Everything You (Didn't?) Want To Know About Flu Shots

I got my seasonal flu shot last Thursday as I have done for many years.   This is for the typical varieties of influenza that go around each year, not the new H1N1 influenza which will have a separate vaccination.  Some previous years I felt some soreness afterward but none this time. 

There has been a lot of discussion in the news and at work about the potential H1N1 influenza pandemic and the vaccinations for it.   A recent survey reported on the news said that 50% of Canadians are not going to get the H1N1 flu shot due to various concerns.

One of the concerns about the new H1N1 flu shot is that it has an extra additive called an adjuvant that the seasonal flu shot does not have.  An adjuvant is an additive that helps stimulate the immune response and increases the effectiveness of the vaccine. The adjuvant in the H1N1 vaccine to be used in Canada contains squalene oil, vitamin E and an emulsifier.   Squalene is a natural substance in every plant and animal, and in our bodies it is manufactured by the liver and circulates in our blood stream.  If you Google squalene you will get many many hits from the scientific to the conspiracy theorists.    One controversy is a claim that it was the cause of Gulf War Syndrome among soldiers given flu shots is in the 1970s.  Others are concerned because it is something new and unfamiliar.  Reports by the World Health Organization about squalene adjuvants say they have been used safely in vaccines in Europe for many years. 

The tests with the the new H1N1 vaccine with squalene adjuvant show it can give more chance of soreness or pain in the arm where it is injected.   Other serious reactions are very rare as with other flu shots.  But more importantly has been observed to be more effective than the standard flu shots.

Another concern is that the flu shots contain thimerosal  a preservative containing mercury.   But the amount of mercury is less than the approved safe level for one can of tuna.  The new H1N1 flu shots have less mercury than the regular seasonal flu shots.

The US is using a different H1N1 flu shot than Canada with no adjuvant.  Their rationale is that without the new ingredient it could go through testing sooner and start production.  If the H1N1 influenza turns out to be less severe they feel the higher effectiveness of an adjuvant will not be needed.  However if the H1N1 virus mutates and becomes more dangerous they have some adjuvant available to add to the vaccinations.  The same as Canada the US vaccine is made from killed virus material.  However the US also has weakened live virus nasal spray vaccinations for healthy adults.   You could get influenza from the nasal spray but not from the flu shots with killed virus.     

I am someone who likes to be knowledgeable about whatever medication I am taking.  And I am basically an inquisitive fellow so I researched the ingredients of the new flu shots.   Even with some of the uncertainties I am still planning to get the H1N1 flu shot when it becomes available.  But I am still trusting God as the primary protection for my health.

Winter Driving

I found this commercial of the "Canadian Police Chase" amusing. But it is a reminder that it is soon time to get the winter snow tires on the car.

Today on the way to work I didn't think it was too icy, with the Ring Road mostly wet with melting snow and slush.   Most of the traffic was only going 80 to 90 km/hr.  Just ahead of me I suddenly saw a car from the opposite direction shoot across the ditch and onto my side, swerve and spin around and then go back into the middle ditch.  At the same time a car ahead of me spun around trying to miss the oncoming car and spin off into the right ditch.    Fortunately the cars came to a stop without hitting anyone.  I was very thankful for God's protection and to be able to drive on safely to work.    

Thanksgiving

We have been thinking about what we have to give thanks for on this Thanksgiving weekend.  Yesterday at church we sang the song Great is Thy Faithfulness.   

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

We can really say that all we have needed God has provided.  Great is His faithfulness.

Yesterday afternoon Mike and Nicole were here for our Thanksgiving dinner.    Janice cooked the turkey as she usually does, brining it ahead in a vegetable broth.  It was very good as was all the meal. 

The weather this Thanksgiving is still below normal with highs below zero (normal high should be 12C.)  But we have just a little snow on the ground much less than the 17 cm we got last Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Travellers Gone Astray

Janny and the Physics Students were in Edmonton for a conference and borrowed my GPS for the trip.  On the way home they took a wrong exit and ended up driving through the golf course (light blue line on GPS display.)   But they got out of there eventually and made it home successfully. 

My New Job

I agreed to take on the treasurer position for the local Post-Polio group.  The woman who had that position for several years had been ill and wanted a replacement.  At the last meeting I was elected unanimously.  Like most groups if you are willing to take the position it is yours until you can find someone else.

Last night Elaine and I went to the home of the former treasurer and her husband to get the books and files and bank statement, etc for the group.  We came back with bigger load of stuff than I expected.

We had a good visit with this older couple.  She had polio as a teenager and ended up with a trach 16 years ago.   She has had to use oxygen since being in hospital recently with lung infection.  So I told her about my experiences and she was quite interested in my speaking valve.

This couple are retired farmers who used to raise shorthorn cattle east of Regina.  On the kitchen table the place mats are a collage of pictures of champion cattle they showed and sold at Agribition and other shows.  The centre picture was of them with a shorthorn female that they sold in 1985 at Agribition for $19,500.  They said that this is still the record price for a shorthorn female at Agribition.

Elaine and I had a very good visit last night and got to know this older couple more that just seeing them at the post-polio meetings.  But now I have a new job that shouldn't take too much time for this small group.