New influenza A / H1N1 vaccine: There is no less concern

A recent study showed that about half of health workers in Hong Kong (China) are ready to get the influenza A / H1N1 vaccine, but they still have doubts about its effectiveness and potential side effects. . Maybe this is just a psychological problem that needs to be fully explained by scientific and practical evidence.

Meanwhile, another study by Canadian scientists also revealed that health workers and some people in Canada may refuse to vaccinate against the A / H1N1 flu for them and their children. They, fearing the new vaccine could cause unwanted side effects.

Scientists from both studies said that vaccination against influenza A / H1N1 is necessary, this is one of the most important and effective measures to prevent the number of infected and fatal cases. A / H1N1 flu is tending to spread all over the world.

Hong Kong researchers describe their findings as a surprise, compared with the SARS (Acute Respiratory Syndrome), a widespread outbreak in Hong Kong, years. 2003. Notably, the information of scientists in Hong Kong was given at the time the World Health Organization raised the warning of escalation of A / H1N1 flu to level 5.

Health workers are not ready to vaccinate .

Dr. Josette Chor of the University of Hong Kong and colleagues in the research group said that there should be campaigns to encourage vaccination for medical staff. The researchers collected survey data from 2,255 health workers at 31 hospitals.

Specifically, they investigated the number of volunteers willing to vaccinate the H5N1 flu vaccine when WHO raised the pandemic warning to the third level in early 2009 and the number of volunteers willing to vaccinate with the A / H1N1 flu when WHO raise the warning of pandemic influenza A / H1N1 to level 5 in May.

Ready but still not over . concerns (Photo: webmd.com)

The results of an investigation into the H5N1 influenza vaccine showed that 28% of respondents said they were ready to get the flu vaccine. Meanwhile, the second survey showed that only about 48% of respondents who were willing to get the A / H1N1 flu vaccine when the pandemic A / H1N1 pandemic was warned by WHO at 5. However, many people These still seem to be concerned about the side effects and efficacy when vaccinated.

' As far as we know, this is the largest study conducted to assess the willingness of health workers to agree to vaccinate against influenza A / H1N1, and it provides important information about barriers. in vaccination '- researchers confirm.

Worried about the safety of the vaccine

In the study of Canadian authors, Dr. Natalie Henrich of the University of British Columbia and graduate student Bev Holmes of Simon Fraser University, studied 85 people divided into 11 groups in Vancouver in 2006-2007. Participants include college students, adults, parents and medical staff.

Results showed that participants seemed reluctant to inject a new vaccine when a pandemic occurred. The reason given by researchers is that ' because of the lack of awareness of the possibility of infection in the early stages of the pandemic plus the suspicion of the effect of new vaccines and the possibility of outbreaks '.

In addition, ' participants are also very afraid that in a pandemic, a vaccine will be brought to the market without a check of effectiveness and safety, ' the researchers added. Many people believe that washing hands with soap and isolation can prevent disease.

However, Henrich and Holmes claim: their research results are not enough to conclude that vaccination puts pressure on many people. Scientists in Hong Kong also said they need more research to find out the exact cause of the prevalence of people willing to vaccinate as low as it is now.