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Originally Posted by Foxglove  I actually wasn't intending to get into the "bonus for no sick days" debate as it is an entirely separate issue and for which I have quite strong views (maybe another thread?).
I started this in wellbeing as it is simply about flu vaccinations and people's take on them being available free through work. It is entirely voluntary and there is absolutely no pressure to have them. It was one email saying they are available to anyone who wants to have one. I know a number of companies who offer this, but I am not entirely convinced it is necessary and wonder if giving the vaccine to people who are not vulnerable will actually just cause the flu to mutate (I am no expert and this is just a random thought) so that other strains become stronger? |
Influenza is a segmenented RNA virus - that is, the genome is made up of blocks of RNA. The reason there is a predicted vaccination program is that influenza (only prevalent in Europe from Oct-March each year) incubates in pigs and birds in Asia the rest of the year (as it is a zoonotic virus) and in doing so, the genome can mix and match with other strains/subtypes. This causes a 'shuffling' of the genome (like a deck of cards) and voila a new strain is born. It is technically referred to as genetic drift. It's not necessarily a mutation, however when for example a bird strain mixes with a human strain, the virion (complete virus) may acquire the ability to infect either species successfully. This is due to the neuraminidase + haemagluttin (this is the H and N part of the virus subtype), which allows receptor binding to a human cell.
This has occured several times, but to date there is
no known recorded case of direct human-human transmission. The 'mixed' virus is not meant to infect humans or birds; it is not in a virus' interest to kill the host, as then it dies without further replication in a new host. a virus cannot think, but is subject to host/pathogen survival of the fittest.
Influenza antivirals (tamiflu, relenza, etc) work to inhibit the N part of N-H, so in actual fact if the strain is novel hybrid N-H avian-human strain, these generally won't work effectively either. As the vaccine created is based on predictions it will only be effective if it was created against said hybrid strain; vaccination programs will not do one jot of good unless targetted against the correct subtype in circulation.
When I completed the virology section of my MedSci degree (about 5 yrs ago) we were taught that there is very little actual chance of a flu pandemic with a avian-human hybrid strain. This doesn't mean it won't happen ever, it's just not that likely based on the nature of this virus. The media piss me off with the OTT nonsense and scare tactics used on the public - cliff notes, get a vaccine if you are vulnerable person, i.e. influenza will cause complications if you are infected. If the predictions are correct (recently, they are very good with strain predictions from Asia), then you'll be protected. There is
no chance this procedure will allow the virus to mutate....influenza doesn't operate that way..it does all its socialising in swine and birdies.
I hope that eases your mind..oh and sorry for dumbing it down a bit
