H1N1 Vaccine

[xblack_x_rosesx]

So, I am in a world of confusion about this vaccine.

To get or not to get?

I'm hearing so many different contradicting optinions here, and I'm not going to jump the gun and get the vaccine just because people are panicing, but if by not getting the vaccine I risk the safety of others then...

My parents are both pleading with me to get the vaccine, as most of my friends who've gotten it are saying I should too.
But then there's the other people who are all "NO! It's got aluminum, and mercury in it. It hasn't gone through proper testing, it's not government approved (in Canada at least), blah blah blah."

I'm really confused. I'm usually not anti-vaccine. This is just a flu, is it not? The "swine flu" has been around for the past century, has it not?

Anyway, just wondering what everyone thinks of this. NOT TRYING TO SPARK DEBATE OR ARGUMENT OR WHATEVER. I just wanna know if anyone has any legit facts I can go on, cos a lot of the "research" I've been doing is solely online research, so :/

Thanks!

[Cognitive Gear]

According to the FDA the vaccine contains the following:

Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine, an inactivated influenza virus vaccine, for intramuscular use, is prepared from influenza viruses propagated in embryonated chicken eggs. The virus-containing allantoic fluid is harvested and inactivated with formaldehyde. Influenza virus is concentrated and purified in a linear sucrose density gradient solution using a continuous flow centrifuge. The virus is then chemically disrupted using a non-ionic surfactant, polyethylene glycol p-isooctylphenyl ether (Triton® X-100), producing a “split virus”. The split virus is further purified and then suspended in sodium phosphate-buffered isotonic sodium chloride solution.
Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine is formulated to contain 15 mcg hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza A/California/07/2009 (H1N1) v-like virus per 0.5 mL dose. Gelatin 0.05% is added as a stabilizer. Each 0.5 mL dose may contain residual amounts of formaldehyde (not more than 100 mcg), polyethylene glycol p-isooctylphenyl ether (not more than 0.02%), and sucrose (not more than 2.0%).

So... seems pretty safe, unless you don't trust the US FDA. In which case, you probably have a lot more on your mind than just the vaccine.

[Etoh*the*Greato]

If I understand correctly, the materials used to preserve the vaccine (the mercury in particular) are used in Vaccines quite often. Basically if they aren't the vaccines expire sooner. Sort of like pasturization for the stuff.

[Roy Mustang]

I just got mine today as orders of my doctor.

What people don't know is the so called aluminum, and mercury in the shot is thimerosal.

Thimerosal is a very effective preservative that has been used since the 1930s to prevent contamination in some multi-dose vials of vaccines (preservatives are not required for vaccines in single dose vials). Thimerosal contains approximately 49%]


Seasonal Influenza (Flu)

It hasn't gone through proper testing, it's not government approved (in Canada at least), blah blah blah."

It has been proper testing in the US. The CDC and Emory University (one of the top medical University and Hospital in the southeast of the US) started testing it back in the summer. When I went for my check up with my HIV doctor in early Oct, I had my flu shot then and had to wait until now to get the H1N1 flu shot. He told me just about everything that I needed to know about the H1N1 shot and felt safe on getting it. He had his two kids get it as well.



[font="Book Antiqua"][color="Red"]Col. Roy Mustang[/color][/font]

[Nate]

Here's my advice: Don't get the vaccine.

Not because of scaremongering. But the fact is, who needs the vaccine more? The elderly, people with weak immune systems, and children.

You're 18 and probably in pretty good health. You don't need the vaccine, your immune system can more than likely handle it. If however you have a history of violent illness, then you should get it, I'm just going on the assumption that you're pretty healthy in general.

[xblack_x_rosesx]

My thoughts too. And I mean, I'm pretty careful about washing my hands. I carry around a little bottle of hand sanitizer in my pocket, for gosh sakes.

I've been told however, that even IF an inidividual is in prime health, with a good immune system, and doesn't suffer from serious preexisting medical conditions, they still need to get the vaccine. Because even though the likelihood of serious illness is low, you cannot predict if "you're the one who is gonna get hit, and end up dying, or end up on a ventilator for 3 weeks".

[Momo-P]

Eh, I've heard some really nasty side effects to it (that cheerleader getting permanent damage for example), however, those do appear to be quite rare...still though, I wouldn't chance it. Especially since H1N1 isn't like the black plague or something, people are making it a much bigger deal than it really is. Don't more people die from the regular flu each year than this? ._.

[Roy Mustang]

Here's my advice: Don't get the vaccine.

Not because of scaremongering. But the fact is, who needs the vaccine more? The elderly, people with weak immune systems, and children.

You're 18 and probably in pretty good health. You don't need the vaccine, your immune system can more than likely handle it. If however you have a history of violent illness, then you should get it, I'm just going on the assumption that you're pretty healthy in general.

Uh, that is not fully true with H1N1 flu. As what my doctor told me, most people that are getting H1N1 flu are the healthy and in the teen to 20 years old age.

Since this virus is like the one from the 70's, the elderly are not coming down with this. He said since most people that live in the 70's were around it. They found that they are not coming down with now that it has pop back up and only the people that are born after the 70's are showing that they are getting it.

The Seasonal Influenza is one that yes the elderly, people with weak immune systems, and children have to get it, as I had to have it.

They are just asking people that have weak immune systems to a point and children to get the H1N1 flu shot. So far, people that have HIV and are in the 50 and up age are not ask to get the H1N1 flu shot like the younger people are.

So far it has hit college age kids more and this where they are finding their study as the 50 up age are not coming down with it and they know believe that it has to do with they already got this flu back in 70's and its not going to hit them since their immune has built up for it.



Next year, the H1N1 will be put in the Seasonal Influenza (Flu).

Don't more people die from the regular flu each year than this? ._.

35,000 people in the US alone die each year of the regular flu. So, yes that is true.

The bad thing about the H1N1 flu as what some people that were healthy and got the H1N1 flu and had the regular flu before. Said that the H1N1 flu was to them the worst the the regular as the regular flu felt like just being hit by a truck and the H1N1 felt like you were hit by a train.

It just comes down to, what you feel like you should do. Or, you could get the H1N1 Vaccine spray, but you need to be very healthy to have that one and I not sure if I would get it.

[font="Book Antiqua"][color="Red"]Col. Roy Mustang[/color][/font]

[Lochaber Axe]

Take it from someone who has it... get the vaccine!

I haven't gotten the flu in years and this one is a doozy. Joint and back pain, chest congestion, triple digit temperature, headaches and all that good stuff. I don't have vomiting and diarrhea thankfully, though I have been nauseous here and there.

If you go to college you are definitely more susceptible to it.

[Momo-P]

The bad thing about the H1N1 flu as what some people that were healthy and got the H1N1 flu and had the regular flu before. Said that the H1N1 flu was to them the worst the the regular as the regular flu felt like just being hit by a truck and the H1N1 felt like you were hit by a train.

I believe my grandmother talked about that. When she got the flu years ago, apparently she ranked it up there as being one of the worst things she'd ever received. I think it was the fact it drug on for so long and was so exhausting that really pushed everyone over the edge.

But anyways, I'm not too worried myself since I think I already got it a month ago. One of the downfalls of working at a place that everyone drives through.

[K. Ayato]

I got the shot as a precaution for my job. My supervisor doesn't want me exposing my clients to any germs I might come down with that they may not have strong immunity against.

[Whitefang]

H1N1 poses a much larger threat for younger people, especially those with health complications (it can be fatal). So if you have any health issues that you know about, (I believe asthma is the most serious complication) you should definitely get the vaccine. If you are young in general and not living in a very rural area, you should probably get the vaccine as a precaution.

Here's info on the vaccine from the CDC's website.

I personally should get it as well, I just haven't had the time to see my doctor yet.

[Shao Feng-Li]

It always seems that people get the flu even when they get a vaccine.

I'm not saying that it's a bad thing to get it, but, eh, I'm not worried about not getting it. Not to mention, I hate needles...

[xblack_x_rosesx]

:/

Well, according to my research, there doesn't appear to be decent arguments against it. Your risks associated with contracting Swine Flu are much higher than those associated with the vaccine. Young women for whatever reason are especially susceptible to the virus.

So.
My situation:

Healthy 18 year old young woman, who attends a university in a city and lives in residence in extremely tight quarters with tons of other people.
I've heard 5 people have been taken to be hospitalized from my residence so far, and if anyone does "portray even the slightest of flu-like symptoms, they are urged to stay in their room for 3-7 days; meals can be brought up to them".

=/

It sounds like I SHOULD get the vaccine. I'm just not entirely comfortable with it, why is it getting so much contraversy in the first place if it's JUST a vaccine? Seasonal flu vaccines don't get this much contraversy.

(P.S Sorry if this is delayed... I don't know when they released the vaccine in the states, I thought it was the same as canada, but ours just became available to the punlic on tuesday... same down there or different?)

[Roy Mustang]

It always seems that people get the flu even when they get a vaccine.

That's because the flu vaccine is not a cure for the flu. A flu shot has the inactivated flu in it. When it goes in to your body, it will build up the immune system. So it knows how to deal with, when you get the flu.

The better vaccine as stopping from you getting the flu is the live flu virus spray vaccine.

The spray is only giving to healthy people only and its not something to give to people that have a weak immune system.

Most studies show that live virus vaccines work better then the non inactivated virus vaccine.

(P.S Sorry if this is delayed... I don't know when they released the vaccine in the states, I thought it was the same as canada, but ours just became available to the punlic on tuesday... same down there or different?)

It became available in the US in the early part of Oct. It was just not giving to the public first as they had health care workers get it first and then everyone else.

It sounds like I SHOULD get the vaccine. I'm just not entirely comfortable with it, why is it getting so much contraversy in the first place if it's JUST a vaccine? Seasonal flu vaccines don't get this much controversy.

A lot of the controversy is from the fear of what happen in the 70's with the swine flu vaccine then. They rush it out too fast and the vaccine ended up killing more people then the swine flu.

In this case, the CDC did start working on an vaccine after they got sample of the virus and saw no change in each sample. Do to this, it made it more easy for them to come up with an vaccine and they really learn for their errors of handling it in the 70's.

Now the controversy is people that are anti vaccine trying to throw anything out there that people shouldn't get it.

I will put this way. My doctor is an Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease doctor. That has also done research on the H1N1 flu and gets the most data from the CDC about the vaccine and the virus.

When he said that its safe to get the shot, then I knew that I didn't have to worry about it.

I had the shot today and I feel fine and don't feel like I'm about to drop dead or anything from it.

[font="Book Antiqua"][color="Red"]Col. Roy Mustang[/color][/font]

[Roy Mustang]

Miss the edit button.

[Tsukuyomi]

Errr, I'm even more so confused then before now >___< i remember hearing all these bad things about the vaccination o_o Like, it causes brain related problems in children who has gotten the vaccine >_> That, the vaccine is so strong that it has been the culprit that's been killing off people instead of the actual swine flu >_> Oh yeah, and that when doctors and nurses were asked if they would take it said no to taking it o_o

I also heard it wasn't properly tested.. That the only testing were done on actual humans when they gave the vaccination out >_>, but with so many facts flying around.. who knows which one is the truth anymore u_u

For those who know about the vaccination: How did they test the vaccine anyway o.o?

[Whitefang]

It became available recently, though I do not know when exactly.

The reason for the controversy is because there are a lot of myths and hysteria that get spread around. A lot of people think that you can get viruses from vaccines. People also think that serious complications can occur from vaccines. The worst that usually happens is a day of mild discomfort (sometimes fever, sweating, etc.). I do not know if a corollary has been established in the rare cases of extreme complications.

Additionally, the manufacturers of the vaccine have had to rush the development of this vaccine. Ordinarily, manufacturers and researchers begin work on the vaccine for September in January or February. January is when the flu season really picks up, and they can diagnose which flu strains should be included in the vaccine. H1N1 did not become noticed (that it would be a major strain) until around April, which is highly unusual. Because of this, it could not be included with the seasonal flu vaccine. This has also caused people to worry that it has not been tested enough, even though the government claims that it has.

Seasonal flu vaccines don't get this much controversy because they are not "sensational" enough to be covered by the media, so anyone who is opposed to vaccines on principle alone does not respond to the reaction of seasonal flu the way they respond to the reaction of H1N1.

In other words, if H1N1 had popped up in December and January and been included in the seasonal flu vaccine, it would not have generated as much buzz.

A quick lesson on viruses and immunization.
*I am not an expert in this field, though I have a rudimentary knowledge I feel will be helpful if shared*
The human immune system, for whatever reason, has an ability to adapt itself to better fight off viruses that it has seen before. Because the flu vaccine does not contain an inactivated virus for every type of flu strain, it is still possible to catch the flu virus. Further, the active strain sometimes mutates far enough away from the inactive strain being placed in the vaccine, rendering that particular inoculation useless.

That, the vaccine is so strong that it has been the culprit that's been killing off people instead of the actual swine flu

This one's easy to bust. If this were true, then how did so many people across the country die from a vaccine that had not been released to the general public yet?

[Roy Mustang]

For those who know about the vaccination: How did they test the vaccine anyway o.o?

People sign up for the trial shots in the late summer of this year. One of the biggest trials took place with the CDC and Emory University, which is where I go see my doctors for both HIV and my heart.


[color="Red"]
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Col. Roy Mustang[/font][/color]

[Tsukuyomi]

People sign up for the trial shots in the late summer of this year. One of the biggest trials took place with the CDC and Emory University, which is where I go see my doctors for both HIV and my heart.


[color="Red"]
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Col. Roy Mustang[/font][/color]

Sooooo, in other words they were tested on humans o.o? What were the results of all of the testing ^^?


I don't know the facts, so that's why I'm asking ^^


[SIZE="1"]So there are no misunderstandings here ^^[/SIZE]

[Roy Mustang]

Sooooo, in other words they were tested on humans o.o? What were the results of all of the testing ^^?


I don't know the facts, so that's why I'm asking ^^


[SIZE="1"]So there are no misunderstandings here ^^[/SIZE]

They turn into monkeys!


Really, nothing happen. They sign up for the trails and took the trial test shot and they were okay.

All vaccines have to go through a human testing trial, before they release it to the public.

[font="Book Antiqua"]
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Col. Roy Mustang[/color][/font]

[Tsukuyomi]

They turn into monkeys!


Really, nothing happen. They sign up for the trails and took the trial test shot and they were okay.

All vaccines have to go through a human testing trial, before they release it to the public.

[font="Book Antiqua"]
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Col. Roy Mustang[/color][/font]

Lol

That makes sense ^^

So, it's safe to say that all the stuff about even doctors and nurses refusing to take the vaccination is a lie o.o?

[ChristianKitsune]

here is my take:
I'm not sure If I'm going to get the vaccine or not. I'm not a scaremonger either, but really as long as it took for the vaccine to become available and as many people as have had, I'm just not sure if a vaccine would be worth it or not.

I mean, I've probably been exposed to it already. So would a vaccine make a difference?

Also, my father and little sister back home had it earlier this month and it wasn't THAT terrible, although they were very sore and the high temp was a bit scary haha.. ^^;

I dunno part of me wants to get it, but right now there's a waiting list and only certain people can get it...

Pregnant women, Children, those who have immune issues and are younger than 18,

So for now, I guess I can't even get it here ^^;

But I've seen multiple people walking around with face masks.

Thankfully, I live in an apartment with only 3 other people, and we have seperate rooms. So I'm not in a dorm situation or anything. Which is very nice!

[Roy Mustang]

So, it's safe to say that all the stuff about even doctors and nurses refusing to take the vaccination is a lie o.o?

Not really sure if you say it was a lie. There was never a lot of info as to heath care workers were refusing them or not.

The only known story that I know is, some doctors and nurses from England were refusing to take the the vaccination and this I think the vaccine was being made in their county. But I just heard a little and most of the news that I hard about it, is not really truth news base websites.

Really, I never heard any story as US doctors or nurses refusing to take the vaccination.

But who knows. The media loves to spin things around and even made stories about the H1N1 flu being the mother of all deadly virus that is going to kill us all.

So I take what the media puts out as grain of salt and do research on my own. Reading from the CDC and talking to doctors about their views on the matter.

When people just read what they hear from the media, when they are trying to sell a story or from others that haven't done their homework, then things are going to get spin around like crazy.

[font="Book Antiqua"][color="Red"]Col. Roy Mustang[/color][/font]

[Ante Bellum]

I personally am not going to get it. Flu for me is not a big deal, and my family recovers quickly from things. The media made it a big deal, but with common sense it's nowhere near as scary. Maybe with being in such close quarters to other people you might want to get it, as sick people being around more sick people will just make the virus drag on longer. It can't truly hurt as a precaution, but in reality I've heard flu shots only work about 70% of the time.

[mechana2015]

here is my take:
I'm not sure If I'm going to get the vaccine or not. I'm not a scaremonger either, but really as long as it took for the vaccine to become available and as many people as have had, I'm just not sure if a vaccine would be worth it or not.

I mean, I've probably been exposed to it already. So would a vaccine make a difference?

If you havn't had it yet it would prevent you from ever getting it.

[goldenspines]

Simply from what I've heard from people around here, the actually H1N1 flu symtoms' intensity varies from person to person.
Obviously, the high risks groups should be more worried about getting it(or any flu for that matter), like Nate (I believe it was) mentioned; i.e. children, the elderly, and those with weaker immune systems.
Of course, there has been word that college students are the most likely ones to get the H1N1 flu because many of them live in dorms with other students, go to classes, and are just around people on campus all day.

That said, I don't think getting the shot should be a high priority for you personally, Roses, since you are not in one of the high risk groups. Just wash your hands, cover your nose when you sneeze/cough and all that. And remind others to do so as well. ^_^

[xblack_x_rosesx]

I think I am going to get it some time next week.

I know that at least 5 people that live in my residence were hospitalized for having H1N1; so many people here are sick, our classes are getting smaller every day. I'm not in any rush to get vaccinated, but I think it's probably a good idea now.
My family waited in line 6 hours today to get vaccinated, which I think is INSANE. People are just panicing and are scared, and think that once they DO get vaccinated, they don't have to take precautions- like washing their hands frequently and what not.

[goldenspines]

People are just panicing and are scared, and think that once they DO get vaccinated, they don't have to take precautions- like washing their hands frequently and what not.

Actually, it's still good to use those precautions during this time of the season, even if there wasn't the H1N1. It's not the only flu or only sickness to get out there. So, just because you get a vaccine doesn't mean you can stop being careful. ^_^

[Cloud500]

I'm actually doing a research paper on this topic. Based on my findings I'll decide whether or not to get the shot. Going back to the stuff about doctors not taking the shot, one of my teachers mentioned that her doctor is discouraging people from getting it and isn't getting it himself.