Sunday, November 1, 2009

Is an H1N1 Vaccine Necessary?

By Nina Fisher

One of the biggest medical scares in recent history is making its way around the world as the swine flu continues to spread. After infecting thousands of people during the summer, this bug won't go away and doctors and scientists have told the public to brace itself for a worsening condition.

Scarily enough, many of the cases (and the deaths) are affecting young children and adults. This is a stark contrast from the usual flu, which strikes the elderly and those already ill the hardest.

This goes against the very nature of almost every illness known to mankind. As a result, the public is rightly concerned.

Everyone is wondering what to do for the lack of preventive options available. Schools will frequently close when there's an outbreak, and offices have taken similar measures. There are some lobbying for a swine flu vaccine, as they say that one is absolutely necessary at this point.

On the other hand, the swine flu is said to only end up killing less than one percent of those afflicted with it. Being that just a fraction of one percent of those will face a death rate, is it worth getting vaccinated from this epidemic?

People grow more concerned with reports of adverse bodily reactions to flu vaccines. One woman was literally rendered speechless and immobile after being vaccinated, and the story was covered by major media outlets.

Whether she received a bad vaccine or this was simply a risk that everyone who gets a shot will experience, no one is exactly sure. However, the best course of action is to speak to your doctor for a legitimate professional opinion.

As this swine flu continues to make its rounds, we must learn more about this subtle but lethal illness. Discussing our options will help to keep things in the spotlight.

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