Canadian Study Suggests Flu Shot Increases Risk for Swine

A recent Canadian study caused quite the international stir when it strongly suggested that season flu shots doubled one's risk for being infected by H1N1.  Although follow-up studies are being conducted due to the worrisome implications, as of now the data presented is generally considered "solid" and is largely accepted by those reviewing it because of the large number of credible authors and researchers involved and the huge sample size of 12 to 13 million people taken from the central reporting systems in three provinces.

Regardless of these statements some skepticism still exists because these findings are not shared among other countries, the study's impact appears confined to Canada alone.  Researchers in the US, UK, and Australia have not reported anything that would imply a similar situation is underfoot elsewhere.  Marie-Paule Kieny, director of vaccine research at the World Health Organization even feels that there might be some "study bias" involved with this study considering it's exclusive nature.

In the meantime most Canadian provinces, to the dismay and confusion of the public, are suspending the distribution of seasonal flu shots until January 2010 at the earliest.  Only New Brunswick has chosen to disregard this research and will still administer shots as usual.  The exception for all provinces are citizens over 65 will still receive their flu shot as they prove more susceptible to the common flu, though interestingly they still carry antibodies from the 1957 pandemic that seems to neutralize H1N1.

With this being said, the link between the season flu and Swine still proves mysterious, one theory postulates that the seasonal flu vaccine preoccupies the cells that would otherwise produce antibodies against H1N1 but otherwise scientists are floundering on this one.  “We don't understand the mechanism,” Dr. Rubinstein said. “At the present time it is quite perplexing.” 




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