Vaccines Antibodies Viruses

What should your answer to Heather's question be? Explain in detail how you came to this conclusion.

I would tell Heather the vaccine does not give you the flu. The risk of the vaccine causing serious harm is very small per the Center of Disease Control (page 1). Vaccines build up antibodies to fight viruses. The influenza vaccine is a small amount of the virus injected into ones body, preparing the body to attack the virus, not giving you the full-blown flu. Therefore the next time if someone contracts the influenza virus the antibodies will kill it, keeping you healthy. Perhaps Susan thought she had the flu but had a cold, since the symptoms are very much alike.

Heather says that because she had a flu shot last year, she is going to skip it this year. What is your response to Heather and explain in detail how you came to this conclusion.

I would tell Heather it is recommended to get the flu shot every year. The influenza viruses occur in outbreaks and epidemics worldwide virtually yearly, mostly in the winter season, causing acute respiratory disease states Leboffe (page 127). Influenza is remarkable for its high rate of mutation. Because of that, new vaccines are produced each year to match the vaccine with the new virus according to Hibberd (page 1). Annual vaccination is necessary even if the previous year's vaccine contained one or more of the antigens because immunity declines during the following year after vaccination states Hibberd (page 12).

What is the difference about the vaccines from year to year? Who decides what form it will take every year?

Influenza is remarkable for its high rate of mutation. Influenza A viruses have a remarkable ability to change its antigenic characteristics of their envelope glycoproteins each year states Hibberd (page 1). The changes of the antigenic characteristics in these glycoproteins are associated with epidemics and pandemics of Influenza A according to Hibberd (page 1). The Centers for Disease control and Prevention along with the World Health Organization decide what form it will take every year states Hibberd (page 1).

Susan wants to know why we don't have to get other vaccines annually. Explain why.

Other vaccines are good for longer periods of time because the viruses don't change (unlike the flu) and ones antibodies are still good. For example the tetanus vaccine is given every 10 years according to Center of Disease Control page 2. The Pneumococcal vaccine is good up to five years states Center of Disease Control page 2.

What groups of people are recommended to get the flu vaccine? Are there people that shouldn't be vaccinated?

According to Cowan and Talaro (page 478), the Influenza vaccination is recommended for the following people: anyone over 50 years old, health care workers, long-term nursing home residents, people with chronic disorders of the heart and lungs such as asthma, metabolic disorders, kidney disorders, pregnant women in the second or third trimester during the influenza season, people with weakened immune systems, people who have spinal cord injuries, and people with seizure disorders. The following people should not be vaccinated: anyone who is moderately or severely ill, anyone allergic to the influenza vaccine or eggs, and anyone who has Guillain-Barre syndrome states Cowan and Talaro, (page 479).

What are the differences in the signs and symptoms between a cold and the flu?

The flu like signs and symptoms seem to be worse than the cold. Common signs and symptoms of the flu include: Fever over 101 F, chills, sweats, headache, dry cough, muscular aches and pains, fatigue and weakness, nasal congestion, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and vomiting according to mayoclinic.com. The signs and symptoms of a cold are as follows: runny or stuffy nose, itchy or sore throat, cough, congestion, slight body aches or a mild headache, sneezing, watery eyes, low-grade fever (up to 102 F), and mild fatigue stated mayoclinic.com.

Bibliography

Cowan, Marjorie Kelly, and Kathleen Park Talaro. Microbiology: A systems Approach. International Edition. New York, pages 478 and 479. McGraw Hill Higher Education, 2006.

Diseases and Conditions. “Common cold” From MayoClinic.com March 15, 2008. http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/DS/00056.html.

Hibberd, Patricia L, MD, PhD. UpToDate: “Influenza vaccination in adults.” March 3, 2008.http://www.uptodateonline.com/utd/content/topic.do?topicKey=viral_in/10204&view=text. Pages 1 and 12.

Inactivated Influenza Vaccine: “What you needed to know 2007-2008.” http://www.cdc.gov/flu/. March 15, 2008. Page 1 and 2.

Leboffe, Micheal J., and Burton E. Pierce. Microbiology Laboratory: A Photographic Atlas. Third edition. New York, page 127. Englewood: Morton, 2002.

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