AH1N1 vaccine safe to use

MARANYANE NGWANAAMOTHO
Staff Writer | Wednesday June 23, 2010 00:00

 

Director of Public Health Halabi El-Shanaaz told Mmegi yesterday that the vaccine is World Health Organisation (WHO) pre-qualified and its safety and efficacy established.

She said it is important that people take the vaccination since it is flu season, when many can be infected with the deadly AH1N1 virus.

The public is therefore advised to take this vaccine, though they will not be followed to their houses to ensure they do so.

'We hope people will appreciate that the roll out of the vaccine is similar to any hospital visit and encourage the public to visit public health facilities for their vaccination,' said El-Shanaaz. 

She said while generally the Ministry of Health oversees the vaccination process, implementation  has been decentralised to districts.

'Some districts therefore may have arranged with private facilities that they normally collaborate with, to help roll out the vaccine,' she said.

Meanwhile, studies have proven the AH1N1 vaccination to be safe.

The vaccine that is reportedly being used in Botswana, Panenza, produced by the French company, Sanofi Pasteur has been tested in Europe, and proven that 'one dose of Panenza or Humenza pandemic influenza vaccines induces robust seroprotective antibody response in children and adults'according to drugs.com.

The website says that a single dose of influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccines, Panenza (15 mcg dose, non-adjuvanted) or Humenza (3.8 mcg dose, adjuvanted), administered to children of three years of age and older, and adults provides them with a strong immune response.

'The antibody response is considered to protect 93 percent or more of adults 18 to 59 years old and 83 percent or more of adults 60 years of age and older.' 

It says that children aged three to 17 years of age, 94 percent or more of study participants achieved antibody response.

Both vaccines tested met the three European Medicines Agency's (EMEA) criteria, says drugs.com.

These results were based on interim analysis following the first vaccination dose from clinical trials conducted in France and Finland.

No serious unpleasant events were observed in these clinical trials. Safety and tolerability profiles were as expected.

However, redness, swelling, pain and systemic complaints of mild fever, headache and fatigue were reported, says drugs.com.