As we all gear up for the new school year, health officials are busy getting ready to introduce the new H1N1 flu vaccine to the public. It is being reported that the vaccine should be available some time in October. School age children, health care workers, and pregnant women will be some of the first in line to receive the swine flu shots. Many schools around the country will double as vaccination centers, some offering free shots, to make sure as many children as possible are inoculated against the virus.
Schools are also taking extra precautions by encouraging parents to keep their children at home when they are at all feverish. Newsweek reports that schools in Minneapolis have installed tamper-proof soap dispensers in all restrooms to make sure children have the chance to wash their hands.
Though the original swine flu outbreak has been considered relatively mild, government health officials are preparing for the worst. They are considering the possibility that the virus could become more serious and widespread with the onset of winter.
With pregnant women and young children first in line to get the swine flu shot, some people are left worrying about the safety of the new vaccine and whether it has been tested long enough to get effective results. A recent Reuters article discusses some of the concerns people have about the new vaccine.
One of the top concerns is rooted in the public's memory of reports from 1976 when the U.S. government began a massive nationwide immunization against the swine flu of that time. Though the swine flu of 1976 never spread further than a military base, several hundred cases of Guillain Barre Syndrome were reported after receiving vaccinations. Guillain Barre Syndrome is a rare neurological disease that can paralyze a person and in some instances lead to death. More people suffered from this disease than those affected by the actual swine flu.
Do you trust that the new swine flu vaccine will be safe?
Will you be taking any extra precautions this fall to guard against flu?
no thank you, the govt again is rushing into this without proper eval of the vax. Amazes me how the Govt is always trying to rush things and then say opps. England and Europe are hesitant about this vax, so maybe we should take a step back and not fall into the scare tactics. Sure Swine flu is scary but has so far killed 300 people whereas the flu kills 36000 per year. There wasnt a panic about the flu, yet there is about the swine flu? I am passing on the vax till more studies are done.
ameliasmom::
on Aug 17, 2009
I agree with smallangels, more people will die from the vax it's self than the flu.
wanderlust::
on Aug 17, 2009
I'm with you 2.. this vax hasn't been tested long enough to know what the long-lasting effects will be. If I was pregnant, there's no way i'd let my unborn child be potentially harmed by this vaccine and certainly my 4 year old will not be receiving it either.
Gilbertma8893::
on Aug 17, 2009
I would not let any of my children get this vax. I do not trust the vax right now because of the short amount of time it has been out. I will wait till it has been tested much longer before I even think about it. The risks caused by the vax, to me, is too dangerous. I work at schools so I will be taking my normal precautions and alot more.
hamster_mom::
on Aug 18, 2009
I don't feel comfortable giving new vaccines to my child or taking them myself. I haven't giving my daughter the Gardisil vaccine because of this fact. The government doesn't even know for sure that Autism isn't being caused by vaccines or giving the vaccines in combination with other medicines. I really think people need to do alot more research before they just go head long into saying yes to things like this.
ocd189::
on Aug 18, 2009
I really don't trust the new flu vaccine...considering the flu virus always mutates. We don't know what the flue virus will be from year to year. All they could do is speculate as to what it will be this year. They are unable to isolate this flue virus to make enough vaccinations for the people at risk. So no, I don't trust it.
JMaynard85::
on Aug 18, 2009
I have no idea what do do on this.. I am a mother of a 2 year old and pregnant with our second child in December.. I do get regular flu shots every year because I work in a big office and dont want to be out of work sick much. I am afraid that the H1N1 vaccine is going to be too new, what makes it worse is that they are offering it to pregnant woman first when we have no idea what the effects may be on the unborn babys! At this point I think I will wait to see what my dr recommends!
familyfirst5::
on Aug 18, 2009
I think it is too soon to make comments on the vaccine. We need to first take our standard precautions and tell our children to keep their hands and noses clean, especially in school. The vaccine will be available in limited quantities and to a certain select groups first.
sguzman::
on Aug 19, 2009
I agree. This shot hasn't been out too long and who knows what the long term side effects can be. It's not like everyone will die from the swine flu either. My sister tested positive for swine and she is perfectly fine now. It's just a simple case of the flu. People only die because they don't take care of themselves.
bbwright07::
on Aug 19, 2009
i agree with most of the ladies on here! It hasn't been out long enough for a proper study to be done and they want to first give it to pregnant women and kids?! No way. Myself and my 2 year old will NOT be standing in that line!!
