Swine flu vaccine test-launched in Seattle
SEATTLE - Two people from the Seattle area were the first in the nation to be vaccinated for swine flu, as part of a clinical study that will lead to a vaccination for everyone in the U.S. later this fall.
Eventually 143 people in Seattle will be part of a nationwide study of 600 people to determine the proper dosage of the swine flu vaccine.
The very first person in the country to get the flu shot as part of the study was Cynthia Thomsen of Fall City.
She reported to a clinic in downtown Seattle, where she got a dosage of the new swine flu vaccine that has been developed very quickly.
In three weeks she'll get another shot of an unknown dosage. They will be tested, along with the other patients, to see what the proper dosage should be.
"I'm not really worried about the risk because I trust in what they are doing," Thomsen told KOMO News. "I think it's great what they are doing. I think you need to do things like this in order to benefit others."
The second "guinea pig" is an infectious disease doctor from Seattle.
"There is still risk because this is a newly manufactured product which is differently manufactured than the other flu vaccines," says Dr. Warren Dinges. "So there is some concern with the manufacturing practices (but) I feel pretty comfortable."
Leroy Keith also volunteered. Unfortunately for him, he couldn't join in because of other health issues.
Keith, along with other prospective patients, first got interviewed by the investigating physician who is running these tests for Group Health, who along with the University of Washington and the Seattle Children's Research Institute, will be inoculating volunteers with the new vaccine.
"People who are enrolled in the study are randomly assigned to receive a lower dose vaccine or a higher dose and then everybody gets two injections three weeks apart," says Dr. Lisa Johnson.
"We take blood samples before any of the injections and after the first and after the second and we are looking for the level of the immune response stimulated by the vaccinations," she added.
About 1,000 adults have agreed to participate, though researchers only need 143 in our area.
Later this month, a study will start involving children at the Seattle Children's Research Institute. Investigators want to hold back on inoculating children until that start getting some test results from adult patients.
Parents who would like to volunteer their children to participate in the study should call the Seattle Children's Research Institute vaccine trials hotline at (206) 884-1100. Children must be under age 17 to take part.
The vaccine should be ready for the general public sometime in October.
So this year there will be two flu shots - a regular seasonal vaccine that has already been made and the swine flu shot.
Doctors say people will need both to be fully protected.
Eventually 143 people in Seattle will be part of a nationwide study of 600 people to determine the proper dosage of the swine flu vaccine.
The very first person in the country to get the flu shot as part of the study was Cynthia Thomsen of Fall City.
She reported to a clinic in downtown Seattle, where she got a dosage of the new swine flu vaccine that has been developed very quickly.
In three weeks she'll get another shot of an unknown dosage. They will be tested, along with the other patients, to see what the proper dosage should be.
"I'm not really worried about the risk because I trust in what they are doing," Thomsen told KOMO News. "I think it's great what they are doing. I think you need to do things like this in order to benefit others."
The second "guinea pig" is an infectious disease doctor from Seattle.
"There is still risk because this is a newly manufactured product which is differently manufactured than the other flu vaccines," says Dr. Warren Dinges. "So there is some concern with the manufacturing practices (but) I feel pretty comfortable."
Leroy Keith also volunteered. Unfortunately for him, he couldn't join in because of other health issues.
Keith, along with other prospective patients, first got interviewed by the investigating physician who is running these tests for Group Health, who along with the University of Washington and the Seattle Children's Research Institute, will be inoculating volunteers with the new vaccine.
"People who are enrolled in the study are randomly assigned to receive a lower dose vaccine or a higher dose and then everybody gets two injections three weeks apart," says Dr. Lisa Johnson.
"We take blood samples before any of the injections and after the first and after the second and we are looking for the level of the immune response stimulated by the vaccinations," she added.
About 1,000 adults have agreed to participate, though researchers only need 143 in our area.
Later this month, a study will start involving children at the Seattle Children's Research Institute. Investigators want to hold back on inoculating children until that start getting some test results from adult patients.
Parents who would like to volunteer their children to participate in the study should call the Seattle Children's Research Institute vaccine trials hotline at (206) 884-1100. Children must be under age 17 to take part.
The vaccine should be ready for the general public sometime in October.
So this year there will be two flu shots - a regular seasonal vaccine that has already been made and the swine flu shot.
Doctors say people will need both to be fully protected.