Is the H1N1 Virus Contagious?
Yes, it is contagious and spreads from person to person.
How Does the Virus Spread?
The H1N1 virus spreads in the same way as seasonal flu. The virus is transmitted from person to person by coughing or sneezing.
Sometimes people can also get the virus by touching something (touching an item with the flu virus on it and then putting their hands to their mouth or nose).
What are the symptoms caused by the virus in humans?
Fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and weakness. Some people also experience vomiting and diarrhea. Serious illness and death can occur due to the virus.
How Serious Is H1N1 Virus Disease?
The disease can be mild or severe. Although some people are sick, they recover without the need for medical treatment, but hospitalizations and even deaths occur.
How Long Does the Flu Virus Live on Stuff?
Studies reveal that the virus stays alive on objects for 2 to 8 hours and can be transmitted to a person during this time.
What Kills the Flu Virus?
The virus is affected by heat and does not survive above 75 - 100°C. In addition, chlorine-containing antiseptic chemicals, soaps, oxygenated water and alcohol are effective against the virus if they are used in appropriate concentration and in sufficient time.
PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS
What Should I Do to Protect Myself From Infection?
• Wash your hands as often as possible with soap and warm water.
• Keep your hands away from your face.
• Cough or sneeze into your arm, not into your hand. If you have used a tissue, throw it away immediately and wash your hands.
• Get vaccinated.
• Keep your common items (such as doorknobs, light switches, telephones and keyboards) clean.
• Eat healthy foods and be physically active to keep your immune system strong.
• Keep doing what you normally do, but stay home if you get sick.
• See your doctor right away if you have a severe flu.
• Those at risk:
- Children under 5 years old
- pregnant women
- Those with chronic diseases such as heart or kidneys, diabetes, asthma, chronic lung disease, suppressed immune system, neurological disease, liver disease, blood disease and severe obesity problems.
Should Those at Risk Take Precautions Like Avoiding Crowds?
It is important for people to continue their daily lives during widespread illness. If people are healthy, they should go to work and continue their social life. If avoidance of crowded places is not possible, extra precautions should be taken, such as frequent hand washing. Pregnant women and other at-risk people can carry hand sanitizers with them.
(H1N1) VACCINES SAFETY CASE
Are Epidemic Vaccines Safe?
The results of the studies have revealed that epidemic vaccines are as safe as seasonal flu vaccines. Side effects seen in epidemic vaccines are similar to those in seasonal flu vaccines.
How Safe is the Vaccine for Pregnant Women?
Studies show that the vaccine does not have harmful effects on pregnancy, fertility, the developing embryo or fetus, or during birth and the postpartum period.
In the light of studies conducted in pregnant women who were affected by the H1N1 virus and had a severe illness, it can be said that; Pregnant women should be vaccinated against the virus.
According to recent studies, the need for hospitalization in intensive care units for pregnant women with flu is 10 times higher than for people with flu in the general population; and 7% to 10% of hospitalized cases are in the 2nd or 3rd trimester.
The benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks.
Studies on immunity in pregnant women are ongoing.
How Safe Is the Vaccine in Children?
The most common reactions to the flu vaccine in children are similar to childhood vaccines (pain at the injection site, fever). The pediatrician or vaccinator can advise on the most appropriate methods to reduce symptoms. If you are concerned about your child's reaction to the vaccine, consult a doctor. Please keep in mind that your child may develop an accidental condition after vaccination.
TESTING AND APPROVAL
What Kinds of Tests Are Performed to Ensure Safety?
Since the swine flu virus is a new virus, both clinical and non-clinical tests are performed in order to have basic information about the immune system's response and safety. The results of the studies have revealed that epidemic vaccines are as safe as seasonal flu vaccines.
However, even very large clinical studies fail to identify the rare cases that can occur with the administration of these vaccines to millions of people.
The World Health Organization recommends that all countries administering swine flu vaccines carry out intensive inspections for safety and report cases.
Who Approves Swine Flu Vaccines?
Vaccines are approved by the ministries of health. These officials carefully review the known and suspected risks and benefits of the vaccine.
SIDE EFFECTS
What Are the Estimated Side Effects of Vaccines?
Some side effects are similar to the flu vaccine. Side effects may vary depending on the type of vaccine, how it is used, and the age of the person receiving the vaccine. There are 2 main types of vaccines. One is that which is produced with inactive viruses, and the other is that which uses live viruses.
Inactive vaccines are administered by injection and usually cause local reactions such as pain, swelling, redness at the injection site, and sometimes fever, myalgia, and headache. These symptoms are usually mild and do not require medical attention, they pass within 1-2 days. Fever, pain and headaches are more common in children.
Sometimes these types of flu vaccines can cause allergic reactions such as hives, swelling of the skin's lower layers and tissues, asthma or severe multisystem allergic reactions due to hypersensitivity to certain vaccine ingredients.
Live virus vaccines, on the other hand, are used via nasal spray and are generally used for runny nose, nasal congestion, cough; sometimes they can cause sore throat, low-grade fever, irritability and headache and muscle aches. Symptoms such as shortness of breath and vomiting have been reported in children receiving live virus vaccines.
Have Clinical Studies Revealed All Possible Side Effects?
Even very large clinical studies fail to identify the rare cases that can occur with the administration of these vaccines to millions of people. These will only occur when the vaccine is administered to very large populations.
Clinical testing provides safety-related information for the general population. Vaccination of some specific groups should be audited to obtain specific safety information.
In addition to these, extensive vaccination audits are planned as people use the vaccine in all parts of the world.
The World Health Organization recommends that all countries administering swine flu vaccines carry out intensive inspections for safety and report cases.
UNEXPECTED REACTIONS
Have Serious Reactions and Unexpected Reactions to the Vaccine Been Reported to Date?
Towards the end of October, no unusual post-vaccination indications were found. The need for health authorities to be vigilant and conduct regular assessments remains.
What Happens When An Unexpected Effect To Vaccine Is Reported?
At the national level, individual reports are scrutinized for completeness and for possible errors. In some cases reports need to be approved and extra details checked. Reports are reviewed for expected findings or for more frequent findings than expected. If an analysis provides information about a potential problem, further studies and evaluations are also carried out and all national and international authorities are informed.
MISCONCERNED RISKS ABOUT VACCINES
Do Epidemic Vaccines Reportedly Contain Health-threatening "Thiomersal"?
Thiomersal is a preservative that is frequently used in vaccines to prevent bacterial contamination during use. If inactive vaccines are to be administered as multi-dose ampoules, they contain thiomersal. Some products may contain thiomersal particles, because thiomersal is used as an antibacterial agent when producing the product, but is removed during the purification phase. Thiomersal does not contain methyl mercury, which is a natural component and its toxic effects on humans have been well-researched. It contains ethyl mercury, which is another form of thiomersal mercury (mercury), which is metabolized more quickly than mehty mercury, which does not accumulate in the body and is excreted from the body. The safety of thiomersal has been carefully studied by scientific groups; No evidence of harmful effects on the body was found in infants, children and adults.
Why Do Some Vaccines Have Adjuvant (a substance in a prescription that helps in the emergence of the effects of other drugs) while others do not? Do Adjuvant-Containing Vaccines Have a Health Risk?
Adjuvants are a kind of ingredient that improves the immune system against vaccines and increases its effectiveness. They have been used in some vaccines for years. Medical studies indicate the safety of using adjuvants in epidemic vaccines.
Some seasonal flu vaccines intended for people with weakened immune systems contain an adjuvant. Some epidemic vaccines contain adjuvant to reduce the amount of antigen virus. (An antigen is a kind of ingredient that stimulates the immune system's response.)
Manufacturers decide whether a product will contain adjuvant or not. Adjuvants used in epidemic vaccines can be used with other vaccines. (Hepatitis B, seasonal or epidemic vaccines, and others)
Can Flu Vaccines Cause Chronic Disease?
There is no evidence that seasonal flu vaccines, epidemic vaccines, or any other vaccines cause or worsen human influenza viruses, chronic diseases. If any unexpected effects from vaccination are seen after vaccination, the situation should be carefully evaluated.
Can Flu Vaccines Cause Guillain Barré Syndrome?
Guillain Barré Syndrome is an immune-related disorder of the external nervous system that develops rapidly and results in muscular weakness. While most patients recover completely, some patients remain chronically weak. It can cause many infections, including the flu. The incidence of GBS is the same between people who have the appropriate vaccinations and those who do not.
Comprehensive studies and data analysis on flu vaccines only; It found a well-established causal relationship with the 1976 vaccine containing H1N1 swine flu-like virus. There are no other clear findings regarding seasonal or epidemic vaccines.
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