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?
this is an interesting blog. I dont like giving my kids any vacs that arent routine. i was pretty upset last year that my peditrician made me feel like a fool for not giving my kids the seasonal flu shot so i caved in and they got the shot (or mist) (i have 2 in school and one toddler). I wont even get gardisil for myself at my dr. recomindation. I wasnt worried about h1n1 untill my childs school principal said at a pto meeting that the county board of health expects the virus to spread to every single school in the county. over all we are a healthy family. i was actually considering it but i think i may just change my mind. I deffantly want to keep my family safe. can i trust my peditrician? or will they just force that on me like they did the flu shots?
tif_ki::
on Oct 02, 2009
the video above is extremly insightful. thanks for sharing.
momagarry::
on Oct 29, 2009
Interesting video mamasunny
simplicity738::
on Nov 05, 2009
I'm not sure whether I'd get this one or not...we'll see...
maribel::
on Nov 14, 2009
I have a 6 year old and I want the best for my child i don't know if i want my kid to get vax.
I would wait until i know that the vax is safe to take.
joy9281::
on Nov 25, 2009
i work in health care and i still refuse to get the vaccine. no one can tell me this this vaccine is safe. i would rather deal with getting h1n1 than risk taking the shot and having complications.
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