The H1N1 Shot – To Get or Not to Get
There is a lot of confusion about the H1N1 swine flu shot. There is confusion, demand, and fear. I have written a column about my own experience dispensing the vaccine and trying to decide who should get it. My column is in today’s LA Times describes how I temporarily lost my cool with someone who was demanding the vaccine and might or might not have needed it. I also received a very poignant email from a 68 year old heard transplant patient in Pennsyvania who says he cannot get the vaccine despite a compromised immune system because he is more than 64 years old.
I would also like to bust a few myths regarding the vaccine:
- The vaccine is safe. It has been given to millions around the world so far and has been very well tolerated. No cases of Guillain Barre Syndrome (ascending paralysis) have yet been conclusively linked to the vaccine.
- The GSK vaccine Pandemrix, which uses a squalene adjuvant (additive) so that less vaccine material is needed to provide immunity, has been linked to allergic reactions and is being withdrawn in Canada, is not approved for use in the U.S.
- The vaccine is a very good match for the virus. The prevailing novel A H1N1 swine flu strain has not changed significantly in structure since returning in force from the Southern Hemisphere and bringing the “second wave” which we are still in the middle of.
- High priority groups are still pregnant women, children, those with chronic conditions, and health care workers. The elderly appear to have some immunity from exposure to previous flu viruses, but as more vaccine becomes available, the guidelines are being liberalized, and more will be able to receive it.
Dr. Marc Siegel is an internist and associate professor of medicine at the NYU School of Medicine. He is a FOX News medical contributor and writes a health column for the LA Times, where he examines TV and movies for medical accuracy. Dr. Siegel’s new Ebook: Swine Flu; the New Pandemic, will be published in early October. Dr. Siegel is also the author of “False Alarm: The Truth About the Epidemic of Fear
Tags: children, flu strain, Guillain-Barre syndrome, H1H1, H1N1 vaccine, immune system, myths, Pandemrix, pregnant women, Swine Flu, vaccine
Share
I’m a little confused by the grammar used in this article. This was the last line of the first paragraph:
I would also like to bust a few myths regarding the vaccine:
The article then had a list of items – are those the myths or the facts? The way the article was written grammatically, it appears they are myths. Please explain whether those were myths as the colon indicated, or those were the facts to bust the myths.
Thank you.
A concerned Mom
The information from Canadian sources (http://is.gd/5bseN) on Pandemrix contains this information: “the anaphylaxis reactions were short-lived and all the patients recovered.” Only one lot of Pandemrix was held for more analysis. More than 100,000 doses were withdrawn. One or two allergic reactions are expected in a batch that size but health officials recorded six severe allergic reactions and alerted GSK.
I received the H1N1 shot on 11/23/09. I was 8 weeks 6 Days and my baby died that day!
I have done research and went to the health dept where my shot was administed and got the lot number. I am shocked to know the vaccine contains toxic ingredients. They are:
. MF59C.1 is an oil/water emulsion containing 9.75 mg squalene, 1.175 mg polysorbate 80 and 1.175 mg sorbitan trioleate in a citrate buffer. Quantities are expressed per 0.5 ml vaccine dose.
- Other Ingredients:
The other ingredients are: thiomersal (MERCURY) (multidose vial only), sodium chloride, potassium chloride, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, disodium phosphate dihydrate, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, calcium chloride dihydrate, sodium citrate, citric acid and water for injections.
If any of you have had adverse reactions to this vaccine PLEASE report it online at https://vaers.hhs.gov/esub/index
Also, I am trying to find someone who KNOWS what tests can be ran on my fetus at this early stage to determine EXACTLY if this vaccine contibuted to my fetus’ death. Please email me if you can help.
Dr. Siegel,
You may be interested to know about a new article regarding chiropractic care, since vaccine denialism and that naturopath type thinking tend to go hand in hand. hey, it could be your next article topic!
http://www.chiroandosteo.com/content/pdf/1746-1340-17-13.pdf
Written *by 4 chiropractors* concluding that the premise for subluxations is largely unsupported and thereby giving little credence under which a chiropractor can contribute to health.