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Ashartus · 12-11-2009, 09:19 AM

Interesting re-cap of the flu season so far at Science-Based Medicine: http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3029

The article focuses on US data, but a lot of it is relevant to Canada. Some of the key points were:
- Overall the death rate from H1N1 isn't very high; however, it has killed more children than the past 2 flu seasons combined (and we're really still just at the beginning of the normal flu season).
- The reported incidences of deaths and serious adverse effects (including GBS) within 19 days of vaccination were consistent with background population rates, meaning no evidence of the vaccine causing serious adverse effects. The monitoring systems have some definite limitations, and there's no mention of allergic reactions, but the data still support the vaccine being very safe. Some of the 13 reported deaths are clearly not related to the vaccine; others are still under investigation. One person did die in a car accident on the way home from the clinic though.
- We still pretty much have no clue what's going to happen for the rest of the flu season - if there will be a 3rd wave of H1N1 (most historical pandemic flus have had 3 waves), and if other flu viruses will start to appear or it will continue to just be H1N1.

12-11-2009, 09:19 AM	#1354
Ashartus First Line Centre Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Calgary Exp:	Interesting re-cap of the flu season so far at Science-Based Medicine: http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3029 The article focuses on US data, but a lot of it is relevant to Canada. Some of the key points were: - Overall the death rate from H1N1 isn't very high; however, it has killed more children than the past 2 flu seasons combined (and we're really still just at the beginning of the normal flu season). - The reported incidences of deaths and serious adverse effects (including GBS) within 19 days of vaccination were consistent with background population rates, meaning no evidence of the vaccine causing serious adverse effects. The monitoring systems have some definite limitations, and there's no mention of allergic reactions, but the data still support the vaccine being very safe. Some of the 13 reported deaths are clearly not related to the vaccine; others are still under investigation. One person did die in a car accident on the way home from the clinic though. - We still pretty much have no clue what's going to happen for the rest of the flu season - if there will be a 3rd wave of H1N1 (most historical pandemic flus have had 3 waves), and if other flu viruses will start to appear or it will continue to just be H1N1.