Getting stressed over H1N1 vaccine shortage isn't the answer, says infectious disease expert

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By Nick Moore
Times & Transcript Staff

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FREDERICTON - The second wave of pandemic H1N1 has arrived in New Brunswick and is affecting all parts of the province.

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The Canadian Press

An H1N1 vaccine seeker waits at Bonnie Doon Mall in Edmonton, Alta. Health officials urge NBers to stay calm as short supplies of the vaccine lead to delays in public inoculations.

The vaccine to fight H1N1 is here, too. But there's not nearly enough vaccine for all New Brunswickers at this time.

About 10 per cent of New Brunswickers have received the H1N1 flu shot thus far. But a national slowdown in vaccine production has meant cancelled and postponed clinics for the next week, at least.

There's no guarantee of what amount of vaccine New Brunswick will get from federal officials after this week.

It could be up to three weeks before the general population gets their chance to become vaccinated.

And the second wave of H1N1 activity is already here.

The current scenario is no doubt discouraging for those who want the shot now and can't access it. But it's exactly those stressful feelings that need be avoided during this active flu season, according to an infectious disease expert.

"Obviously when you're stressed, your immune system is weakened by your mental state of stress," said Dr. Glen Armstrong, head of the University of Calgary's Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

Armstrong said getting reliable information about pandemic H1N1 can have a calming effect on the body's immune system, not to mention give proper context to the entire situation.

In New Brunswick, most reported H1N1 cases have been classified as mild symptoms which go away after a few days of at-home rest.

Armstrong said he's in no way suggesting that getting the flu isn't concerning. Rather, he said the hysteria being seen over the virus and vaccine shortage isn't healthy in itself and should be replaced with education.

"I think people need to sit back and take a deep breath," he said. "I know a lot of people who've had this flu and, yes, they've been sick for four or five days, and it's made them feel pretty miserable.

"But because they weren't in a high-risk group and otherwise healthy, they were able to stay at home, get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids and follow those recommendations for how to help yourself recover from flu-like infections."

Armstrong said people should get the H1N1 vaccine as soon as it's available for their group, calling it the best way to ensure protection against sickness. But until low-risk groups are able to get vaccinated, Armstrong said those people should ensure their immune systems are in tip-top shape.

He said the attention paid to one's immune system might not just prevent an infection, but help the body respond better in case H1N1 infection does happen.

"What that means is if you do get the flu, your body is in prime fighting condition for fighting the infection and that should help you in not developing as serious an illness from the infection and also help you recover a lot more quickly," he said.

"You're giving the body the best chance you can give it to get in there and really fight the virus. That will help you recover and also prevent any more serious complications from occurring, if you're otherwise healthy."

In other words, if you're not all that keen to eat well, be active, and get a good night's sleep, now might be the time to pick up such habits regardless of whether you plan to get vaccinated.

And don't underestimate the power of fluids, said Armstrong.

"Drink plenty of fluids because we know if you drink plenty of fluids all of the membranes lining your lungs, your nose and upper respiratory tracts, they have nice mucus coverings and those mucus coverings are quite beneficial in blocking viruses from getting in and colonizing, establishing in those sites."

Health officials say they still plan to order 600,000 flu shots in total to cover 75 per cent of the New Brunswick population. The province says it wants everybody to get vaccinated but didn't order 100 per cent coverage because it doesn't expect everyone to get a shot. If demand reaches more than 75 per cent, the province says it will order more vaccine.

In spite of the slowdown in manufacturing the vaccine, the province still plans to vaccinate all New Brunswickers who want an H1N1 flu shot by Christmas.

After receiving the H1N1 flu vaccine, most people will start developing immunity within 10 days after that one dose.