TR EMERITUS

This medication guide provides information about the Influenza A (H1N1-2009) pandemic influenza vaccine, who should receive the vaccine, and the common side effects to look out for. The H1N1 vaccine has a similar safety profile as seasonal flu vaccine, which has a good track record. So far, the H1N1 vaccine has not been associated with any unexpected adverse events. The general consensus is that any such serious adverse events would be rare. Monitoring on the efficacy and safety of the vaccines is on-going. Clinical trials in children are still ongoing. The health authorities will review the use of the vaccine in children as soon as information on its efficacy and safety in children is available. What is the vaccine for? Who should receive the vaccine? Getting the vaccination is an effective way to build immunity and protect yourself against the H1N1 virus. The new strain of Influenza A (H1N1), though known to be contagious, has not been reported to cause severe illness in the majority of patients infected by it. However, individuals with underlying chronic conditions (e.g. diabetes, heart diseases, kidney failure, lung diseases, neuromuscular disorders), low immunity and pregnant women may be at a higher risk of complications like respiratory and heart failure from pneumonia. If you belong to any of these high-risk groups, you should consider getting the vaccination. Who should not get the vaccine or should wait to receive one? If you had a severe allergic reaction after a dose of seasonal influenza vaccine, or are allergic to high protein food (like egg or chicken protein), please inform your doctor, who will advise you if you should receive the vaccine. You should have fully recovered from moderate or severe illnesses before receiving the vaccine. What should I tell my doctor before my vaccination? You should inform your doctor if you: 1. Have a fever or an infection. (If you have a fever or feeling unwell, you should postpone your vaccination); 2. Have received any vaccination (whether seasonal flu vaccine or any other vaccine) before; 3. Have been infected by H1N1 influenza virus before; 4. Are allergic to any medicines or vaccines, or food (eg, high protein food like egg or chicken protein); 5. Have other illnesses; 6. Are taking other medicines; 7. Are pregnant. Will I get immediate immunity after vaccination? How long will I be protected for? Immunity after vaccination varies from person to person, but you will generally start producing the antibodies that provide protection after two weeks. It will protect the majority of people for at least 6 months to a year. It is important to remember that no vaccine provides 100% protection in every person vaccinated. This vaccine only protects you against the H1N1 2009 influenza virus. You can still be infected by other seasonal influenza viruses. Please discuss with your doctor if you would also like to take your seasonal influenza vaccine. What are the side effects of the vaccine? The common side effects of influenza vaccinations such as the H1N1 vaccines include pain, redness or swelling at the site of injection. These side effects usually resolve in a few days. Occasionally, vaccines may cause some other "generalised" side effects such as fever, headache, muscle aches and pains, or a rash - these side effects may be caused by the vaccine or may be symptoms of a coincidental illness (eg, viral infection). Again, these side effects usually resolve in a few days. Some patients may also experience febrile seizures (fever accompanied by fits). Very rarely, vaccines may cause severe allergic reactions (or anaphylaxis). Patients may feel severe anxiety, itchy skin rash, swelling of the lips and face or difficulty in breathing. There have been reports overseas of a possible association between influenza vaccinations and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare and sometimes severe condition affecting the body’s nerves. However, the link with vaccination (including with this vaccine) is not definite. How can I relieve the discomfort of common side effects of vaccination such as fever, pain and swelling? For relief of fever and possible pain from the vaccination, you may wish to: 1. Take paracetamol. 2. Place a cold, wet cloth over the injection site for pain, redness, or swelling. When do I know that a side effect is serious and I need to see a doctor? Please see a doctor if you experience any of the following: 1. The side effects persist for more than a few days. 2. Your fever is high (>380C) or persists for more than 48 hours (2 days) despite taking paracetamol. 3. You have fever accompanied by fits. 4. You experience severe allergic reactions (or anaphylaxis) where you may feel severe anxiety, itchy skin rash, swelling of the lips and face or difficulty in breathing. If you feel it is serious you may need to call an ambulance or go directly to a hospital emergency department. Where can I get more information? You may call the Ministry of Health (MOH) Hotline at 1800-333 9999 should you need more information on the pandemic vaccination and the side effects of the vaccine. For more information on the H1N1 pandemic and the H1N1 pandemic vaccine, you can also visit the MOH website: http://www.moh.gov.sg Source: Ministry of Health, Singapore   Related articles: >> Cost price of H1N1 vaccine revealed >> Why you do not need the H1N1 flu vaccine >> H1N1 flu vaccination begins   EDITORS’ NOTE: If you like our work and would like to support us, please transfer your donations via paypal to our account ([email protected]). Any amount will be greatly appreciated! 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From our Correspondent Famous PAP ghost writer and apologist Jeffrey Law has another of his pro-government letters published in the Straits Times Forum today after an earlier piece applauding the People's Association for "bridging the generation gap" was published on 27 October 2009. Jeffrey did not even bother to hide his "admiration" to the PAP in his latest article. Describing the PAP's "self-renewal" as a "boon" for the nation, he wrote: "The ruling People's Action Party (PAP) can pride itself on not only taking self- renewal seriously, but also doing it with much circumspection. It can be disquieting to know that some politicians in the region indulge in money politics and resort to buying votes." Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had announced during a PAP convention last Sunday that the PAP has found some credible candidates to be fielded in the next election as part of their "self-renewal" process. He did not mentioned if Singapore's two former prime ministers and one deputy prime minister will contest in the next general election. How the PAP can brand itself as "renewing" the party when the senior leadership remain in the hands of a few is anybody's guess. Shouldn't "self-renewal" involves wholesale changes in the leadership from the top to the bottom of the hierarchy rather than cosmetic changes at the junior level? Jeffry also praised the PAP leaders for their "exemplary" conduct during the election period: "The responsible manner in which our political leaders conduct themselves during the election period and at other times goes a long way towards cementing our standing as a social, economic and political safe haven." During the 1997 General Elections, then Senior Minister Mr Goh Chok Tong and his two deputies Dr Tony Tan and Mr Lee Hsien Loong gained entry into a Cheng San GRC polling station, all of whom were not candidates for Cheng San GRC. Section 82(1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act reads: “No person shall wait outside any polling station on polling day, except for the purpose of gaining entry to the polling station to cast his vote. No person shall loiter in any street or public place within a radius of 200 metres of any polling station on polling day.” The Worker’s Party candidate for Cheng San J.B. Jeyaretnam lodged a complaint the alleged “transgression”. Attorney-General Chan Sek Keong ruled that there wasn’t any violation of the act on the part of the PAP MPs because they were within the 200 metre boundary of the polling station. The act explicitly stated that those outside the radius were in violation, but it wasn’t applicable to those within the radius. The case was never heard of ever again.  Read More →

By Debra Chong from The Malaysian Insider At last, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has taken a big step towards formalising its alliance in order to go head on with Barisan Nasional (BN) as a registered coalition at the next general election. The Malaysian Insider understands that officials from the PR alliance handed in their application to be made a formal coalition to the Registrar of Societies (RoS) some time earlier this week.   According to government sources, some 10 names each from DAP, PAS and PKR were listed in the registration form, together with a list of common objectives, which are expected to be laid out when the alliance holds its first convention next month. A logo bearing a “rising sun” was also tendered — signalling a “new dawn” for the country — as the fledgling opposition front's symbol against BN's dacing, or scale. The PR bloc believes its application this time will pass muster, based on the new stand taken by the Registrar of Societies Datuk Md Alias Kalil. Md Alias had publicly stated that the previous reading of Section 2 of the Societies Act 1966, which states any coalition of political parties must have at least seven political parties as members to be registered did not apply. The loose alliance of PKR, DAP and PAS first came together in the wake of the landmark March 8 general election last year, which saw its members wrest control of four key states from BN in spite of fundamental differences in philosophies. But it remains to be seen if PKR, PAS and DAP will be able to settle their various spats within their respective parties as well as with each other and present a force capable of challenging BN. The growing infighting within all three parties — from Sabah PKR leaders quitting in protest against heavy-handed treatment from its peninsula-based central leadership to frequent eruptions between the religious PAS and socialist DAP — has only served to diminish their viability in the eyes of the increasingly weary and wary public. PR will need to keep in mind that many of the votes cast were also an act of protest against BN for perceived arrogance. But under Datuk Seri Najib Razak, BN has managed to claw back some support for the ruling coalition. - The Malaysian Insider  Read More →