Would you take the swine flu shot?

[Salty]

New York State has mandated that all State health personnel take the swine flue shot.

If you don't, your employment will be terminated


What would you do?

 

[Crabtownboy]

I would take it mandated or not. IMHO it is folly not to do so.

 

[annsni]

The military just made it mandatory as well.

I'm not sure what I'd do. Fortunately I'm healthy and have not had bad reactions to vaccines. However, the fast tracking this vaccine has experienced really concerns me. There's been testing but small numbers and for not a very long time.

 

[Revmitchell]

The military just made it mandatory as well.

I'm not sure what I'd do. Fortunately I'm healthy and have not had bad reactions to vaccines. However, the fast tracking this vaccine has experienced really concerns me. There's been testing but small numbers and for not a very long time.

The Military has made the Flu shot mandatory for years. It was when I was in some 20 years ago.

 

[Johnv]

I travel for business, and frequently fly across country. I plan on getting the flu shot to protect those with whom I come into contact during my travels. It's prudent for me to do, plus, it's a good Christian witness to protect those I associate with.

 

[annsni]

The Military has made the Flu shot mandatory for years. It was when I was in some 20 years ago.

No - they just made the swine flu shot mandatory too.

 

[annsni]

Here's an interesting article about the swine flu and the shot. I agree with his reasoning.

http://drjaygordon.com/development/news/h1n1update.asp

I will not get the shot. If I had to get it for work? I'd have to seriously think about that.

 

[Crabtownboy]

Forgot to mention I will get my regular flu show tomorrow and the one for the Swine Flu as soon as it is available to me. If the supply is in short supply I will not take the Swine Flu shot as it is more important that children and pregnant women receive it. They have a much higher mortality rate than folk in my age group.

 

[Johnv]

Here's an interesting article about the swine flu and the shot. I agree with his reasoning.

Except that he's a borderline quack. Jay Gorden is a famous "anti-vaxer", who's been caught on more than one occaision fabricating claims. Note that he claims vaccinations cause autism, even though this claim has been tested over and over and over, and there's never been any evidence to support such a link. He even claims that the media hype concening swine flu is due to pharmacetical companies having a lot of broadcast time. I hear the quacking as we speak.

I'm appalled that a medical professional would say "I haven't used the 'flu swab' to test anybody, but I'm sure that many if not most of these sick people had Swine Flu". There's no way to reasonably ascertain if a person has swine flu, or common seasonal flu.

That said, he makes a good point that has been discussed for a long time. H1N1a is mild, and most people who come down with it recover in the same manner that they would recover from the regular flu. Where he misses is when he says exposing oneself to H1N1a builds up antibodies against it. He fails to mention that vaccinating oneself against H1N1a also builds up antibodies against it.

 

[Thinkingstuff]

Yes because I travel and I will most likely come in contact with it.

 

[annsni]

I'm appalled that a medical professional would say "I haven't used the 'flu swab' to test anybody, but I'm sure that many if not most of these sick people had Swine Flu". There's no way to reasonably ascertain if a person has swine flu, or common seasonal flu.

Most medical professionals that I know of have not tested for the swine flu. The seasonal flu does not run during the summer and when the quick flu test comes up positive, it's pretty easy to know that there is really only one choice. Swine flu has been occurring all summer. The seasonal flu has not.

 

[Johnv]

Most medical professionals that I know of have not tested for the swine flu.

I understand that, but it's irresponsible to not test for it, and then claim that most cases are due to it.

The seasonal flu does not run during the summer and when the quick flu test comes up positive, it's pretty easy to know that there is really only one choice. Swine flu has been occurring all summer. The seasonal flu has not.

Not so. According to the CDC, which tracks these things every year, approx 3/4 of flu cases are a common flu, as of the thrd week in September.

 

[Revmitchell]

I was at the e room yesterday. The nurse said they are diagnosing those coming in with cough and fever as swine flu but they were not specifically testing for that. She wouldnt say why.

 

[annsni]

I understand that, but it's irresponsible to not test for it, and then claim that most cases are due to it.

Not so. According to the CDC, which tracks these things every year, approx 3/4 of flu cases are a common flu, as of the thrd week in September.

This is not true. From the CDC site (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/)

During week 37:

* 2,326 (23.9%) specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories and reported to CDC/Influenza Division were positive for influenza.
* 99% of all subtyped influenza A viruses being reported to CDC were 2009 influenza A (H1N1) viruses.
* The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was below the epidemic threshold.
* Three influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported and all three were associated with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.
* The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was above the national baseline. Regions 2 through10 reported ILI above region-specific baseline levels; only Region 1 was below its’ region-specific baseline.
* Twenty-six states reported geographically widespread influenza activity, 11 states reported regional influenza activity, 12 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico reported local influenza activity, one state and Guam reported sporadic influenza activity, and the U.S. Virgin Islands did not report.
* The 2009-10 influenza season officially begins October 4, 2009.

 

[KenH]

Is the H1N1 vaccine going to be mixed in with the regular flu vaccine?

 

[Crabtownboy]

Is the H1N1 vaccine going to be mixed in with the regular flu vaccine?

No, it is two different shots.

 

[annsni]

The seasonal flu shot is available right now but the H1N1 won't be available for a couple of weeks. I think the first release will be the nasal spray which cannot be used on those with compromised immune systems or those who are around them because this is actually not a dead virus but a "crippled" one, from my understanding. If one were to sneeze after getting the nasal spray vaccine, they COULD spread the virus and even in it's weakened state, could still affect those who have weak immune systems. IF anyone is to get the vaccine, I'd wait for the injection.

 

[JTornado1]

I'll get the swine flu shot if it's not in short supply. If it is, I'll let the high risk people get the shot instead. :type:

 

[Alcott]

I've never had a flu shot of any kind, and I'm not having one in the foreseeable future. I get the flu only about once every 4 to 6 years, so I don't see that taking a shot every years would be worth it, in the expense or in possible bad reactions (but I don't really mind needle pricks too much). So I'll take my chances. And even if I get one of the worst cases... well, we have to die from something.

 

[Salty]

So I'll take my chances. And even if I get one of the worst cases... well, we have to die from something.

I forget which verse, but in Hezekiah it says in a case like that, there is in heaven a special welcoming reception area* for folks like that

Salty


* code for quarantine :laugh: :smilewinkgrin: