What do drug companies have in common with fashion designers? They start working on the next season long before it arrives.
With most of the warm days of summer still ahead of us, the very last thing most people are thinking about is the flu. But for drug companies that manufacture flu vaccines, this is their busy season, getting ready for the autumn rush.
But this year there’s going to be a twist. Because this year, one company will be offering a brand new flu vaccine. And like anything new, “guinea pigs” are needed for testing. Want to sign up? Sure, it’ll be expensive – but the side effects are free.
You knowfor kids
A couple of weeks ago the FDA gave its official stamp of approval to FluMist, the first nasal-spray flu vaccine available in the U.S.
This may sound familiar. I first told you about FluMist months ago in the e-Alert “Quicksilver” (12/19/02). At that time, an FDA panel had recommended that FluMist receive a final approval, but only for those between the ages of 5 and 49. MedImmune (the manufacturer of FluMist) had hoped the approved age range would be 5 to 65, but FluMist had proven neither safe nor effective for people over the age of 50.
In additionwell, there are several additional concerns about FluMist:
- FluMist increases the risk of asthma attacks in kids under the age of 5.
- Typical side effects of FluMist include sore throat, coughing, nasal congestion, and runny nose.
- Clinical trials show that FluMist stops flu-like symptoms in only half the people who take it.
- FluMist costs about five times more than a traditional flu vaccine administered by injection.
That added cost creates other possible stumbling blocks. For one thing, there’s a very good chance that insurance companies won’t cover the extra expense because the only apparent benefit of choosing FluMist over a traditional vaccine will be to avoid the needle.
And one more thing – doctors are advised that kids aged 5 through 8 (the very age group that tends to hate needles more than anyone) will need TWO doses of FluMist to be effective. So the total price for vaccinating each child will be just under $100 (not including the cost of two visits to the doctor).
Ka-ching! Ka-ching! Next!
It’s alive!
The absence of a needle isn’t the only difference between FluMist and an injection vaccine.
Unlike traditional flu vaccines (which use dead flu virus), FluMist will contain three live flu viruses. That’s right – MedImmune wants to put 3 strains of living flu virus into your head. But don’t worry. The FDA says everything’s going to be just fine. The FluMist viruses are “modified” so they won’t grow at body temperature.
Has MedImmune conducted long-term studies to make absolutely certain that these “modified” viruses won’t find a way to work around the modifications? No. Which is part of the reason why many are concerned that FluMist may be harmful for anyone with a compromised immune system. So the long-term “study” will, in effect, be conducted on the general population.
Meanwhile, MedImmune (and its parent company Wyeth) are investing $100 million to advertise FluMist. But that’s a small investment compared to what they hope will eventually be a $1 billion a year product.
Shaping up now
With July just underway, you’re probably thinking about hitting the beach, getting away to a cabin up in the hills, or just enjoying long evenings on the porch. I expect the last thing you want to think about is flu season.
But just like the drug companies, this is when we should start preparing for those chilly months when bugs start “going around.” As Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., pointed out in the April 2001 issue of his Nutrition & Healing newsletter, it takes most people several months to prepare their immune defenses against the infections we encounter in fall and winter. So summer is the perfect time to start getting the immune system in shape.
Fortunately, strengthening the immune system isn’t very hard, as long as long as these three basics are under control: getting the right about of sleep, eating a balanced diet, and maintaining a light to moderate exercise regimen. Studies have shown that it’s also helpful to supplement with a few proven immune system enhancers, such as Echinacea, and vitamins C, E, and beta carotene – all of which have been shown to help fight colds and flu. Selenium is also an effective flu fighter, as is zinc and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) – an amino acid that stimulates your body to produce glutathione, a powerful antioxidant enzyme.
To this, Dr. Wright suggests eating a daily clove of fresh, raw garlic, which is loaded with plenty of antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. And he strongly recommends avoiding sugar, because even a single teaspoon of sugar can impair the immune system by 50 percent for several hours.
Buyer beware
For those who have compromised immune systems, some sort of regimen to pro-actively avoid the flu could be a potential life-saver. More than 36,000 Americans die of flu-related complications each year, and more than 100,000 influenza victims are hospitalized. So for many, the decision to get a flu vaccination should not be taken lightly.
But those who choose FluMist this year should at the very least be aware that they’re venturing into the unknown, participating in a trial with a conclusion that is still months or years in the future.
To Your Good Health,
Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute
Sources:
“Doctors Say Pain-Free FluMist Vaccine Not Best For Everyone” Associated Press, 12/17/02, ap.org
“FDA Approves First Spray Flu Vaccine” NBC News, 12/1/702, nbc.com
“Spray Vaccine for Flu Wins FDA Clearance” Washington Post, 6/17/03, washingtonpost.com
“FluMist Receives FDA’s Approval” Baltimore Sun, 6/18/03, sunspot.net
“MedImmune’s FluMist Gets FDA Approval” TheStreet.com, 6/17/03, thestreet.com
“Nasal Mist Flu Vaccine Approved” Michael Smith, M.D., WebMD, webmd.lycos.com
