How Effective Is The Swine Flu Vaccination?
I have a 21 Months old daughter
I hail from XXXX
As you know there are many case of swine flu being reported from this part of the world
Should i go for swine flu vaccine for my little daughter
Is this vaccine really recommended and effective?
Please advise
Swine flu vaccine starts working after 2 weeks and lasts for only a season
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
Swine flu refers to a variety of influenza that affects pigs. A different variety affects humans. If somehow both the swine variety as well as the human variety of influenza virus somehow enter body of a human, antigenic recombination may arise giving rise to a new form to which humans are not immune. Thus this newly formed (if it happens) variety may cause an epidemic and hence the fear. It is not due to the fear of the swine flu virus itself affecting a person.
About reports of swine flu cases in this part of the world, in XXXXXXX 18 cases are supposed to have been tested positive for H1N1. There have been reported cases from XXXXXXX as well, in this season.
Swine flu vaccine is not an essential vaccine. But, if you feel apprehensive, you can definitely give swine flu vaccination to your daughter or your family members but please note that it becomes effective only after two weeks of the vaccination and the immunity lasts for only one flu season. All I can say is that regular citizens like us have very less possibility to get exposed to the swine virus. Swine flu vaccine is effective in preventing swine flu for the scheduled duration.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das