Swine Flu Question: Will this vaccine protect you if the flu mutates?

And I'm guessing this is not a yes or no question, but a "how much" question.

Will you be safe?

"At this stage, it is impossible to predict if or how the H1N1 swine flu virus will mutate (change). However, experiences with the H5N1 bird flu vaccine would suggest that an H1N1 vaccine would also provide a high level of immunity against closely related strains. The level of cross-protection is expected to be greatest for more closely related strains."

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pandemic-flu/pages/qa.aspx#stillprovideprotection


"Typically each year, one or two of the viruses in the flu shot are updated to anticipate mutations. However, if a major “shift” occurs, or the virus mutates to a different form than what researchers anticipated, the shot may not cover some of the circulating viruses. If there are viruses circulating that are not covered by the flu shot, you may still get the flu even if you had a flu shot.
The good news is that the antibodies your body produces to fight the viruses in the flu shot are typically able to provide some resistance to mutated versions of that virus. Even if it does not prevent the illness, you are more likely to have a less severe case of the illness if you have had a flu shot."

http://coldflu.about.com/od/fluvaccinequestions/a/07-08flushot.htm

Leaning toward no, but still trying to learn.

If it mutates where the antibodies can't recognize it signature and destroy it then the vaccine won't help. But I think the odds of that are very very low.

One with thimerosal and one without. My daughter is pregnant and getting the one without.

such as my pregnant daughter. I've been told that supplies are very limited. I'm guessing you'll have to ask your doctor about it. We're in NE TN.

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As for mutations, the most difficult thing about being an epidemiologist is that you have to prove yourself to be smarter than the pathogen you're trying to contain. Back in the late 80s and early 90s, the AIDS virus mutated so often it had researchers pulling out their hair.

It'll be interesting to see if this is really a blessing in disguise.

I'm gonna get the vaccination if it becomes available where I live. I already wash my hands a lot and do what I usually do to try to stay healthy. Otherwise, I'm not gonna think about it. I've really got Terror Fatigue. Do they have a shot for that?

as is DNA sequencing. (those are the tests people use if they are actually confirming infection or studying the virus)

said the doctor did not advise testing, citing its inaccuracy, and saying the treatment would be the same either way. I'm sure you are right. There's some reason they don't do the other test. It's expensive, I think I heard.

Poor kid looks like he has pneumonia now. He already has some other disability. Not sure what exactly cuz I've never inquired what it is (hard to ask). I feel so bad for him. He's been sick for almost a week now.

classic symptoms but neg on rapid test. We didn't do the longer test since treating presumptively on symptoms, but it made me more leery of trusting the test. Nice there is a rapid test, but still.

even if it did at least this year the vaccine is sufficiently targeted that it would still be signficantly protective.

there is also a good chance that it won't. To get the vaccine out in time, only 1 virus profile was used. Typical flu vaccines use at least 2, more recently 3 to improve the chances of a match.