A genuine life-saver
Oman recently received its first batch of the H1N1 vaccine but there have been some concerns about its safety. Malcolm Xavier Crasta speaks to Jihane F Tawilah, WHO representative in Oman, to see if these rumours hold any ground

Since our last article on the H1N1 pandemic (OER, July issue), the virus has spread quite rapidly worldwide. The latest records show that more that 2,428 people were infected, with 24 deaths, as a result of H1N1 in Oman alone. However, major advancements have taken place in finding a vaccine for the pandemic. Oman was among the first countries in the region to receive its share of the doses with more on the way. The vaccination is an important step in the Sultanate’s strategy to control the virus before it peaks in the northern hemisphere this winter around the month of February.

Immunisation is one of the most successful methods for preventing communicable diseases. Risks from intractable diseases that took millions of lives like smallpox, diphtheria and poliomyelitis have been reduced as a result of the development of respective vaccines. Still, there are some communicable diseases such as AIDS and malaria that represent a challenge to health systems due to the lack of an effective vaccine against them.

Unwarranted fears
Says Jihane F Tawilah, WHO representative in Oman, “Unfortunately, there have been rumours regarding the safety of the vaccine but the reality is that these are not based on anything scientific and is simply not true. This unwarranted scare about the safety of the vaccine is because people don’t have the knowledge from the right sources.”

The process of vaccine production is well established and in not new, furthermore it is being manufactured by the same companies that produce other influenza vaccines. “This influenza vaccine and other vaccines are primarily the same – we are dealing with the same companies, same methods of manufacturing and the same production procedure. The only change is that they have tried to remove one particle which is specific to seasonal influenza and replaced it with a particle which is specific to H1N1 for this vaccine to become capable of giving you the protection required specifically against the disease” says Tawilah.

“We are confident about the safety of all components that are in this new vaccine because all these have been tested and used for years and we know that there are no major side effects that result from it,” she adds. So far there have been 15-20 countries that have started administering the vaccine since September. China was the first country to start inoculations followed by others in Europe.

Thousands of doses have been given out so far but not a single case of serious side effects as a result of the vaccine has been reported to the WHO. “Administering this vaccine should not cause any adverse side-effects besides what you might expect from any regular vaccine that you may take – such as some redness at the region of the injection, some indurations or tenderness and in rare cases it may give you a headache or slight fever for one or two days and Panadol is all that is needed to relieve you of this,” says Dr Tawilah. “This vaccine doesn’t warrant any worries because even if we know of potential serious side-effects, these will be very rare and may occur at a rate of only one-to-two per million, that is, if it happens at all.”

The Ministry of Health decided to start the vaccination campaign only after receiving the necessary licenses and approvals ensuring the effectiveness and safety of these vaccines. As such, it is imperative that the vaccine be taken when required for two primary reasons. Says Dr Tawilah, “Firstly to grant yourself immunity from this disease and secondly to prevent further spread of the disease through you,” says Tawilah. Do the right thing – protect yourself, your family and your neighbour.
 

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