and which particular genetic variations of those strains — to target in an upcoming flu season is decided by the World Health Organization (WHO) each February, giving pharmaceutical companies time to produce the vaccine.
But in the intervening months, the viruses can genetically mutate, sometimes leading to such a mismatch as occurred in 2014-15.
Skowronski said vaccine effectiveness levels from Canada and other countries, as well as what genetic mutations might have occurred as the flu bug was passed from person to person over the season, help the WHO decide what strains next season’s vaccine should contain.
“There’s a lot of complexity to the influenza virus. We like to think of it as just a uniform beast, but it’s not. It’s constantly changing shape, it's constantly evolving.”
And from what the surveillance network is seeing, next season's vaccine could very well be altered.
“There are quite a few emerging variants of H3N2 virus, by province,” she said, noting that genetic decoding of virus samples in Alberta showed a lot of consistency, but B.C.’s cases presented a “rainbow” on a coloured bar graph. “Ontario and Quebec are also showing a smorgasbord of viruses, compared to what Alberta was showing.”
We know something is wrong when we develop an inflamed throat. Researchers believe that inflammation also increases the risk of coronary attack. It can be predicted by a test called Creactive protein (CRP). Dr. Ernst Schaefer, chief of the Lipid Metabolism Laboratory at Tufts University in Boston, says the best way to lower CRP is to lose weight, and to keep away from processed foods and many dessert items that are high in pro-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids.
3. Think “Sytrinol” to lower blood cholesterol
Sytrinol consists of citrus and palm fruit extract, known as plant sterols. This remedy is shown to be effective in decreasing total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL the bad cholesterol, and in increasing HDL, the good cholesterol. It also helps to have a handful of almonds daily and to increase dietary fiber such as oat bran, beans, peas, whole grains, vegetables and fruits.
4. Consider Aspirin
Those who have had a heart attack should consult a doctor about Aspirin. New evidence shows that an enteric-coated 81 milligram Aspirin daily decreases the risk of a second coronary attack. The doctor will advise that there is a risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, but this risk is normally outweighed by the benefit.
5. Consider Neo40 to help dilate coronary arteries.
Dogs and other animals produce 5,000 milligrams of vitamin C daily. Unfortunately humans, due to a genetic mutation, lost this ability eons ago. Linus Pauling, a Nobel Prize winner, believed that a lack of high doses of C triggers microscopic cracks in coronary arteries often resulting in the formation of a blood clot and a fatal heart attack. The addition of lysine, an amino acid, strengthens arterial walls decreasing the risk of stroke. Medi-C Plus and several other brands containing high doses of C are available. Photos on my website, www.docgiff.com, show the results of taking increased amounts of C.
7. Alcohol in moderation is one of the best medicines.
Like many things in life, too much is a curse. But I believe Sir William Osler was right when he remarked “Alcohol is for the elderly what milk is for the young.” Alcohol relaxes coronary arteries, decreases the risk of a blood clot and increases good cholesterol.
8. Remember the formula EP =A+D
Extra pounds cause atherosclerosis and Type 2 diabetes. Since 50 per cent of patients with diabetes die of a heart attack, it’s worth stepping on the scale daily to prevent weight gain.
9. Walk Walk Walk
10,000 steps daily to keep your body in good shape.
Remember none of my columns are meant to diagnose, cure or treat disease. Always consult your family doctor.
For more information see the website www.docgiff.com For comments info@docgiff.com