Swine flu vaccine

[tamirra]

How different if any is todays swine flu vaccine, to the one that was given in 1976, any ideas please. Thank you

[tamirra]

Now im really confussed, can you explain in my terms please, i want to know is the vaccine the same now as it was then? Thanks and sorry for not understanding what you mean.

[LazyGun]

@Tamirra.

The basic principles underpinning the development of vaccines have remained unchanged since the 1940s.Below is an approximation of what happens.
.
1.Identify the virus to which you wish to create a vaccine.
2.Isolate and purify samples of the virus to add to eggs.
3.Add a seed quantity of the virus to millions of eggs, each of which act as viral manufacturing plants.
4.Once a sufficient incubation time has elapsed, process the eggs, extracting and purifying the newly grown virus.
5.Kill, attenuate or weaken the virus, to prevent the therapeutic dose administered causing the viral disease in the recipients.
6.Stabilise the virus, add bacteriostatic agents to prevent bacterial growth and contamination.
7.Dilute to appropriate levels consistent with a therapeutic dose.
8.Aliquot into vials, ready for administration by injection, or nasal spray.

Although the basic principles have remained unchanged, we have seen huge and significant improvements in our knowledge base, scientific understanding and manufacturing processes in the intervening 30 odd years since 1976.

A vaccine produced using modern manufacturing methods is a completely different product from one that was produced in the 1970s. Seed virus selection, purification methods, trace contaminant detection and removal, improved virus inactivation protocols, more comprehensive safety testing and clinical trialling make the vaccine markedly safer.

@Zac - not sure where you are getting your information from - All the sources I have consulted refer to a mass immunization programme against a swine flu like virus first noted in Fort Dix. This immunization programme took in around 25% of the US population before it was halted.

[tamirra]

Lazygun thats what i thought, so there was a vaccine in 76 then, so do you know how different that vaccine was to the present day vaccine for swine flu? Thanks

[LazyGun]

@tamirra.
So my initial post didnt give you an idea of how different a vaccine produced today would be from a vaccine produced in the '70s?
The same principle ingredients for a vaccine remain the same now as they did in 1976. A vaccine contains the following basic ingredients ; Active immunogen, to provoke an immune response.Biological stabilisers to prevent degradation of the immunogen protein over time..Diluent. pH balancers. Bacteriostatic agents to prevent the growth of bacterial contaminants. Trace contanimants from the manufacturing process. Some vaccines may, in addition, have an additional constituent, known as an adjuvant, which allows a smaller amount of the active immunogen to provoke a better immune response.
The improvements in the manufacturing process mean that a modern day vaccine is far safer. These differences include;
1. Different method of creation of the seed virus used to innoculate the eggs - split virion inactivated now.
2. Different strain of Influenza A H1N1 from that in 1976.
3. Improved production methods, better technology to handle the eggs and grow the virus.
4. Far Far improved purification methods to remove trace impurities, and far better diagnostic technologies to ensure a much more sensitive detection of impurities on the first place.
5. 30 years of additional production and clinical trial data to indicate which are the safest constituents, with 100s of millions of doses being given over the decades since 1976.

This current vaccine on offer is exactly the same as the seasonal flu vaccine, to all intents and purposes. The only difference is the active immunogen, the virus particles used to provoke an immune response.

[tamirra]

Thank you Laztgun now i understand, thank you.

[LazyGun]

@tamirra - No problem.