Vaccinating The Nation
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?
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Blaze65 | west berlin , FLNo Way! How can the Government Predict all these deaths? last time i checked they said about 90,000 people will die from the swine flu. how do they know? unless the swine flu shots are not safe. I dont agree with giving this shot out to all these people it hasnt been tested enough.
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NoBrainer | Henderson, NVI agree wioth most here. Wasbeing admitted for daty surgery and the RN asked me if I had the vac. or the one for phen. When I said no, she stated she didn't trust it either! I had chemo yearsago and it comprinised the immune system so I naturally feel am asking for trouble taking these antibodies on. I also (politically speaking) wonder if we are being used as 'test subjects' at times, 4 months ago there was nary a vaccine for this and now there is?
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sarahk1237 | Omaha, NEI don't really believe in flu vaccines and am not sure if I believe kids need as many of the vaccines as they get. We have vaccinated my son up to this point, but I don't really want to get him a flu shot even though the Doc recommends it. I have never gotten a flu shot and never plan to. I don't think they can make me so I am going to give this one a miss and skip it for my son too.
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krispy76 | gray, TNThe regular flu shot is a shot in the dark, so there is no way I'd get the swine flu vaccine. Nor would I let my child have it. He's 4 and never had a flu shot. In the last 10 years I've had one flu shot and it was the only year I got the flu.
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cybrown551 | HOOKSETT, NHI don't mind the vaccines if it would save a life. There have been many people dying from this virus so I would recommend the vaccine to decrease the spread to save a life.
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rulistenin | Jackson, WYThe media has definitely put the 'fear factor' into taking this shot. Right now, I have no intentions of getting this shot. Thanks for all your commens from 'smallangels' on down.
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harriedmomof2 | philadelpiha , PAMy kids and I have never gotton a flu vaccine and we have never caught the flu, that being said I am a little on the fence with this swine flu. I am pretty sure that we will not be getting it however i am going to talk to the kids dr. I trust him very much and see what he has to say.
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jamesandteresabaker | Niagara Falls , NYI'm in health care and do have concerns about long term testing of the vaccine. I'm not sure how honest the government but don't want to wait until the sitiuation is too serious. I have been told that my job will be making employees get the shot. I'm not sure what is true.
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COLLDAWN | Temecula, CAMY FAMILY JUST RECOVERED FROM THE H1N1 BUG. WE ALL DID FINE EXCEPT MY 5 YR. OLD, WHO WAS ADMITTED INTO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOR BRONCHIAL INFECTION & MYOTITIS. THIS CAN BE VERY SERIOUS,SO PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR KIDS WHEN THEY COMPLAIN OF LEG PAIN WITH THE FLU OR RIGHT AFTER.
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caseycolette | TRUSSVILLE, ALomg i was going to get one now i odnt know about it! maybe i shouldnt- but surely this vaccine has been improved upon in 30 or 40 years and they learned from their mistake. now im going 2 be carrying a constant bottle of germ x
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Bitesizedjuli | Toronto, OUI won't be getting this shot because I never usually get flu shots and I'm fine. I will be taking precautions against the regular flu for winter.
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andrea909 | PRESCOTT, AZI'm relieved to read that other mothers feel as I do. The whole thing seems like a marketing campaign for vaccine companies. They make it seems as though everyone is going to be getting it and you're a fool if you don't. I wouldn't dream of giving it to my 6 month old.
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bellastarr | HORN LAKE, MSI don't get the regular flu shot, so I wont be getting this one either. I have in previous years gotten my daughter the reg. flu shot because of her being in school. I just started homeschooling her this year so she wont be getting any form of the flu shot this year.
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DeniseLynn777 | spring hill, FLWell, I must say I was sitting on the fence about this one. So glad to hear from all of you. Because of these responses, I will not be giving my daughter the swine fu vax. I think I am going to explore more prevetative measures and post them if I feel they are worth posting, other than washing your hands.
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krystlnickel | SAINT STEPHEN, SCI do not think this is a good idea either because of the risk factors associated with the shot. I am very scared about this because my husband is in the military and they are REQUIRED to get all vaccinations. I hate the fact that he has to do this, but he has to, and all I can do is pray and have faith that it will be alright.
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