In an effort to better understand the hard work of the Infection Prevention and Control Department of the National Guard Health Affairs, Dr. Hanan Balkhy offered detailed information concerning several topics related To the H1N1 Influenza and its vaccinations. Dr. Balkhy is the Deputy Executive Director of the Infection and Prevention Control Department and a graduate of King Abdulaziz University – Jeddah. She completed her residency in Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and is board certified in Pediatrics and Infectious disease.
Currently the H1N1 situation in Saudi Arabia is relatively stable and since the beginning of the reporting, most cases range from mild to moderate. Some people have general flu symptoms and do not even know that they are actually experiencing the H1N1 flu. Concerning the propaganda surrounding the vaccine, it is necessary for each person to weigh the benefits and side effects of the vaccine with the risks of the influenza. According to Dr. Balkhy the death rates for the H1N1 are much lower than the avian flu, approximately 2-3%. Therefore, the vaccines are currently optional.
This is important to many people as there are concerns about the adjuvants used in the vaccine which are usually not a problem for adults but these affects are not as well known for children. Currently there is more information available about adjuvants which are oil based products utilized to decrease the amount of vaccine needed per each vaccine dose. This allows for more vaccine doses to be manufactured, an important concept in a pandemic situation. The European Medicines Agency (EMEA), which is the equivalent to the FDA, a European agency for the evaluation of medicinal products, has approved the use of the vaccines for children including high risk children with chronic or metabolic diseases, asthma, diabetes, or cerebral palsy.
Although natural remedies and supplements are not viewed as a replacement for the vaccine itself, taking control of one’s health issues is sure to help with not only reducing risks of contracting the flu or other illnesses, but maintaining general health. Making sure that enough rest, physical activity, and healthy foods are maintained is important for all age groups. These points are even more important for high risk groups such as those with diabetes, chronic diseases, obesity, and women who are pregnant.
Furthermore, the Infection and Prevention Control developed a check list for National Guard schools to ensure their compliance with public health mandates in an effort to prevent the spread of viruses. Dr. Gahtani, Director of Public Health of the Infection Control Department along with Mrs. Badria Otaibi, Public Health Nurse Coordinator, have followed up with these checklists making sure that all NGHA schools are continually providing proper soaps, tissues, waste disposal and following general cleaning procedures. Additionally, they conduct lectures and prepare lecture materials for teachers to be able to properly deal with the current situation.
A reporting system was also developed by the H1N1 National Scientific Committee. As members of this committee, Dr. Hanan Balkhy and other infectious diseases experts from different health sectors, ensure prompt reporting of school children with suspected H1N1 infections. Timely response could be the best method of controlling the spread of the disease and might help in preventing further cases.
In the early months of the pandemic there was little information on the virus, its transmissibility and ways of prevention. This is expected in any pandemic. Now more information is available and most guidelines are based on what we have learned in the past months of the pandemic. Therefore it’s important that all health care sectors comply and coordinate with the efforts of the Ministry of Health and the Scientific Committee which has been basing their recommendations on current scientific data as well as CDC, WHO and EMEA recommendations.
The NGHA online portal conducted a survey as to who was willing to take the vaccine as a reflection of information that the public has concerning the H1N1 and the vaccines. The results indicated that only 21% would take it, while 40% would not, and the remaining 39% requested further testing and information on the vaccine before making a final decision. Dr. Balkhy stated that six months into the pandemic, more is currently known about H1N1 influenza virus. But also from the history of previous pandemics we know that the next wave may be weaker, more severe or remain the same; only time will show. Because of that we should all come together in empowering ourselves with knowledge from credible medical/scientific sites or from medical professionals and avoid the sensationalism of invalidated sources.