H1N1 Vaccine: will you get it or not?

[Neesika]

The vaccine has become widely available here in Canukistan, and it's actually caused a lot of controversy among most of the people I know. Some aren't sure it's necessary and are really torn on getting it or not. There is also a lot of conflicting information out there on the possible dangers of the vaccine, and a lot of fear mongering on both sides.

On a practical level, this causes people confusion and muddies the waters. It's free here btw, for most people, so the only factor is 'is it necessary, is it safe' for many. I can understand cost being an additional factor that could change answers.

In any case, will you get the vaccine or not? Why or why not? Maybe we can get some good sources up about the pros/cons concerns/fears and so on.

[Hydesland]

I'm young and (AFAIK) healthy, so I probably wont be needing it.

[The Alma Mater]

Are we talking about a general flu vaccine, or one specifically aimed at H1N1 ?

[Isolous]

I will if I can motivate myself to stop being lazy and go down to the health center on campus. My parents gave me enough crap over not getting the flu shot this year that I suppose I can make it up to them.

I think it's about 15 US dollars around here at least. Not a ton of money, but not something to really sneeze at.

[Neesika]

Are we talking about a general flu vaccine, or one specifically aimed at H1N1 ?

The specific H1N1 vaccine.

I suspect that people who normally get flu shots will be somewhat more likely to get this particular vaccine, but it may not always be the case.

[Sidebody]

I spend a large proportion of my week in hospitals talking to and examining patients so yes i'm getting it. Not for my benefit so much as theirs.

[Fartsniffage]

I'm terrfied of needles so probably not.

They need to start making more oral vaccines.

[Farnhamia]

I'm thinking about it. It's cheaper than Windows 7, that's for sure.

It's not as widely available down here in Colorado as it seems to be Up North, though your evil socialist public health system could just be giving sterile saline injections to people the death panels have deemed to be superfluous, while pretending that there's plenty available. Then again I caught sort sort of damn-fool bug in the Spring, when the virus first debuted, so I may already have had it.

[Fiduses and Diuses]

I'm terrfied of needles so probably not.

They need to start making more oral vaccines.

I'm fairly certain that H1N1 vaccine is also available in the normal flu mist form too.

[Isolous]

I'm terrfied of needles so probably not.

They need to start making more oral vaccines.

I think there's actually a nasal version of this one.

[Aririn]

I have been debating on wether to get it or not. I have heard a lot of mix comments on the vaccine.

From the brilliant Fox News (in other words, don't take this to heart): http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,539880,00.html

In 1976, Washington rushed in a mass immunization program against a similar swine flu outbreak that was confined to a single military base.

Several hundred cases of a rare, lethal, paralyzing neurological disease called Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) were reported afterwards, and although no clear link was ever found to the vaccine, the incident made many mistrustful of immunizations.

Although the H1N1 vaccine now close to completion is different from the one used in 1976, the HPA said the earlier incident nevertheless highlighted a possible area of concern.

"The vaccines used to combat an expected swine influenza pandemic in 1976 were shown to be associated with GBS and were withdrawn from use," Prof. Elizabeth Miller, head of the HPA’s immunization department, wrote in the letter sent last month to neurologists.

[Sarzonia]

I'm not getting the seasonal flu shot and I'm definitely not getting the H1N1 vaccine.

[Aririn]

I'm not getting the seasonal flu shot and I'm definitely not getting the H1N1 vaccine.

Oh, the flu shot I am getting. I'm a sickly wench.

[Nawafia Bay]

FYI, H1N1 is the swine flu

[Sarzonia]

I'm terrfied of needles so probably not.

They need to start making more oral vaccines.

They need to start using the hypospray.

[HurrfDurrf]

No, but not due to any tinfoilhattery. I'm just lazy and never get this kind of stuff taken care of. Even if I come down with it, it's not the end of the world.

[Aririn]

FYI, H1N1 is the swine flu

Nope, it's not. It is derived from it.

[Sidebody]

I have been debating on wether to get it or not. I have heard a lot of mix comments on the vaccine.

From the brilliant Fox News (in other words, don't take this to heart): http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,539880,00.html

In 1976, Washington rushed in a mass immunization program against a similar swine flu outbreak that was confined to a single military base.

Several hundred cases of a rare, lethal, paralyzing neurological disease called Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) were reported afterwards, and although no clear link was ever found to the vaccine, the incident made many mistrustful of immunizations.

Although the H1N1 vaccine now close to completion is different from the one used in 1976, the HPA said the earlier incident nevertheless highlighted a possible area of concern.

"The vaccines used to combat an expected swine influenza pandemic in 1976 were shown to be associated with GBS and were withdrawn from use," Prof. Elizabeth Miller, head of the HPA’s immunization department, wrote in the letter sent last month to neurologists.

The safety profile of this vaccine is considered similar to any other seasonal flu vaccine.

[Kantria]

No, but it has nothing to do with me thinking that the vaccine contains an electronic tracking device and/or will turn me into an Obamammunist.

I'm just too lazy.

[Aririn]

I have been debating on wether to get it or not. I have heard a lot of mix comments on the vaccine.

From the brilliant Fox News (in other words, don't take this to heart): http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,539880,00.html

In 1976, Washington rushed in a mass immunization program against a similar swine flu outbreak that was confined to a single military base.

Several hundred cases of a rare, lethal, paralyzing neurological disease called Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) were reported afterwards, and although no clear link was ever found to the vaccine, the incident made many mistrustful of immunizations.

Although the H1N1 vaccine now close to completion is different from the one used in 1976, the HPA said the earlier incident nevertheless highlighted a possible area of concern.

"The vaccines used to combat an expected swine influenza pandemic in 1976 were shown to be associated with GBS and were withdrawn from use," Prof. Elizabeth Miller, head of the HPA’s immunization department, wrote in the letter sent last month to neurologists.

The safety profile of this vaccine is considered similar to any other seasonal flu vaccine.

I know. But I still don't know if I'll get it. My mother got sick with H1N1 and, although she was quite miserable for 12 days, there wasn't much to differentiate it from regular flu. More mediate, but that was it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_flu_p ... #Peramivir

[Neesika]

The conspiracy theories I'm hearing are in regards to thimerosol (a mercury derivative). There have long been theories about vaccines with thimerosol causing autism in children. Of course, new vaccine, new batch of conspiracy theories.

Though I always wonder...for the ones who believe the vaccine-autism link, do they prevent their children from eating tunafish? Because god knows how much mercury you're getting with each serving.

[Dimoniquid]

I hate needles...

[Minnas]

Not getting it. I'm young and healthy.

[Hungramy]

im not get'n it became i heared a lady take it and got nut's after have'n the H1N1 vaccine
SO NO WAY AM TAKE"N THE DAMN VACCINE!!

[EvilDarkMagicians]

Already had it so, no.