Will you get vaccinated?

[Saracen]

The availability of a vaccine for the H1N1 flue (swine flu) is drawing close, if news reports are to be believed. So the question is ... when it's available, and if you are eligible, will you get vaccinated?

A few points to bear in mind. There have been occasions when it is believed that vaccinations have had more serious consequences than what was being vaccinated against. And the vaccine is really quite new, and there are those that believe that inadequate testing has been done to really understand long-term implications. And, as I understand it, one risk from the vaccine is that you end up with a full-blown flu.

Of course, I'm not a doctor and I offer no advice, nor even a qualified opinion, and nor do I guarantee the technical accuracy of the above comments. They're merely my views.

But I'm not the only one. In a recent survey of 1500 nurses for the Nursing Times, only one third said they'd accept vaccination. Another third said they definitely would not, and the remaining third were undecided.

Of the third that said they would not get vaccinated, 60% said the reason was concern over the safety of the vaccine, and a further 31% said they did not feel the risk to their health from the flu was sufficient to justify taking the risk of the vaccine.

As it happens, my family have already discussed this and decided that unless things change radically for the worse, we will not be getting vaccinated. But will you, if the option is there?

More info on the Telegraph

[pp05]

I've no plans to based on some of the concerns raised in your post.

But I also dont have enough info to completely rule it out too.

[shadowmaster]

Depends, I wont recommend it yet for my family as I feel the vaccination has been slightly rushed and I don't think the 'risk' is that big yet. Thats not the say the vaccination is dangerous, there is 99% chance its probably fine.

As a med student I will wait to see why my Uni says on the matter. We were told that if a vaccination was available we would be eligible to get it quite quickly as we are regarded as health workers, due to regular visits to hospitals and patients (as part of our curriculum).

[oolon]

I will get vaccinated, however I don't think I will be pushing to be first in line. If enough of the herd is vaccinated the transmission rate should drop, increasing the protection for all.

[Main]

At this point in time there isn't enough information about the vaccine, research just came out indicating tamilfu may not be all that great in most cases, and half an hour's driving still feels more dangerous than catching an illness.

So for now, no, I don't intend to get vaccinated.

And, as I understand it, one risk from the vaccine is that you end up with a full-blown flu.

I'm under the impression that this is only the case with live (virus is in a weakened state but not dead) vaccines - in such cases they usually inform you to be careful about transmission to be on the safe side - but I can't find any information pertaining to the state of the virus they'll be using for the swine flu. Given that there are live and dead vaccines for regular flu it could end up being either or both.

[Agent]

Swine flu is massively being blown out of proportion as it is (IMO), and unless you have an underlying medical condition that could cause complications, I still fail to see what the fuss is about.

A few people around here have got it, and apparently it's no worse than a bad cold / 'normal' flu in terms of how you feel. Let's also keep in mind how many people a year die of 'normal' flu.

So have an injection that's had minimal testing for something which might make me feel bad for a few days? think I'll pass on that one.

[BEANFro Elite]

I don't want a vaccination, as has been mentioned before, this swine flu nonsense has been grossly blown out of proportion and now because the flu panic hasn't really got the public into a frenzy they want us to get all frenzied about the vaccine as well.

I've never even had the standard issue flu in the first place and I've been exposed to people with the flu for prolonged periods of time and still haven't gotten anything.

Its a state of mind, think positive, be stubborn and you won't even catch a cold

[Barrichello]

Although i have what is classified a underlying heath problem - (Asthma) i will not be taking this. If history is anything to go on, a element of caution is not misplaced....

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/apr...wine-history27

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...in-Poland.html

[danroyle]

i will only get the vaccination for me and my son if we catch it.

[synaesthesia]

well I've had it, it was hardly impressive as far as colds go. Apart from a single day of complete lethargy, it was no worse than a really bad cold & cough or mild flu. And of course, standard, plain, everyday Flu kills a LOT more people than H1N1 does. Regardless of vaccination levels, as was said above it's more to do with living conditions and other medical issues.
Media hype and panic, little more.

[Emirzan]

It's not even guaranteed you'll be infected if you become exposed. My flat mate got it, and despite living together I've remained fine. And a has already been said I've seen first hand that it is no worse than normal flu. If you are a healthy adult you have nothing to worry about, just take paracetamol and a decongesstant to ease the symptoms and you'll recover within a week.

[GoNz0]

this is a tough one for my wife and I, she is a high risk pregnant woman who works with the probation service meaning she comes into contact with a lot of people.

we really don't know what to do.

[Brucelles]

Nah. I have known several people who have had the 'Pig AIDS' and they all said it was pretty much like a bad cold. Not worth worrying about, whereas flu jabs have always been a risky business. When my mother worked for the civil service she used to get the flu jab every year, and the flu every other year. She hasn't had flu since stopping the vaccinations. Anecdotal evidence, true, but her genes run through my magnificent body, so I don't see that it's worth the risk.

[kalniel]

i will only get the vaccination for me and my son if we catch it.

Wouldn't it be a bit late then?

[0iD]

The official stance of the NHS to their employees, as far as I'm aware (being currently married to a District Nurse), is that swine flu in it's current incarnation is just as bad, if not a little less severe, than common Influenza & not to be overly concerned.

However, as is the way generally with flu epidemics/pandemics, it is the 2nd & indeed 3rd waves of the outbreak where the virus becomes more virulent & really does the damage.

[Steve]

Much like you, Saracan, I won't be getting vaccinated unless things look to be taking a turn for the worse.

I don't believe the vaccine would do me any serious harm, but I'd rather get the flu from... the flu, rather than the vaccine.