Comments on: Five things that are freaking me out about H1N1

By: 2009: A Bloggy Year in Review

2009: A Bloggy Year in Review — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:23:36 +0000

[...] y’all feeling a little freaked out by H1N1, the so-called “swine [...]

By: Matthew

Matthew — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:54:33 +0000

Seriously, get the H1N1 shot. All the noise about “rushed production” and “bad testing” are the usual hype. The reason for the confusion? This is happening in real time, and is being studied as it happens.

Right now, most provinces are saying hold off on the seasonal flu shot (cuz it doesn’t seem to be circulating much anyway) and get the H1N1 when available. If you really want a seasonal flu shot, it will probably be available in the new year, if the seasonal flu even shows up. It didn’t in the southern hemi, where the flu season is basically over.

Side effects? Sure, the usual. Sore arms, redness, a bit of dizziness, the same for every other vaccine out there. A roughly one in a million chance at getting Guilliam Barre syndrome, but a 4 in a million chance of dying if you actually get the flu.Pick your odds.

Otherwise, just be glad that this isn’t a really, really nasty pandemic, which we didn’t know when all this started. Hindsight may make us all look kinda paranoid, but that’s why we pay taxes for a public health system. It’s there when you don’t need it, and ready if you do.

By: Nat

Nat — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:12:26 +0000

I think this is a lot of hype. I am really rather amazed that they’ve been able to produce a vaccine this quickly. (Really. Think about it.) So far, I’m seeing a lot of panic but not a lot of cause. Either way, I’m not terribly concerned about it.

The only upshoot is that people are staying home when they’re sick, which is not a bad thing.

I am pro-vaccination for most things.

Will I get it? Yes. Will The Boy get it? Yes. By the time it rolls around to us, we’ll be aware of the side effects and the problems with it. I look at it this way, the vaccine may or may not be bad for you. What’s the worse outcome if you or your child doesn’t get the vaccine? Death. So far what have we seen as the side effect from the flu shot? Guillaume Barre (relatively rare.) And yes, I understand the fear of long lasting effect, but we don’t know what the long lasting effects of this flu are either, do we? Rock/Hard Place.

I expect if it gets as bad as they predict, they will make the vaccine mandatory for school aged children, and kids who aren’t vaccinated will have to stay home…

Thing is, I really can’t do much about it except get vaccinated… suppose it’s our main form of protection.

By: Marianne

Marianne — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 01:11:43 +0000

I too am conflicted about the H1N1 vaccination problem. I was absolutely set against it for my daughter when it would involve the adjuvanted vaccine, but now that Canada has purchased adjuvant-free vaccine for children and pregnant women, I have agreed with my husband that I will consider it for my daughter and myself. My husband will discuss it with his doctor but is almost certianly not a candidate to receive it since he has already had Guillain-Barre syndrome in his teen years, and the last swine flu vaccine a few decades ago led to increased cases of Guillain-Barre so the flu shot of any type is generally contra-indicated for anyone currently healthy who has had Guillain-Barre. So for now I’ll maintain my perch on the fence. Though it looks like we’ll have at least another month (and a few thousand more news stories) before we have to make a decision.

By: chichimama

chichimama — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:16:44 +0000

Here they are recommending the opposite, get the seasonal, only get the H1N1 if you are really high risk (preggos, asthmatic). Of course we all got the seasonal before the Canadian study came out saying it might make you more susceptible to the H1N1, but too late now, we had the seasonal shots, so what will be will be.

I have to say, not as freaked out by this one as I was (still am really) by Bird Flu.

Good luck making the vaccination decision(s).

By: kate

kate — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:32:55 +0000

I’ve been mostly avoiding all the coverage of the H1N1 stuff, which means that the controversy about vaccines is mostly new to me. I’ve had horrible panic and anxiety in the past that was linked to illness (although not really flu-related, more fear of vominting), so I try to maintain my sanity at virtually all costs. I’m trying just to remember that it’s a flu. It might get bad, so I’ll be on the lookout for any signs of complications and act quickly if anything concerns me, but I haven’t given much thought to the vaccination issue. We often don’t get flu vaccines, due to incompetence at life generally, so having read the second article you linked to, I guess we won’t get the regular flue vaccine this year. I’m not sure about the H1N1 vaccine.

By: kgirl

kgirl — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:11:36 +0000

We won’t be getting any flu shots this year. We skip the seasonal flu shot because I think it is just not that effective – based on last year’s or projected strains, and working to reduce our overall natural immunity – something we’ll need later. And we’re saying HELL, NO to the H1N1 for so many reasons – rushed production, no studies on long-term effects, also no indication that it will prevent the particular strain going around, and the number one reason is because it is filled with aluminum and thimerosal. I’ve said no thanks to all vaccines with adjuvents and preservatives, and this one will be no exception.

I think the most important thing is that people make an informed decision.

By: Angela ( jhscrapmom)

Angela ( jhscrapmom) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:36:25 +0000

oy.
well, alex ( age 1 ) can not get any flu shots due to his newly discovered egg allergies. so he will not be getting one. this makes me extremely nervous.
everyone around him – me, hubby, two other kids, grandparents are getting the H1N1 but are unlikely to get the seasonal flu shot, which we do traditionally take. Except for last year, as in my post partum haze, I forgot to take the kids. apparently, in hindsight, that may have been a very lucky mistake.
i am concerned. i am not just listening to the Today show hype. i am reading everything, from everywhere. we were in Britain this summer, and it was hitting very hard – again with the fatalities hitting us 40 somethings and pregnant women. the flu itself was hitting much harder there than here. if it was any insight into what is coming, i remain uncomfortable.
my good friends are nurses and doctors in our local hospital ( small town, not ottawa ) and there are many cases of H1N1. The patients? Again, women over 40, previously healthy. It has me nervous…really nervous.
i have spoken to my doctor and we have even prepared a tamiflu plan. and an alternative schooling plan for my 10 year old asthmatic daughter ( underlying conditions and all). Becasue at least if we plan and nothing happens…okay;), i was unneccessarily paranoid. if it does turn out to be more serious than people expected…then at least i know that i have made an effort to protect my family as best as i can. which is what we all want to do.

By: Ann D

Ann D — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:04:31 +0000

Hi Dani -

Employers are being told they are supposed to be extra-understanding if people need extra time off. I think yours would have to be extra-extra understanding. (Just my opinion.)

In terms of dealing with conflicting advice, I’d suggest getting provincial/state recommendations, discussing that with your health care provider(s), and trying to make your decision with the most current information available when the vaccine becomes available to people in your age/risk group.

(Of course, health care providers don’t always agree, as Karen’s experience shows.)

And do all the usual good things, as others have suggested, including trying to keep your immune system healthy. That includes minimizing stress. (Like that’s easy these days.)

By: colleen

colleen — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:35:13 +0000

I am totally freaked out by all the news coverage. I am not in a high risk group so will not have the vaccination. I am happy to be an older person.