There seems to be two camps in the H1N1 vaccination debate (the fact that there even is a debate in the first place is slightly silly, but I say let the discourse flow on). There’s a “Pharmaceutical companies/government are going to test some weird shit on me”. This is based on two presumptions: that there is an exaggeration of the fear of the H1N1 virus (which I think is a valid claim), and that there are malevolent people out to get us so they can make major profits.
The other side seems to say that H1N1 really is something to worry about, and that the vaccine is very safe, despite a few low-probability incidents where people have had adverse effects.
I’m in between the two, which I think happens to be the less stressful: The vaccine is very safe, and I’m not at all worried about the gravity of the virus. I’m not into conspiracies, I dont think anyone’s out to get me. I think scientists are generally good people.
I also think the media is making a big deal out of this, even though this may be a pandemic. There are people who are more likely to die if they catch H1N1; pregnant women, children, and seniors. Therefore, I want to be vaccinated to prevent getting it…so I don’t pass it along to my grandparents, before it kills them.
I havent made up my mind yet. I havent really put much thought to it really. Until a friend of mine brought up the question: “will you get the H1N1 vaccine?”. That is where I became puzzled on what to do about it.
There is so much being said about H1N1 right now that I dont know what to beleive and I seriously juste got so sick of hearing about it really (and there is no vaccine for that sickness…). I’m kinda in your position where I’m sure the vaccine is safe and I don’t feel treaten by the virus (not that the treat isnt present).
I’m pretty sure im leaning a lil more on not taking it simply because I hate… like reaaaaaaaally hate vaccines. I dont hate the vaccines themself, I juste really hate getting them. *shivers* not plaisant. But I guess getting sick is even more unpleasant.
You say that pregnant women, childent and seniors are more likely to die from it. I heard that people in their 20’s are more likely to get the virus. And with a big event im helping to plan in janurary during which 500 + people from across canada will be showing up… If I have a chance of catching it, I have a feeling its during this even…
Posted by Val A on October 27th, 2009.
2 things.
1-It’s infants to 24 years, not just children who are most at risk (Val sorta mentionned it). But again, that’s a very vague approximation for reasons that I don’t believe they should even set a set age, it gives a false feeling of beeing safe to young people like ourselves. Oh and women seem more apt of acquiring it as well.
2- When it comes to H1N1, I always remember this graph that I saw in an article from the New England Journal of Medicine that really hit me.
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/reprint/361/7/680.pdf – Figure 1
This graph basically shows two important things 1- How H1N1 IS a pandemic, look how accelerated the cases of consultations reported were in Mexico in such a short time. And 2- How important population control (isolation, vaccines) is to slow down the pandemic (Note that schools and such were cancelled April 23rd in that graph, and how quickly the cases dropped). Vaccines are not dangerous in most cases, but that 0.00001% of people who do get side effects, they are pretty bad. But someone with immunodefficiency getting swine flu is pretty horrid as well.
So even if you feel safe and healthy, just don’t forget to protect the ones around you, either by taking that vaccine or AT LEAST staying home if you feel sick for as long as it takes. I know you did Andrew when you were sick and that deserves two thumbs up, but a lot of students here still come to work when they seem start feeling sick, and beeing in a medical research facility, we really shouldn’t. But that only one place they shouldn’t go out of many :S
Anywhom, these were my two cents :P
Posted by Mathieu on October 27th, 2009.