14 October 2009
KUWAIT: Many people in Kuwait have expressed concerns over swine flu vaccines after several people from other countries, including some doctors, have warned against negative side effects of the swine flu vaccines to humans. "The swine flu vaccine, like other vaccines, is made by using dead viruses or live ones that have been weakened to become less harmful. Many vaccines also use immune adjuvants, which cause immune systems to overreact to the entry of the virus people are being vaccinated with," Dr Joseph Mercola, a US-based doctor of natural health said on his blog (www.drmercola.com) in late September. "Are you and your family willing to become lab rats for the swine flu vaccine?" he asked.
E-mails have been circulating all over the world detailing the side effects of the swine flu vaccines to humans and the so-called conspiracies to create a global pandemic by some multi-national pharmaceutical companies. Two side effects mentioned in the e-mail were that vaccines could bring intellectual and sexual abilities to lower levels if taken or could even cause death.
But Dr. Khalid Al-Saeed, Professor of the Pediatric College at Kuwait University, said vaccines developed for swine flu are no different from the ordinary or seasonal flu vaccines which were earlier developed and introduced, which were safe.
The fact is swine flu is an influenza virus. All influenza viruses are the same. The process for making the vaccine for the seasonal flu is exactly the same, so the predicted side effects of the swine flu vaccine are the same as those for any other flu vaccines," he said. Dr. Al-Saeed urged the public not to listen to people who talk about the subject without scientific knowledge. "The vaccine is safe. The chance of receiving serious side effects is very low, so that means that the vaccine is generally safe. Researcher have extensively done their job well on the matter. Chemists and scientists have tested the vaccines and proven that it is safe for humans. As a doctor, I strongly recommend the vaccines, especially for children and the elderly," said Al-Saeed to the Kuwait Times on the sideline of a rheumatism seminar held at Salwa Al-Sabah Hall in Salmiya.
One Kuwaiti expressed pessimism about the vaccine and said he would not recommend the vaccine to any of his family members nor would he take it himself. "Yes, it is very alarming. I am afraid because I don't want to be impotent after taking the vaccine. I still want to be sexually active and make babies. They should explain it to us first before I will allow myself to be vaccinated," said Mohammad.
Another Kuwaiti suggested that in order to convince the public to receive the vaccines, the minister himself should take the vaccine in public. "Our fears will probably be cleared when the minister himself undergoes the vaccine in public.
But Rhian, a Filipina nurse from Amiri Hospital, said she would love to be vaccinated as soon as possible. "Until now they haven't vaccinated us, but they did inform us about the vaccine. We are scared of swine flu. Every day in the hospital is like another day of fear because we always get a report that two or three patients have swine flu. I would be foolish if I said no to the vaccine. In fact, we badly need it regardless of some discomforts by some," she said.
The WHO recommend priority vaccination for pregnant women, children, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, and people who have chronic medical conditions.
The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) admitted that there will be some mild effects after the vaccine, but they only range from soreness, redness, tenderness or swelling where the shot was given, fainting (mainly adolescents), headache, muscle aches, fever and nausea. "If any of these side effects occur, they usually occur right after the shot was given and last 1-2 days," said a CDC website (www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/vaccine_keyfacts.htm).
It is rare that there are any life-threatening allergic reactions to the vaccine, but if they do occur, it is usually within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot is given," the website added.
Explanations on how the vaccines work were also available, including more information and facts about the H1N1 virus. "From my end, I believe in any vaccines, because when it comes out from the laboratory, it only means that it was already tested and proven safe. If there is a swine flu vaccine available, I will take it, and my family will take it for sure. I want my family to be safe rather than sorry. Although I still highly believe in taking precautionary and natural actions, such as cleanliness, and fo
llowing the health instructions given by WHO," another doctor mentioned.
Kuwait recorded 4,000 H1N1 cases and about 10 deaths after the virus was detected in April this year. The Ministry of Health in Kuwait earlier accused media of blowing the swine flu issues out of proportion. "Some 99 percent of H1N1 infections are cured without taking any medication," noted Director of the Vocational Health Department, Dr. Ahmad Al-Shatti, during a press conference to announce compulsory injections for pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. Al-Shatti also mentioned that MoH Minister, Hilal Al-Sayer, would love to take the vaccine in public to show its effects to people.
KUWAIT: Many people in Kuwait have expressed concerns over swine flu vaccines after several people from other countries, including some doctors, have warned against negative side effects of the swine flu vaccines to humans. "The swine flu vaccine, like other vaccines, is made by using dead viruses or live ones that have been weakened to become less harmful. Many vaccines also use immune adjuvants, which cause immune systems to overreact to the entry of the virus people are being vaccinated with," Dr Joseph Mercola, a US-based doctor of natural health said on his blog (www.drmercola.com) in late September. "Are you and your family willing to become lab rats for the swine flu vaccine?" he asked.
E-mails have been circulating all over the world detailing the side effects of the swine flu vaccines to humans and the so-called conspiracies to create a global pandemic by some multi-national pharmaceutical companies. Two side effects mentioned in the e-mail were that vaccines could bring intellectual and sexual abilities to lower levels if taken or could even cause death.
But Dr. Khalid Al-Saeed, Professor of the Pediatric College at Kuwait University, said vaccines developed for swine flu are no different from the ordinary or seasonal flu vaccines which were earlier developed and introduced, which were safe.
The fact is swine flu is an influenza virus. All influenza viruses are the same. The process for making the vaccine for the seasonal flu is exactly the same, so the predicted side effects of the swine flu vaccine are the same as those for any other flu vaccines," he said. Dr. Al-Saeed urged the public not to listen to people who talk about the subject without scientific knowledge. "The vaccine is safe. The chance of receiving serious side effects is very low, so that means that the vaccine is generally safe. Researcher have extensively done their job well on the matter. Chemists and scientists have tested the vaccines and proven that it is safe for humans. As a doctor, I strongly recommend the vaccines, especially for children and the elderly," said Al-Saeed to the Kuwait Times on the sideline of a rheumatism seminar held at Salwa Al-Sabah Hall in Salmiya.
One Kuwaiti expressed pessimism about the vaccine and said he would not recommend the vaccine to any of his family members nor would he take it himself. "Yes, it is very alarming. I am afraid because I don't want to be impotent after taking the vaccine. I still want to be sexually active and make babies. They should explain it to us first before I will allow myself to be vaccinated," said Mohammad.
Another Kuwaiti suggested that in order to convince the public to receive the vaccines, the minister himself should take the vaccine in public. "Our fears will probably be cleared when the minister himself undergoes the vaccine in public.
But Rhian, a Filipina nurse from Amiri Hospital, said she would love to be vaccinated as soon as possible. "Until now they haven't vaccinated us, but they did inform us about the vaccine. We are scared of swine flu. Every day in the hospital is like another day of fear because we always get a report that two or three patients have swine flu. I would be foolish if I said no to the vaccine. In fact, we badly need it regardless of some discomforts by some," she said.
The WHO recommend priority vaccination for pregnant women, children, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, and people who have chronic medical conditions.
The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) admitted that there will be some mild effects after the vaccine, but they only range from soreness, redness, tenderness or swelling where the shot was given, fainting (mainly adolescents), headache, muscle aches, fever and nausea. "If any of these side effects occur, they usually occur right after the shot was given and last 1-2 days," said a CDC website (www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/vaccine_keyfacts.htm).
It is rare that there are any life-threatening allergic reactions to the vaccine, but if they do occur, it is usually within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot is given," the website added.
Explanations on how the vaccines work were also available, including more information and facts about the H1N1 virus. "From my end, I believe in any vaccines, because when it comes out from the laboratory, it only means that it was already tested and proven safe. If there is a swine flu vaccine available, I will take it, and my family will take it for sure. I want my family to be safe rather than sorry. Although I still highly believe in taking precautionary and natural actions, such as cleanliness, and fo
llowing the health instructions given by WHO," another doctor mentioned.
Kuwait recorded 4,000 H1N1 cases and about 10 deaths after the virus was detected in April this year. The Ministry of Health in Kuwait earlier accused media of blowing the swine flu issues out of proportion. "Some 99 percent of H1N1 infections are cured without taking any medication," noted Director of the Vocational Health Department, Dr. Ahmad Al-Shatti, during a press conference to announce compulsory injections for pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. Al-Shatti also mentioned that MoH Minister, Hilal Al-Sayer, would love to take the vaccine in public to show its effects to people.
By Ben Garcia
© Kuwait Times 2009
