I’m Torn: The Swine Flu Vaccine

November 16, 2009 - 1:00 pm By Brianna-Fordham University

Ew. Ow. Shots. Ew.

At this point, Swine Flu (or H1N1 if we want to be politically correct) has been branded into our consciousness. It seems like we can’t go anywhere without seeing a poster or a commercial telling us to protect ourselves. Suddenly the lessons we learned in grammar school are being made into multi-million dollar ad campaigns. “Wash your hands! Cover your mouth when you cough!”

It’s a little ridiculous how much everyone is freaking out. Then again, whenever I see someone sneeze I run in the other direction in fear that I will soon sprout a tail and oink all the way to the emergency room. So am I avoiding this swine flu like the plague? Hell yes. But when it comes to the vaccine, I’m not as sure.

I want to be as protected as possible, but I also don’t want to throw myself under the bus by injecting this mysterious killer into my blood stream. I talk to one person and feel like it’s the best thing since sliced bread, then the next minute someone else has me convinced that I would be making the worse mistake of my life.

It’s painfully clear: I’m torn.

Love It

Isn’t this what everyone has been praying for? Since this thing emerged we’ve been sitting with fingers crossed in our surgical masks and rubber gloves while researchers searched for a vaccine to prevent it, and now it’s finally here. Research also says that college students are at the highest risk for serious infection and even with those Purell bottles in every lecture hall/classroom/dorm on campus, it seems stupid to even consider not getting the vaccine. Why wouldn’t I protect myself if given the chance? Plus, I can get it super cheap (if not for free) at my school’s health center. It really seems like a no-brainer.

Loathe It

Okay, I’ve heard one too many horror stories and I’m not having it. Some people have had horrible reactions to the vaccine; others have been infected and gotten really sick afterward. I’m trying to avoid this virus at all costs, so it seems pretty stupid to willingly let someone inject it into my body. Plus I hate needles with a passion (especially when they are filled with the Swine) so it seems like a better deal to just go hang out in the health center next to Sniffy McSniffles, inhale some of whatever he’s got and hope my body fights it off and gets stronger. Plus, I’ve never gotten the flu shot before and have always managed to come out of flu season unscathed, so why start now?

What do you guys think? Yay or neigh oink for the Swine Flu vaccine?

19 Comments		Posted in Body, Reality
		Tags: flu, flu shot, h1n1, h1n1 vaccine, health center, purell, swine flu, swine flu vaccine, virus

19 Comments on "I’m Torn: The Swine Flu Vaccine"

kirsten says:
Mon, 16th Nov 20091:41 pm

I have heard too many bad things about the vaccine… plus they pulled it out in half the time that it usually takes to make a vaccine. About a month ago, I along with most of my friends, had the swine flu. It was really no different then the reg flu. People need to stop panicing. Plus its kinda cool to say I SURVIVED SWINE FLU 09!

Mox says:
Mon, 16th Nov 20092:07 pm

Guys… swine flu is even less dangerous than the normal flu, just more contagious. I’m braving this season with no vaccines of any sort.

katherine says:
Mon, 16th Nov 20092:22 pm

The reason people are more nervous than during a normal flu season is because H1N1 affects younger people than the regular flu does. The regular flu is influenza A and people get that every year…and it typically hits older people.

H1N1 is affecting younger people, and killing children (I’m not saying a LOT of children, but still more than a typical flu season), so people are freaking out a bit more

You don’t have to get the vaccine as a shot, I got the “flu mist” which is like a nasal spray. And as a nurse, I would say 75% of people I work with got the vaccine, and not one of them had any adverse reactions.

But am I telling you to get it? No. Just take the same precautions that you would during a normal flu season. I got the vaccine to protect my patients more than myself. And I would never tell someone they should get a vaccine they’re uncomfortable with. So do whatever feels right for you.

Kelly says:
Mon, 16th Nov 20092:32 pm

I survived swine flu 09 too! It lasted four days and was no worse than the regular flu. Just that it was in the middle of September.

This was enough convincing to me to not get it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ8GTUhPiC4&feature=player_embedded
This girl got the swine flu vaccine and now she can’t walk!

Kelly says:
Mon, 16th Nov 20093:01 pm

I’m really considering not getting it even though I’ve got asthma and am in college because the effects of a vaccine aren’t always immediate, there can be negative side effects years down the road. I got the flu shot this year, I got the flu anyway, I’m used to being sick because of my crap lungs and don’t want to risk something worse with this shot. One of my friends had swine pretty bad, was sick for a week and a half but once she was home and rested, she got better quick. I’m being smart about my health in terms of food, exercise, sleep & keeping clean so I think I’ll be fine w/o the shot.

April says:
Mon, 16th Nov 20093:19 pm

I got the vaccine, its more than the normal flu, and yes you do feel icky afterward, but its better than getting the flu itself. the vaccine that is injected is a dead virus, meaning, your body builds its immunity off of something that won’t invade your body. the one that you sniff in through the nostril is the live virus, but weakened. i got the injection. people with supressed immune systems because of a drug or a medical condition should at least talk to their doctor about the vaccine and weigh the pros and cons. and yes, whiel h1n1 is more contagious, it is not as bad as the normal flu. if you dont want to get the h1n1, then at least get the normal flu vaccine, as the vaccine is changed every year to combat the predicted strains that will effect the majority of the population. but getting the vaccine doesnt mean to treat your body like crap during this time either. while you may not get the flu, you can catch something else.

Jenna says:
Mon, 16th Nov 20093:51 pm

I got the shot vaccine as well, since it was free at my school’s wellness center. I figured, if it’s free, why not? It was a pretty wimpy shot; it didn’t hurt at all to get it, nor did my arm hurt later like with some vaccines (HPV, anyone?). My brother got the live mist, though, and he said he felt a little crappy the next day, then felt fine.

Everyone seems to be freaking out about swine flu, and if they aren’t, then they’re freaking out about the vaccine. I’m not particularly prone to paranoid fantasies.

Katee says:
Mon, 16th Nov 20094:35 pm

from what i understand the vaccine hasnt been tested for long term effects
and has thing like mercury in it, (if fish get mercury poisoning we dont eat them, but were willing to inject it into our bloodstream, question, why?)

swine isnt so bad that i feel like i need to get the shot
every time i have gotten the flu shot in the past
i have gotten the flu
and every time i havnt gotten it
i havent gotten the flu
coincidence? i think not

Annie says:
Mon, 16th Nov 20094:37 pm

The Canadian government has indemnified the H1N1 vaccine. This means they are protecting themselves from getting sued if anything goes wrong with the vaccine. If that doesn’t send up warning flags, I don’t know what will.

katrina says:
Mon, 16th Nov 20094:43 pm

By the way, there are some questions as to the validity of that link you posted about the former cheerleader who can only walk backwards. What she has, which is supposedly dystonia, does not cause the things that it is causing her to do..so if that’s the reason you’re not getting a flu shot then I dont know what to tell you

Pig Fli says:
Mon, 16th Nov 20096:23 pm

Why would I not get the flu shot?
Are you fricking joking?

#1 – vaccines are made of known toxins, regardless of what you “think” you know.
#2 – vaccines are the number one reason for our dumber generation, when was the last time you were inspired by someone’s genius?
#3 – severe reactions are being reported all over the world, including DEATH and PARALYSIS! http://vaccine-reactions.blogspot.com/
#4 – Do you even know what an adjuvant is? wikipedia definition: [I]However, it was soon found that more scrupulous attention to cleanliness actually seemed to reduce the effectiveness of the vaccines, and that the contaminants – “dirt” – actually enhanced the immune response. There are many known adjuvants in widespread use, including oils, aluminium salts, and virosomes, although precisely how they work is still not entirely understood. [/I]
#5 – Autism links – proven facts:
1987 – 1 in 5000 reported “autism”
2007 – 1 in 165 reported “autism”
#6 – Women are reporting miscarriages in their first and second trimesters after receiving the shot – look it up.

I’m so disgusted with the sheeple in this nation, how much does it take for you people to stand up and think? Will it take the mandatory check points on your way to work to check your “H1N1 vaccine paperwork”?

WHAT WILL IT TAKE??

Mel says:
Mon, 16th Nov 20096:54 pm

For christ’s sake, talk about being ignorant. I can’t believe people actually fell for that Jenny McCarthy crap about how vaccines give you autism. Yes, I’m looking at you, Pig Fil, who claims to be “disgusted with the sheeple in this nation”. Well, I’m disgusted at you for that. You’re right, WHAT WILL IT TAKE for people to stop being so stupid and understand that that’s not the case?! Way to take advantage of everyone else’s immunity (aka herd immunity) without contributing anything back.

Anita says:
Mon, 16th Nov 20097:08 pm

Pig Fli…where are you getting your information? As a medical professional, I know that there are risks related to vaccinations, but I also know that the benefits outweigh the risks. The number of people who have complications from vaccines are very limited.

Vaccines are the reason for our dumber generation? How about laziness? Or in your case, clear misinformation and ignorance.

Nora says:
Mon, 16th Nov 200910:57 pm

I’d rather build up a natural immunity and tolerance to the H1N1. Figuring that the virus is mutating constantly, just like the seasonal flu, who says that the vaccine will work? My boyfriend got the vaccine, and still ended up with the flu. It wasn’t too horrible, actually.

I’d rather just get it done and over win, and let my immune system get used to the new big thing in virus-ville. This year was the first year [in my entire life] that I actually got the seasonal flu shot [just because I'm moving into a dorm], and to tell you the truth, the last 19 years of my life have been almost flu free. You just have to let your body build up a natural immunity to it!

Dia says:
Mon, 16th Nov 200911:49 pm

nope im not even at risk, i eat right wash my hands, i rarely get sick

Sophie says:
Tue, 17th Nov 20093:55 am

Nora- you can’t let your body build up a natural immunity to the flue – the virus changes every year and you body still had to come up with new anibodies to protect against the virus. No matter how many flu’s you have had, if a new one comes along (as several do evey year) you will become infected, and if you get sick it is because your body can’t make enough antibodies for the vius fast enough. Authough, you can help your body make anti-bodies by being healthy, getting enough sleep; no one is immune to the enitre “flu”,it is only that they can’t get a particular flu they have already had because their body still has the antigens foating around your bloodstream (memory white blood cells).
So next time you feel yourself run-down you may get a dose of that flu you have decided you have already built a “natural immunity to”.

belle says:
Tue, 17th Nov 20093:57 pm

Just for everyone’s knowledge: the British study that started the culture of parents against vaccines (claiming links to autism) was never able to replicate its results (an important factor in study validity). In fact, 20 subsequent studies showed no statistically significant link to autism whatsoever. Finally, the principal investigator of that British study was shown to have a financial conflict of interest (meaning a bias towards these results due to companies he was working with). The greater prevalence of autism in recent years is more likely due to a greater visibility of the disorder coupled with better, more specific criteria for doctors in being able to diagnose it.

While vaccines do carry some risk, people in the health profession, those with compromised immune systems and pregnant women should get it, as the danger associated with contracting the flu (to their patients, themselves or their baby) is much greater than the risks carried by the vaccine itself.

The cheerleader’s story is very sad and still not completely understood (along with dystonia). But, her result is very rare.

Steve as ELFIS says:
Tue, 17th Nov 20098:10 pm

No disrespect intended for what people have to deal with as a result of the Swine Flu. Sometimes we just need to laugh to keep from stressing out.

Here’s a little comedic relief in this funny music video

“I Want an H1N1 Shot for Christmas”.

http://www.ElfisLives.com

Jessica says:
Fri, 20th Nov 20095:30 pm

Pig Fli, wikipedia is not a credible source by any means.

vaccines do not cause autism. not vaccinating children is FAR more dangerous than vaccinating them.

idiot.

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