H1N1 vaccine

[quote author="Minimorty" date=1256631956][quote author="IrvineCommuter" date=1256623961]Sorry to PANDA but the vaccine "scare" really irks me...this swine flu vaccine scare is not different that Jenny McCarthy's crazy attacks on vaccines because they may cause autism. Stuff like this are not only scientifically inaccurate but also dangerous to society. It is like yelling fire in a crowded theater because someone burnt popcorn in the lobby.



Yes, some people get complications with vaccines but millions and millions of people were saved because of them.



The 1918 Spanish Flu killed somewhere between 50 to 100 million people.



Smallpox is virtually eradicated thanks to vaccines. It had previously kill millions of people (including an estimated 300-500 million people in the 20th century) and was running rampant as recently as the 1950s.



Polio was a debilitating disease striking everyone (including FDR) until it was largely eliminated thanks to a vaccine.



BTW, complications of the earlier forms of the Polio vaccine had occurred once in every 750,000 treatments. <strong>Compare that to a 1 in 223 chance of dying due to suffocating in a bed</strong>, 1 in 43,700 dying from falling off of playground equipment, or 1 in 18,310 of dying as a result of making contact with a hand tool</blockquote>




Sooo...there is a decent chance I will die in the next 223 days from suffocating in my pillow?</blockquote>




Well, I'm in a panic after reading through this thread, and not because of the flu. I have a 1 in 223 chance of dying due to suffocating in my bed? WTF? Thankfully, I've already switched to down alternative. Do minimized allergies help my odds?
 
[quote author="Sunshine" date=1256651082][quote author="Minimorty" date=1256631956][quote author="IrvineCommuter" date=1256623961]Sorry to PANDA but the vaccine "scare" really irks me...this swine flu vaccine scare is not different that Jenny McCarthy's crazy attacks on vaccines because they may cause autism. Stuff like this are not only scientifically inaccurate but also dangerous to society. It is like yelling fire in a crowded theater because someone burnt popcorn in the lobby.



Yes, some people get complications with vaccines but millions and millions of people were saved because of them.



The 1918 Spanish Flu killed somewhere between 50 to 100 million people.



Smallpox is virtually eradicated thanks to vaccines. It had previously kill millions of people (including an estimated 300-500 million people in the 20th century) and was running rampant as recently as the 1950s.



Polio was a debilitating disease striking everyone (including FDR) until it was largely eliminated thanks to a vaccine.



BTW, complications of the earlier forms of the Polio vaccine had occurred once in every 750,000 treatments. <strong>Compare that to a 1 in 223 chance of dying due to suffocating in a bed</strong>, 1 in 43,700 dying from falling off of playground equipment, or 1 in 18,310 of dying as a result of making contact with a hand tool</blockquote>




Sooo...there is a decent chance I will die in the next 223 days from suffocating in my pillow?</blockquote>




Well, I'm in a panic after reading through this thread, and not because of the flu. I have a 1 in 223 chance of dying due to suffocating in my bed? WTF? Thankfully, I've already switched to down alternative. Do minimized allergies help my odds?</blockquote>


I thought that stat was pretty random (and high)...I got it off of this site: <a href="http://www.bookofodds.com/">http://www.bookofodds.com/</a> Pretty good timewaster :D
 
If you add up all the odds on the site that is related to you, the expected life span of Americans would be less than 5 yrs, and need to visit ER on a daily basis.



Odd of injury due to drinking straws 1 in 100,600

odd of injury due to leaf blower 1 in 141,100

..... toothbrush 1 in 99,340

..... garage door opener 1 in 106,300
 
[quote author="Nude" date=1256648941][quote author="SoCal78" date=1256640346][quote author="Nude" date=1256635036][quote author="freedomCM" date=1256631330]Just think how you will feel watching your kid suffocate.</blockquote>


That's so far across the line it's absurd. Totally classless.</blockquote>


It's o.k. I know that freedom means well and just wants everyone to be alright so I can appreciate that... </blockquote>


The road to hell is paved with good intentions. There were other ways to make the point without crossing that line, and as a new father, you would think he would know better. Wishing death upon someone's kid is despicable, disgusting, and inhuman. While your good nature leads you to seeing the good in everyone, the only thing that remark deserves is scorn and ridicule.</blockquote>




Nude, you have totally taken a turn for the worst lately.





It was a hypothetical to point out the worst possible outcome, not my desired outcome.



Please take a breath.
 
[quote author="MojoJD" date=1256619640]To further my point, look up for yourselves the death rate for the REGULAR seasonal flu and compare it to how many people have died this year from swine flu.



The average flu-complicated deaths are ~35,000-38,000 in the US.



Swine flu complicated deaths just cracked 1000. And the year is almost over. I'm not impressed.</blockquote>


This image shows the anomaly of this flu season (mainly due to H1N1). Seasonal flu usually peaks in incidence around the 10th week of the year. We are nowhere near the peak and look at how we are exceeding the # for last season. One thing to note, however, is that this uptrend may be influenced by the added paranoia of H1N1. That is, people who would not have been likely to show up at the ER last season, are coming this time.



<img src="http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/images/graphs/ili41_graph.gif" alt="" />



This other image shows the anomaly in pediatric deaths due to H1N1. Again, compared to the seasonal flu of previous years, the timing is different and we have not even approached the peak of occurrences.



<img src="http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/weeklyarchives2009-2010/images/IPD41_small.gif" alt="" />



As far as mortality for pregnant women is concerned, they represent 6% of confirmed 2009 H1N1 influenza deaths in the United States, while only about 1% of the general population is pregnant. In general, due to the suppression of their immune system, they are also more likely to get complications from the seasonal flu. In general, the recommendation is that they get both. For those afraid of using thimerosal, the single dose vaccinations do not contain this preservative. The risk of introducing bacteria is not due to refrigeration and storage, rather through repeated insertions of needles into the same vial. The single dose vial does not have this issue (thus no need for thimerosal).



[All information from CDC]
 
[quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1256691292]I don't use pillows, so I'm good.



<attempt to lighten the thread></blockquote>


Those aren't pillows, IHO...

http://thefilmnest.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/john-candy.jpg



To add my $.02:



I had the flu.

It sucked.

For a little over 6 weeks.



The hospital would only tell me that:

- I was not contagious when I came in (after two weeks)

- My treatment would be the same either way, so they would not test for H1N1

- I was fortunate to not have it complicated with pneumonia, as many others have.



You all can choose for yourselves, but for the House of Deuce it is "<em><strong>Veni, vidi, vaccinate</strong></em>."



-IR2
 
[quote author="IrvineRealtor" date=1256704681]You all can choose for yourselves, but for the House of Deuce it is "<em><strong>Veni, vidi, vaccinate</strong></em>."



-IR2</blockquote>


Deuce, that's dirty... "I came, I Saw, I Injected..."



:lol:
 
[quote author="IrvineRealtor" date=1256704681][quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1256691292]I don't use pillows, so I'm good.



<attempt to lighten the thread></blockquote>


I had the flu.

It sucked.

For a little over 6 weeks.



The hospital would only tell me that:

- I was not contagious when I came in (after two weeks)

- My treatment would be the same either way, so they would not test for H1N1

- I was fortunate to not have it complicated with pneumonia, as many others have.



You all can choose for yourselves, but for the House of Deuce it is "<em><strong>Veni, vidi, vaccinate</strong></em>."



-IR2</blockquote>


To add to what Deuce is saying, I had Pneumonia when I was in ICU last June and whoa Mama!! It was literally like drowning, I remember the Dr and Nurses standing over me as they tried to suck what seemed like runny Custard with a Vacuum Pipe...the machine couldn't keep up, so I would go for the Vaccine to avoid that alone.....



It's hard to make a descision on whether to be Vaccinated or not, it's a very personal choice and lets face it, somewhat of a gamble, it's even harder when you have Kids and have to make the descision for them...
 
I'm all for vaccination, but I can't find a place to actually get the vaccine for my son. His pediatrician doesn't have any and doesn't know when they will get it (we're on the waiting list - it's many pages long, they told me). There are also going to be some H1N1 vaccination clinics for kids this weekend, but it's the mist only, so it's only for ages 2+, so my son is too young. It's really frustrating.



If anyone has any idea where I can get an injectable vaccine for my kid, I'd love to know!
 
This whole shortage is actually weird. I mean this is America. I should be able to plop down a couple hundred smackeroos and get my kid a shot. Any Dr.s in the house? My offer is $250.
 
[quote author="MojoJD" date=1256619369]H1N1 is a complete load. It is just another variant of the common flu. Did you know that pregnant woman may also, GASP, sometimes get complications from the regular flu?

</blockquote>


Yeah, so you should also get that vaccine.



Some people here seem to think that getting the vaccine is something you do just for yourself. However, it is also something you do for others. If you are vaccinated, not only will you not get the flu, but you also cannot pass it to someone who hasn't been vaccinated. Some people cannot get vaccinated due to health/age reasons. So, by not getting the vaccine, you are also increasing the risks to some other people. This is what happened in San Diego a couple years ago where paranoid parents wouldn't get their kids their normal shots and then their kids gave a preventable disease to a baby who almost died.



Basically, people are really REALLY bad at statistics and error on the side of selfishness. Pisses me off. We live in a society, not in isolation chambers.
 
If there is anyone who doubt the extremely huge impact that vaccines has had on the human race, check out this website:



<a href="http://www.gatesfoundation.org/livingproofproject/Pages/default.aspx">http://www.gatesfoundation.org/livingproofproject/Pages/default.aspx</a>



Also check out this article discussing and refuting the arguments of the anti-vacciners



<a href="http://www.skepdic.com/antivaccination.html">http://www.skepdic.com/antivaccination.html</a>



Excerpt from the above article:



If everybody in a population is vaccinated, the chances of contracting the disease is near zero. But the more people in a population who do not get vaccinated, the more the whole population is jeopardized. Imagine a robust individual who is not vaccinated and gets mumps. Before his parents keep him home from school he infects half his classmates, some have been vaccinated and are not affected. Some have not been vaccinated and they get the mumps. Most recover. Maybe one of the non-vaccinated dies. There may also be a child who was vaccinated but who is not very robust and she gets infected by several people, some of whom have been vaccinated and some who have not. Both can be carriers of the virus. The weak but vaccinated girl dies. Does this mean the vaccine doesn't work? No. It means that if some people don't get vaccinated they can jeopardize those who do. On the other hand, if most people have been vaccinated, those in the population who haven't been vaccinated benefit from the actions of the others and get protection against the disease without being vaccinated. If too many people take this free-ride approach, the group suffers.



More discussion regarding whether there is too much hype about H1N1:



<a href="http://www.factsnotfantasy.com/2009/10/why-epidemiology-of-swine-flu-matters.html">http://www.factsnotfantasy.com/2009/10/why-epidemiology-of-swine-flu-matters.html</a>



<a href="http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=1229">http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=1229</a>



Excerpt:



In areas where 2009 (H1N1) emerged during the traditional influenza season, like Australia, they have reported more than a doubling in the number of people hospitalized from influenza, with around 1 in 5 requiring ICU-level care. Similar to what we have seen in the US, Australia has likewise demonstrated that 2009 (H1N1) has a higher attack rate in younger people, which is in stark contrast to the normal seasonal influenza pattern, and has shifted its mean age of death from influenza from 83 down to 54. Unlike what we have seen thus far, Australia has had a much higher hospitalization rate of 34.6/100,000 in ages 0-4, and an overall rate of 12/100,000 for the population. This likely reflects the differences between being on-season and off-season.



Final thought: Whenever I get a piece of news or article, I do my "consider the source" test (works great for propositions) I look at the source of the information and where they have an incentive to fudge the truth. In this vaccine/H1N1 debate, the side who claims that it is nothing and that vaccines are evil largely consist of commentators, "natural cure gurus", and conspiracy theorists. On the other side are doctors, health experts, scientists, the CDC, and the WHO. I think I will stick with the latter.
 
[quote author="PeterUK" date=1256706581][quote author="IrvineRealtor" date=1256704681][quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1256691292]I don't use pillows, so I'm good.



<attempt to lighten the thread></blockquote>


I had the flu.

It sucked.

For a little over 6 weeks.



The hospital would only tell me that:

- I was not contagious when I came in (after two weeks)

- My treatment would be the same either way, so they would not test for H1N1

- I was fortunate to not have it complicated with pneumonia, as many others have.



You all can choose for yourselves, but for the House of Deuce it is "<em><strong>Veni, vidi, vaccinate</strong></em>."



-IR2</blockquote>


To add to what Deuce is saying, I had Pneumonia when I was in ICU last June and whoa Mama!! It was literally like drowning, I remember the Dr and Nurses standing over me as they tried to suck what seemed like runny Custard with a Vacuum Pipe...the machine couldn't keep up, so I would go for the Vaccine to avoid that alone.....



It's hard to make a descision on whether to be Vaccinated or not, it's a very personal choice and lets face it, somewhat of a gamble, it's even harder when you have Kids and have to make the descision for them...</blockquote>


There is a vaccine for the bacteria form of pneumonia. One shot for adults and that's it (no yearly shot) - can get it for $65 cash at Costco (same day as the flu shots - check schedule at costco.com).
 
Shots, pills, etc... make me uneasy/uncomfortable. I guess I'm a bit suspect of the use and misuse of pharmaceuticals and specifically, antibiotics. However, after a terrible stomach flu experience last winter while on vacation visiting family for Christmas, I am considering, for the first time, whether or not I will get the regular flu shot this year.
 
[quote author="Sunshine" date=1256729008]Shots, pills, etc... make me uneasy/uncomfortable. I guess I'm a bit suspect of the use and misuse of pharmaceuticals and specifically, antibiotics. However, after a terrible stomach flu experience last winter while on vacation visiting family for Christmas, I am considering, for the first time, whether or not I will get the regular flu shot this year.</blockquote>


Good luck finding it. While it was widely available only just a week ago, not so now.
 
[quote author="tmare" date=1256729163][quote author="Sunshine" date=1256729008]Shots, pills, etc... make me uneasy/uncomfortable. I guess I'm a bit suspect of the use and misuse of pharmaceuticals and specifically, antibiotics. However, after a terrible stomach flu experience last winter while on vacation visiting family for Christmas, I am considering, for the first time, whether or not I will get the regular flu shot this year.</blockquote>


Good luck finding it. While it was widely available only just a week ago, not so now.</blockquote>


I think my employer is offering it soon.
 
[quote author="Sunshine" date=1256729227][quote author="tmare" date=1256729163][quote author="Sunshine" date=1256729008]Shots, pills, etc... make me uneasy/uncomfortable. I guess I'm a bit suspect of the use and misuse of pharmaceuticals and specifically, antibiotics. However, after a terrible stomach flu experience last winter while on vacation visiting family for Christmas, I am considering, for the first time, whether or not I will get the regular flu shot this year.</blockquote>


Good luck finding it. While it was widely available only just a week ago, not so now.</blockquote>


I think my employer is offering it soon.</blockquote>


It will be interesting to see if they actually get it. Apparently production has stopped to increase production of the H1N1 vaccine, most places are sitting around waiting to see if they they will get more. This is not something anyone expected to happen but it's happening. It is now only being offered to a greatly decreased "high risk" group, that definition just changed according to our doctor, it no longer includes age groups, but instead people with specific conditions.
 
[quote author="tmare" date=1256729163][quote author="Sunshine" date=1256729008]Shots, pills, etc... make me uneasy/uncomfortable. I guess I'm a bit suspect of the use and misuse of pharmaceuticals and specifically, antibiotics. However, after a terrible stomach flu experience last winter while on vacation visiting family for Christmas, I am considering, for the first time, whether or not I will get the regular flu shot this year.</blockquote>


Good luck finding it. While it was widely available only just a week ago, not so now.</blockquote>


Yeah, it seems like everyone's out of this one too. Albertsons's was supposed to be doing some clinics, but I've called a couple of stores and they've canceled their clinics because they don't have the supply.



I find it frustrating because everybody's telling us it's important to go get vaccinated (for H1N1), yet it's impossible to find the vaccine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top