By Fiona MacDonald

As if diminished sunlight, cold weather and blasting heating systems were not bad enough for our immune systems, this year, just to spice winter up, we faced a pandemic. Yes I’m talking about H1N1, something you’re probably all sick of hearing about.

There have been conspiracy theories (did USA big pharmaceutical companies create the virus to boost sales, or was it a terrorist group?), panic (no, we’re not all going to die) and a lot of miscommunication (twitter as a main culprit!).

But all of the talk and hysterical media coverage is drowning out the most important question in my opinion: what’s going on with the vaccine?

When the virus first broke out, it was estimated a custom made vaccine could take as little as three months, so what’s the hold up?

‘Solving Swine Flu with Science: a vaccine victory?’ at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead tonight, presented by Professor Robert Booy, Head of Clinical Research at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, Kids Research Institute, will aim to answer this question.

The flu presents some unique problems for scientists, as it is constantly mutating. This means researchers don’t know what they’re up against until the virus has infected the first victim and by then it’s already too late. Each time a new strain breaks out, like H1N1, the vaccine needs to be characterised and then tweaked until it’s safe to inject into the human body.

The fact that vaccines take so long to make is one of the main reasons flu pandemics are so scary. The swine flu in its current state doesn’t have a higher mortality rate than the bug that goes around every year, but the fact that no one has any immunity to it means millions more people can be infected.

This is why many researchers have are trying to create universal flu virus vaccines, as reported on ABC’s Catalyst. They may not stop pandemic strains completely, but will do a good job of slowing their spread while a custom-made drug is developed.

In the meantime, Professor Robert Booy will speak tonight about the other ways we can manage the virus using modern hygiene and technology. For those vulnerable to the flu – such as people who are already ill, the very young and the elderly – anitvirals can be used to reduce the symptoms of H1N1. The existing seasonal flu vaccine may also offer a protection against swine flu.

For everyone else, using face masks properly, washing hands well and monitoring the virus’s spread with tools like Google Flu Trends can help to avoid getting sick.

I believe we’re much better equipped to fight a pandemic like H1N1 now than ever before – modern technology, hygiene and the sensible use of are antivirals are helping to save lives while we wait for a vaccine.

For anyone who’s still panicking, don’t fret, the vaccine is predicted to arrive in October. Now, if only we could get the mass media and the conspiracy nuts to calm down, the swine flu would be a little more bearable for everyone.

Find out more about tonight’s event here.

Tags: disease

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