At the end of September 2009, the European drugs regulator gave the go-ahead for one of the UK’s swine flu vaccines. An expert committee agreed that Pandemrix, made by GlaxoSmithKline(GSK), can be used in adults and children over six months old and pregnant women. The UK has bought 60 million doses of the vaccine.

Also, the UK government has already signed a contract for an as yet unapproved vaccine, Celvapan, produced by Baxter. It means the UK has provision for up to 132 million doses – enough for every person in the country.

Finally a third vaccine made by Novartis, Focetria, has also been recommended for licensing by the European Medicines Agency – but this is not planned to be used in the UK.

The decision removes one of the last obstacles to getting the immunization program under way although licensing still needs to be formalized.

Final marketing authorization for the vaccines still needs to be signed off by the European Commission and is expected “as soon as possible”.
The EMEA said they were working with Baxter on some ongoing issues about their vaccine but hoped to be able to resolve those next week.

Approval of the vaccine
The vaccines have undergone an accelerated approval process as “mock-ups” of the vaccine had already been developed in preparation for a pandemic and tested in 6,000 people.
Manufacturers have worked quickly to add the swine flu H1N1 strain to the mock versions.
Early trial data had suggested good immune responses with just one dose of the vaccines.
However, the EMEA is recommending two doses are given three weeks apart for both vaccines, but may revisit that decision as more clinical trials are carried out.

A background of rising cases of swine flu
The number of new cases of swine flu in England has almost doubled from the middle of September 2009.
In Scotland, the new weekly figures showed a slight increase from 6,180 to 7,034.
Across the UK there have been 82 deaths.
Although the figures are rising, they are as yet far short of the 100,000 cases a week seen in July.
Officials are still predicting a second wave of swine flu as winter approaches.
Worldwide some 3,917 people have died from swine flu infections since the H1N1 virus was uncovered in April, World Health Organization figures show.

When will the vaccine be distributed to the population ?
The UK Government plans to start vaccination in October 2009, subject to vaccine being licensed and manufacturers’ delivery schedules.

Why Two vaccines?
The UK has agreed contracts for swine flu vaccine with GSK and Baxter. Having two contracts increases the number of doses available. Also because the Baxter vaccine is not made in eggs it can be used in people with an egg allergy
There are other differences between the vaccines -for example the GSK one contains an adjuvant. It minimizes the risk of problems should one vaccine run into trouble during production or licensing.

Who should be vaccinated against swine flu?
Eventually, everyone, except for people who have the same allergies — primarily, allergy to eggs — that make annual flu shots dangerous for them. But for now, the first vaccine batches are reserved for those most at-risk: health care and emergency workers; pregnant women; people caring for infants younger than 6 months old; people 6 months to 24 years old; and anyone younger than 65 who has a weakened immune system or such medical conditions as asthma, diabetes or morbid obesity. As more vaccines are made, healthy adults ages 25 and up should be vaccinated, too.

How can I be sure it’s safe?
It’s very safe, the H1N1 vaccine is made in the same way as the regular winter flu vaccine that is used by nearly 100 million Americans a year with very few, minor side effects. There’s no biological reason the H1N1 vaccine should react any differently, and no red flags have appeared in studies of several thousand people.

However what you should look for is GBS..
Some Neurologists are concerned that an increase in a brain disorder called Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) could be triggered by the vaccine. GBS attacks the lining of the nerves, causing paralysis and inability to breathe, and can be fatal.

The debacle of the US swine flu Vaccine in 1976
There are concerns that with the new vaccine, there could be a repeat of what became known as the ‘1976 debacle’ in the US, where a swine flu vaccine killed 25 people – more than the virus itself.
A mass vaccination was given the go-ahead by President Gerald Ford because scientists believed that the swine flu strain was similar to the one responsible for the 1918-19 pandemic, which killed half a million Americans and 20million people worldwide.
The swine flu vaccine being offered to children had not been tested on infants
Within days, symptoms of GBS were reported among those who had been immunized and 25 people died from respiratory failure after severe paralysis. One in 80,000 people came down with the condition. In contrast, just one person died of swine flu.
More than 40million Americans had received the vaccine by the time the program was stopped after ten weeks. The US Government paid out millions of dollars in compensation to those affected.
The swine flu virus in the new vaccine is a slightly different strain from the 1976 virus, but the possibility of an increased incidence of GBS remains a concern.

UK regulators have set up a special portal on the website for reporting any problems with swine flu medicines and vaccines when they begin to be used.

Are you feeling tired and dizzy? It could be down to a lack of red cells in your blood

What is it?
Anaemia is when you don’t have enough red cells in your blood. This means less oxygen gets taken to the tissues in the body. Approximately one in 10 women in the UK are anaemic, and so are one in 25 men. There are many causes, but the most common reason for anaemia in young people is a poor diet that is low in iron, vitamin B12, or folic acid. Blood loss from heavy periods is another reason.

Body evidence
Every cell in your body needs energy to do its job, which is obtained through oxygen. Oxygen enters the body via the lungs from where it is absorbed into the bloodstream. In the blood it is combined with a molecule called haemoglobin and then carried in red blood cells. This is a large molecule, mostly made up of protein with some iron in it. The oxygen weakly combines with the iron and is released when it gets to a part of the body where it is needed.
If there is less haemoglobin than is needed in the blood then a person is said to be anaemic.
If the body is short of oxygen, one of its responses will be for the kidney to produce a chemical called erythropoietin. This chemical tells the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells.

Signs and symptoms
Anaemia can cause you to feel any of the following: Tiredness, Dizziness, Palpitations, Breathlessness
If there is a sudden drop in the levels of haemoglobin in your blood, for instance, if you lose a lot of blood, you might notice that you tire more than you normally would and that you get out of breath quicker too. This is because when a healthy person gets out of breath, it is due to the fact that they cannot get enough oxygen into their body, so they breathe faster.
When you are anaemic, because your blood cannot carry as much oxygen, your heart and lungs have to work harder to get that oxygen to the places where you need it. This means you get out of breath faster than you normally would.

Why Might I Become Anaemic?
If someone has become anaemic, it is important to find out what is the cause. There are many different reasons; some are signs of serious illness and some are not. One of the first steps in finding out the causes of the anaemia is to find out what size the red blood cells are.
Some people only find out that they are anaemic when they have a blood test for another, initially unconnected, medical reason. This is because if you’re only slightly anaemic you might not feel any symptoms at all.

Iron Deficiency
If you aren’t eating enough iron in your diet then you can become anaemic. Iron is recycled in your body and you only need to eat a little (unless, of course, you are losing iron). If you are a woman, you will lose iron when you have your period, so a woman needs more iron in her diet than a man.

Vitamin B12
This is a vitamin that is essential for the functioning of red blood cells. It is found naturally in meat and dairy foods. In theory, vegans could become deficient in vitamin B12, but since it is added to many other foods as a supplement this very rarely happens. The most common cause of someone being deficient in vitamin B12 is if the body’s immune system attacks the cells in the stomach that absorb vitamin B12. This is

How do you treat anemia
That depends on the cause. If the anaemia is due to iron deficiency then you can take iron tablets which are available from any chemist. Of course, it is important to read the label if you are taking iron tablets as they can have nasty side effects. If someone is very anaemic, they might need a blood transfusion. If the anaemia is due to kidney failure then a drug called EPO can be given. This is a replacement for erythropoietin.

Natural help for anemia
A balanced diet containing foods such as red meat, liver, eggs, dried fruit, nuts, seeds and pulses will help. Supplements containing iron, B12 or folic acid may also be needed. Be reminded that Medical treatment may still be needed.

If you’ve had issues controlling your kids and if you feel they watch too much TV/play too many videos games, then here’s a how to get them active again.

Set a good example
If you want active kids, be active yourself. Adults need at least 2.5 hours a week of moderate intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous activities.
Go for a brisk walk, ride your bike or spend some time gardening. Kids ages 6 to 17 years old need at least an hour a day of such moderate activities.
Three or more days a week should be more vigorous activities such as those that include running/football. Anything that involves working the heart.

Praise Praise Praise
Invite your family to play catch or to join you on a walk. Talk about physical activity as an opportunity to take care of your body, rather than a punishment or a chore. Praise, reward and encourage activity. Set goals and have everyone track their activities and progress.

See yourself as a role model
A parent’s active lifestyle is a powerful stimulus for a child. You are a role model for your children; set a good example by making physical activity a priority in your life.

Limit screen time
A surefire way to increase your child’s activity levels is to limit the number of hours they’re allowed to watch television each day. You might limit screen time — including television, video games and computer time.
Kids should not watch TV for more than one to two hours a day. To make it easier, don’t put a television in your children’s bedrooms, and keep the computer in a family area. Also consider any other of your kids activities that cause them to have a sedentary life and see how you can limit this.

If your children play video games, opt for those that require movement. Activity-oriented video games — such as dance video games and video games that use a player’s physical movements to control what happens on the screen — boost a child’s calorie-burning power. This alone could double their energy expenditure – but that’s not guaranteed.

Establish a routine
Set aside time each day for physical activity. Get up early with your children to walk the dog or take a walk together after dinner. Start small, gradually adding new activities to the routine as you — and your children — become more fit.

Let your children set the pace
For many kids, organized sports are a great way to stay fit. But team sports or dance classes aren’t the only options. If your child is artistically inclined, take a nature hike to collect leaves and rocks that your child can use to make a collage. If your child likes to climb, head for the nearest neighborhood jungle gym. If your child likes to read, walk or bike to the neighborhood library for a book. Or simply turn on your child’s favorite music and dance in the living room.

Understand the needs of your kids
Every child is wired differently. We all have certain strengths and characteristics that influence our interests. The key is finding things that your children like to do.

Promote activity, not exercise
To keep your kids interested in fitness, make it fun.

Let them make decisions
Put your kids in charge. Let each child take a turn choosing the activity of the day or week. Batting cages, bowling and neighborhood play areas all count. What matters is that you’re doing something active.

As a conclusion..
Give the gift of activity. Make gifts and rewards things like activity-related equipment, games or outings.
Incorporating physical activity into your children’s lives does much more than promote a healthy weight, It sets the foundation for a lifetime of fitness and good health.

Only one in eight British youngsters get the recommended amount of daily exercise, according to new research by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

A poll conducted for the charity’s ‘Food4Thought’ campaign found that the vast majority of children do not exercise for 60 minutes per day, as recommended by health experts.

Nearly four-fifths said that they did not know how much physical activity they should be doing, while 30 per cent admitted that they simply ‘can’t be bothered’ to do any exercise.

One in five also claimed that exercise was unnecessary unless a person was overweight.

Dr Mike Knapton, the charity’s director of prevention and care, commented: ‘We have a generation of kids growing up who have a shockingly blase attitude towards exercise and being active.

‘Young people need to switch off their square eyes and get in the habit of exercising now.’

The government’s ‘Change4Life’ initiative recently launched a new exercise campaign to encourage families to be more active.

A poll conducted for the campaign found that 45 per cent of young people watch TV or play video games before school instead of doing something active.

source: netdoctor.co.uk