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How Long Does The Effect Of H1N1 Vaccination Last?
Question: HI,
Regarding the H1N1 outbreak, me anad my wife both has a vaccination in the year of 2010. Would it be still effective. Overall how effective is the H1N1 vaccine, since we just got our daughter who is 3 years old, vaccinated, but are still concerned to send her to the school. I heard H1N1 vaccine takes 3 weeks to be effective, but even after that is the vaccine really effective. our daughter was vaccinated on 9th Feb 2015
Regarding the H1N1 outbreak, me anad my wife both has a vaccination in the year of 2010. Would it be still effective. Overall how effective is the H1N1 vaccine, since we just got our daughter who is 3 years old, vaccinated, but are still concerned to send her to the school. I heard H1N1 vaccine takes 3 weeks to be effective, but even after that is the vaccine really effective. our daughter was vaccinated on 9th Feb 2015
Brief Answer:
The H1N1 vaccine is effective for a year in most cases
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX,
You and your wife will need to get vaccinated again at your convenience. The effect of the vaccination is though to last for about 1 year. It does take anywhere from 10 to 30 days for the immune reaction to the vaccine to reach peak effect, but after that the vaccine is normally said to be effective within 2 weeks for vaccination.
So, your daughter should be protected for this season, I would suggest your and your wife get the vaccination when you can.
Vinay
The H1N1 vaccine is effective for a year in most cases
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX,
You and your wife will need to get vaccinated again at your convenience. The effect of the vaccination is though to last for about 1 year. It does take anywhere from 10 to 30 days for the immune reaction to the vaccine to reach peak effect, but after that the vaccine is normally said to be effective within 2 weeks for vaccination.
So, your daughter should be protected for this season, I would suggest your and your wife get the vaccination when you can.
Vinay
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
HI Doctor,
Thank you for the answer. I have been reading media reports about the vaccinations available in the market not being effective against the current H1N1 strain. Is that true. Also I am in XXXXXXX so are their designated places for the vaccination as per the government or can i go to any hospital as long as the vaccination is available.
Thanks,
XXXXXX
Thank you for the answer. I have been reading media reports about the vaccinations available in the market not being effective against the current H1N1 strain. Is that true. Also I am in XXXXXXX so are their designated places for the vaccination as per the government or can i go to any hospital as long as the vaccination is available.
Thanks,
XXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Media reports are hyped and unscientific
Detailed Answer:
Hi there! Thanks for following up,
Try not to put too much faith is popular media reporting when it comes to Health related news. The reporting is done by people with almost no understanding of medicine. The problems that have been encountered with the H1N1 vaccine and indeed with almost all flu vaccines can be summarized by the following:
1) Vaccination done under inappropriate circumstances: Many people have tried to get the vaccine administered AFTER already coming down with the infection. This is completely useless. Vaccines are preventative and the H1N1 vaccine can take up to 2 weeks to elicit the necessary immune response so that you are protected.
2) Assuming the Vaccine works for a life time: The vaccine tends to wear off in about 12 months. So if you were vaccinated against the last outbreak.. you need to get it again.
3) Side effects from flu vaccines in general: The symptoms of the flu and the SIDE EFFECTS of the flu vaccine can be very similar at times. Both are associated with a fever. So many people become suspicious of the vaccine. The vaccine however causes a short sharp fever that lasts a day or 2. While the flu causes longer lower grade fevers which are associated with a myriad of other symptoms.. including cough, muscle pain etc.
To put it very simply... we have no better defense against the virus. 'Oseltamivir' (brand name: Tamiflu) is the only effective antiviral medication we have against the virus and I don't think it's all that great a drug in general. Its certainly not like an antibiotic that we normally use against Bacterial infections... At best it can shorten the length of the infection and minimize the symptoms... make them less painful.
So the vaccine is the safest and most effective way to protect yourself and your family. That the bland truth in the end.
To make sure that you get a good dose of the vaccine. Make sure you go to a facility that has a good cold chain, ie: even when the power goes.. they should have backups to keep the vaccine stored at its ideal temperature.
All government hospitals are SUPPOSED to have access to the vaccine. I'm not 100% sure of that though. I would suggest you go to the corporate hospital of your choice. They generally have less pilferage and less issues with poor infrastructure which would affect the cold chain. I remember the cost being around Rs 600.
I hope this answers your question. Please feel free to follow-up!
Vinay
Media reports are hyped and unscientific
Detailed Answer:
Hi there! Thanks for following up,
Try not to put too much faith is popular media reporting when it comes to Health related news. The reporting is done by people with almost no understanding of medicine. The problems that have been encountered with the H1N1 vaccine and indeed with almost all flu vaccines can be summarized by the following:
1) Vaccination done under inappropriate circumstances: Many people have tried to get the vaccine administered AFTER already coming down with the infection. This is completely useless. Vaccines are preventative and the H1N1 vaccine can take up to 2 weeks to elicit the necessary immune response so that you are protected.
2) Assuming the Vaccine works for a life time: The vaccine tends to wear off in about 12 months. So if you were vaccinated against the last outbreak.. you need to get it again.
3) Side effects from flu vaccines in general: The symptoms of the flu and the SIDE EFFECTS of the flu vaccine can be very similar at times. Both are associated with a fever. So many people become suspicious of the vaccine. The vaccine however causes a short sharp fever that lasts a day or 2. While the flu causes longer lower grade fevers which are associated with a myriad of other symptoms.. including cough, muscle pain etc.
To put it very simply... we have no better defense against the virus. 'Oseltamivir' (brand name: Tamiflu) is the only effective antiviral medication we have against the virus and I don't think it's all that great a drug in general. Its certainly not like an antibiotic that we normally use against Bacterial infections... At best it can shorten the length of the infection and minimize the symptoms... make them less painful.
So the vaccine is the safest and most effective way to protect yourself and your family. That the bland truth in the end.
To make sure that you get a good dose of the vaccine. Make sure you go to a facility that has a good cold chain, ie: even when the power goes.. they should have backups to keep the vaccine stored at its ideal temperature.
All government hospitals are SUPPOSED to have access to the vaccine. I'm not 100% sure of that though. I would suggest you go to the corporate hospital of your choice. They generally have less pilferage and less issues with poor infrastructure which would affect the cold chain. I remember the cost being around Rs 600.
I hope this answers your question. Please feel free to follow-up!
Vinay
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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