10-26-2009, 07:29 PM
Except for a few groups this virus is relatively mild, even more so than the regular strains of flu passed around each year. Declaring the world-wide pandemic was not a reflection of the severity of the illness, but its wide-spread effects with confirmed cases in 70 countries around the world. The broad effects of this flu are due in large part to the fact that it’s a new strain and our bodies have not yet built up antibodies specific to this disease.
There is as much an irrational feat factor for those rushing to vaccinate as those that abstain. This may be in part because unlike seasonal viruses which typically take their toll on children younger than 5 years old and adults over the age of 65, the H1N1 burden seems to fall on those <25 years old. According to the CDC, no children and very few young adults have existing antibody to the 2009 H1N1 virus, but 1/3 of adults >60 years old do.
This vaccine is just as new as the H1N1 strain. Many immunologist admit the chances that a new flu shot will be overwhelmingly effective are small. It is not an unreasonable expectation that the vaccine could have more detrimental effects on your health than the virus itself.
I think healthy skepticism among those outside the high risk groups is reasonable and not anti-science. Even if I decided to get the vaccine, I have little confidence that it will be available to me to make a difference even if the efficacy was assured. I'm a bit upset that the seasonal flu vaccine supply in our region is already exhausted and will not be resupplied, because of the emphasis on H1N1.
There is as much an irrational feat factor for those rushing to vaccinate as those that abstain. This may be in part because unlike seasonal viruses which typically take their toll on children younger than 5 years old and adults over the age of 65, the H1N1 burden seems to fall on those <25 years old. According to the CDC, no children and very few young adults have existing antibody to the 2009 H1N1 virus, but 1/3 of adults >60 years old do.
This vaccine is just as new as the H1N1 strain. Many immunologist admit the chances that a new flu shot will be overwhelmingly effective are small. It is not an unreasonable expectation that the vaccine could have more detrimental effects on your health than the virus itself.
I think healthy skepticism among those outside the high risk groups is reasonable and not anti-science. Even if I decided to get the vaccine, I have little confidence that it will be available to me to make a difference even if the efficacy was assured. I'm a bit upset that the seasonal flu vaccine supply in our region is already exhausted and will not be resupplied, because of the emphasis on H1N1.