A friend posted a blog about whether to vaccinate or not....I just had a case of H1N1appear in my classroom so I decided to do my research...I posted this as a comment on her blog, but thought I would make it into a blog...I don't want to overreact, but I also want to have as many facts and as much knowledge as possible so that I can make educated decisions...I encourage you all to do that same!
My sister (a nurse) sent me this link today. I'm not getting the flu shot this year (and I have never), but I am going to get the H1N1 shot (and I am terrified of needles). The scary part about H1N1 (from my own research) is that the severe form is being found more often in healthy kids and adults (as opposed to elderly for the seasonal flu). It's respiratory and the severe form goes into your lungs and can cause severe shortness of breath. Sure, it's scary to get vaccinated, but the research I've looked at has shown that versions of it have been used for years with no adverse affects. I've also read that those with chronic conditions (like asthma), are more likely to get the severe form. There are so many urban myths and rumours that are going around, and we don't know what to believe....we all have an obligation to do our research and make educated decisions. I am worried about getting H1N1..VERY worried. I'm afraid that it would affect my trip to Russia if I did have it....and I won't let anything get in the way of that....NOTHING.
As someone who has never been an advocate of shoving unecessary stuff into my body...I sure sound intense. But I am trying to look at the bigger picture, and as someone who works with a high-risk population I need to keep the needs of the general public in mind. I want to be careful not to pass it on to them. I completely understand how those with children have a harder time with the vaccinations....that's a toughie for me too, and I don't know what I would do...seeing as holing ourselves up in our house all winter isn't an option. If it was me, I'd be talking to my doctor (and all of the health care professionals that I could) to get a range of opinions to make an educated decision. It's not the first time that we've had a "new flu" pandemic, and I'm sure it won't be the last...it's definately a scary time that we live in!
Let me know your thoughts!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
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2 comments:
Thanks B! I appreciate the link, and the open discussion. It is so hard to know what to believe for sure.
I guess I really just need to take it one vaccine at a time...study the illness it's vaccinating against and decide if it's worth it. It's hard sometimes to see through all the hype and media frenzy that comes along with these kinds of things.
Like, how many times am I going to drive on the 401 this year? I'm willing to bet my chances of dying from driving on the 401 are a lot higher than dying from H1N1, and I don't even think about it when I get on the 401. There's no website (maybe there is) to warn and scare me away from the 401. If there was half the hype, I bet I'd think about it a lot more, worry about driving on it, with children.
So, are our reactions appropriate for what we're dealing with, or is a lot of it fueled and amplified by all the attention? I don't know, I really don't. But these things go around in my head.
I absolutely believe your situation is different. You are a teacher. You are a mom, who's going to travel internationally to get her child. Those things, make it totally different for you than anyone else. So, I 100% understand you wanting to guard yourself against any risks to get in the way of that.
Ok...now I should have just written another blog. :)
As you know, I'm all for it. I've already got mine. the more vaccine I can get the better. They are created to help keep people healthy form dangerous diseases. And they're FREE!
~Janina
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