H1N1- are you getting vaccinated?

My step-mom-in-law just sent me an email asking about the H1N1 vaccine. To those of us in biology, there are no questions- vaccination is MUCH better that getting sick. But the view from the ivory tower is misleading, apparently this isn't clear if you follow mainstream media. Here is the response I sent her- I hope the rest of you will encourage everyone you know to at least drop the autism argument against vaccination.

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I am glad you asked about H1N1- it is scary the amount of misinformation out there. The video you sent was a typical example- I didn't watch it because the first two speakers are both intolerable anti-vaccination activists. (Did you see the cover of last months Wired? Those people make me furious!) I will agree with them, every vaccine carries a risk, and it is good to understand these risks. Most experts will agree though, the risk of influenza (either H1N1 or any other strain) is much greater.

As for the safety of the H1N1 vaccine, it is no different than the normal seasonal vaccine in the process used to manufacture it. It just directed at this one virus. Normally, predication are made almost a year in advance about what the 'next' seasonal influenza will be and vaccines are manufactured accordingly. This year, the seasonal shot does not include H1N1 (it emerged late in the manufacture process), which is surely the most abundant influenza out there. Since the manufacturing process is the same, if you were comfortable taking the seasonal shot, do yourself a favor and get H1N1 vaccine. I know that there have been soem questions about the adjuvants (chemical additives designed to enhance the immune response) used, it might help to understand that adjuvants are used in most all vaccines. I am attaching a short pdf about the vaccine (prepared for the UK parliament- some of the regulatory stuff does not apply, but I understand we use the same suppliers here).

As for the risks to the elderly, I think the same applies. You should talk to their doctor to be sure it is right for them, but the idea of vaccination is to give the body immunity without getting sick. If there is still vaccine available for them, I would encourage you all to get it. The H1N1 strain sounds nastier than average flu, which itself is not fun to get. I think public health efforts have kept us from seeing major death tolls, but that doesn't mean that H1N1 is not a threat. So please, tell all your friends, the vaccine is as safe as any other flu shot, and H1N1 is at least as bad as any other flu.

Want to know more about the nasal spray?

I hope that helps, if you have any other questions please ask. I've made it my business to know about the flu and vaccine this year.