By Julie Stachowiak, PhD
Multiple Sclerosis Guide; Guest blogger

Usually the word "recall" means that something has injured or sickened many people, prompting manufacturers to get it all off the shelves.

Fortunately, the recall of 800,000 doses of pediatric swine flu (H1N1) vaccine has absolutely nothing to do with safety. I'll repeat that: The H1N1 vaccine that was recalled is SAFE!

The problem with the vaccine that was recalled by Sanofi-Pasteur was that it somehow lost potency from the time of manufacture and packaging over the following weeks. The potency was only slightly below required levels and the company issued a voluntary recall.

The good news is that there is no recommendation for kids to get vaccinated again if the received the two doses of vaccine that is recommended for all children under the age of 10. This is the case even if both doses came from the recalled lots.

Bottom line: If your child got two doses of H1N1 vaccine, don't do anything. If your child is still missing a dose (or two), get them vaccinated. There is nothing to worry about. Leave the stress over this situation to those dealing with the logistics of such a huge recall.

By Julie Stachowiak, PhD
Multiple Sclerosis Guide; Guest blogger

Until very recently, there was no way to know right away if a person had H1N1 (swine flu) or the seasonal flu. The rapid flu test available would give docs a "yes" or "no" answer. Since seasonal flu was not circulating yet, a "yes" result probably meant H1N1 infection.

Part of the problem with this approach is that many of these tests returned false negative results, as these rapid test kits have only between 49 and 69% accuracy. In other words, even if the result was "no," you still really weren't sure if it was H1N1 or not. To get a real answer, the sample would have to be sent away for confirmatory testing. Since this took too long, many physicians would start patients on an antiviral before they even knew what they were treating, as these drugs work best in the first 24 to 48 hours following onset of symptoms.

This week, the FDA approved the test that is considered the "gold standard" of influenza diagnostics - a real-time PCR test (these tests actually look for the DNA of the virus itself, rather than antibodies). The test, manufactured by DxNA, uses a portable unit that can read samples collected by swabbing the inside of the cheek or nose. It takes about 50 minutes to get results.

By Julie Stachowiak, PhD
Multiple Sclerosis Guide; Guest blogger

With all of the noise and attention on H1N1 (swine flu), our old friend the seasonal flu has kind of been lost in the shuffle.

I'm going to make this reminder short, sweet and firm: Get your seasonal flu vaccine, if you haven't already. We are heading into flu season and the time is now.

The flu vaccine is available as an injection or as a nasal mist. Kids (under 9 years old) getting vaccinated for the first time need 2 doses of the shot or mist. If you are getting your second (or first) dose of H1N1 vaccine, you can also get your seasonal flu vaccine at the same time (only one can be the nasal mist, though).

Also, all of you people that are 65 or older who were feeling a little left out with all of the H1N1 vaccination going on - it is extra important that you get the seasonal flu vaccine, as the seasonal flu is especially dangerous to older people.

Go ahead, do it now and feel good about taking care of yourself.

By Julie Stachowiak, PhD
Multiple Sclerosis Guide; Guest blogger

Autopsies performed on people who died from H1N1 and its complications in New York City show that the virus damages the entire respiratory tract. This pattern is very similar to that seen in the other influenza epidemics of 1918 and 1957 - the most extensive damage in the upper airway, but in some cases, even the tiny airsacs called the alveoli were damaged.

These findings were consistent with the animal research (in ferrets, to be precise) that showed that the H1N1 virus infected tissues deeper than those infected by the seasonal flu, which tends to remain in the nasal passages.

Interestingly, the same animal research also showed that the H1N1 virus found its way into the intestinal tracts of some infected animals, which also does not happen with the seasonal flu.

Source: JR Gill et al. Pulmonary pathological findings of fatal 2009 pandemic influenza A/H1N1 viral infections. Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Published online Dec. 7, 2009