Swine Flu Vaccine Facts
Feel like a healthy debate? I know this is a touchy subject for some, but I feel it is very important for people to know the facts about the new H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccine.
Instead of doing a lengthy and passionate post about why I think it is unwise to get this shot, I’ll write the facts out in a way that is quick and easy to read, and leave you to think it over.
1. Swine Flu is mild for most people. WHO (World Health Organization) published a summary of clinical features of human infection with H1N1 and stated: “This report notes that most cases were uncomplicated, typical influenza-like illness and patients recovered spontaneously.” “Within the U.S. approximately 5-9% of confirmed cases have been hospitalized.” (Section 1.2 of the FDA link below)
The majority of the people who have been hospitalized or have even died from complications of the Swine Flu had underlying medical conditions.
2. But they assure us the vaccine is safe. Health Officials keep telling us, “The H1N1 vaccine is made in exactly the same way, using the same material, the same companies, the same process as the seasonal flu vaccine…” But it’s NOT the same. It’s using a totally different strain of the flu. Plus, they are recommending this shot (possibly even two doses) on top of the regular seasonal flu shot. They have NO IDEA what combining these vaccines will do to us in the short term OR the long term.
In 1976 people were given Swine Flu vaccines that ended up paralyzing 500 Americans, killing 25, and contributed to a significant rise in Guillain-Barre syndrome. Only one person died that year from the actual Swine Flu. There were more people injured and killed from the vaccine than the flu itself.
The government didn’t tell people how untested the vaccine was. They had no idea of possible complications. Yet they pushed the vaccine on the public, caused a huge scare telling people that there was another plague, an epidemic, that they might die if they didn’t get the vaccine. Sound a little familiar? Sadly, the people unquestioningly trusted them.
3. The vaccine hasn’t been tested long enough. Only a few thousand healthy people were given the experimental vaccine, and monitored for 21 days. 21 days! Sure, it’s safe! Again, they have NO IDEA what the long term effects could be. Yet, they rush the vaccine to market anyways.
The Food and Drug Administration published a review (which I will have a link to at the bottom of this post) which states in section 5.0 (emphasis added):
“However, because surveillance and epidemiologic data may indicate that vaccination should be initiated before data from such clinical trials are available we recognize that the regulatory approach needs to be flexible and that policy decisions regarding vaccine formulation and use may have to be based on results from incomplete or smaller clinical studies or even in the absence of clinical data with novel influenza A (H1N1) virus vaccine.”
What is this saying? If they decide that the virus is becoming too widespread and they think people need the vaccine immediately, they will rush the vaccine out to the public before studies are finished or even conducted at all! That is exactly what they have done. They are already pushing the vaccine this month, with little or no evidence of possible side effects.
Plus, in section 5.1.2:
“FDA has not requested that manufacturers evaluate adolescents because we expect to extrapolate data from other age groups”
They don’t even want to test the reactions of the vaccine on children. They assume they can get the same test results from adults.
And then they recommend up to 2 seasonal flu shots and 1-2 Swine Flu shots for children! Never have we ever given children up to 4 flu shots in a single year!! What are they thinking!?
4. They won’t be held liable for damages. Congress has shielded vaccine manufacturers and medical personnel administering the vaccines from any kind of legal repercussions. So if there are side effects, they won’t be held responsible. You’re on your own.
This should concern us. If they are so confident that the vaccines are safe, why would they have to provide the vaccine manufacturers legal immunity before they would agree to make and rush out the vaccines?
Needless to say, they would have to tie me up and sedate me before I let my kids or myself be injected with this experiment. No way.
Don’t take my word for it, read it for yourself!
National Vaccine Information Center
Okay, now it’s your turn. Please be kind if you disagree 
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AMEN!!!
I’ve also heard that you have to be careful when going to the hospital or doctors office also as they might give it to you without knowledge.
Oh I love it! I can’t wait to read what others say. Vaccines are such a hot button issue. I think that it is time that mothers become educated on how the vaccines and the companies that produce them really work. It is all about money and as you noted the government backs them 100%. My family of 8 had a very mild case of the virus. My pediatrician even said that the “epidemic” wasn’t as bad as the media is making it out. Who is feeding the media all this hype? It is pretty scary when you start to learn more about all of this. I used to think that people who didn’t vaccinate were like rebels and were putting their children’s lives in danger to prove a point. The more I read and learn the more I’m inclined to join the rebelion!
Deanna-
That is exactly why I decide to write controversial things sometimes. I think it’s time that mothers knew the truth, and were able to make educated decisions.
This is an issue I’ve been struggling with for a while. We just had our fifth child almost 6 months ago. I used to not give vaccines a second thought, but the more kids I’ve had, the more I’ve found myself questioning them. We decided to not get the swine flu vaccine….but I question that decision every day. The information I heard was that it wasn’t necessarily this year’s epidemic that they were concerned with, but one in the years to come. The thought is that this virus will come back next year with even more detriment to out society.
Also, a previous comment stated that the vaccines are all about profit, but the regular (not H1N1) vaccines actually have to go through a LONG process in which the vaccines and the studies done on them are heavily scrutinized. It actually benefits (monetarily) the FDA to fail a vaccine instead of passing it on to be used in society.
I think the problem with the whole vaccine issue (at least the problem I’ve had) is that it’s hard to know who to trust. You find doctors motivated by profit on both sides of the issue. And I have yet to find someone who looks at the subject objectively….it’s always someone who is a strong fanatic on one side or the other (and I mean fanatic in the nicest way – think dictionary definition).
I don’t know if I’m making sense….I’m typing this after a rough night with my previously-mentioned 6 month old! Good debate.
I’m on your side with this one! I find the swine flu vaccine scarier than the thought of getting the virus!
The flu has been passed around through the kids in our church, so – since he’s in nursery two or three times a week – I allowed my 21 month old to get the regular flu shot in order to protect his newborn baby brother from the flu. Other than that, no one in this house is getting any flu vaccines. ESPECIALLY the rushed, poorly tested H1N1 vaccine.
It’s impossible to say how widespread H1N1 has become, anyway. In our area, they are not even testing. If you have flu symptoms, doctors are either saying “let it run its course” or giving Tamiflu. They are not testing for swine flu at all.
If that’s happening in other areas, how do we know if it’s just a typical flu bug or this overexaggerated swine flu?
Thanks for the facts. It’s good to see the information listed out like that!
A big huge agreement from me. I don’t even get the regular flu shot for myself or my son. My husband has to get it because the Coast Guard mandates it, but so far he’s never had any side effects. I’d rather my family get the flu and get over it with some good homemade chicken soup, rest, and sunshine than get a chemical shot into us which may or may not prevent us from getting the bug and also might very well give us the bug itself. No thanks. I’ll take my chances with orange juice. Truly, unless you have a reduced immune system from some other illness or injury, you will most likely get over the bug on your own with proper care.
I hold the same opinion for the silly chicken pox vaccine. Really, it’s better for the kids to just get the itchy bumps and get over it in a week or two than to get vaccinated and have a higher likelihood of getting shingles (grown-up chicken pox) as an adult. Don’t get me wrong, I vaccinate my son, but the only shots we get are those required for public school (MMR, DTaP, polio, and hepatitis) and that’s it.
Thanks for the links, that will be really helpful in explaining to my pharmacist mother and grandparents why I choose to shield my son and myself from the swine flu vaccine.
I’m too scared of it to get it for anybody! It’s scary either way, but I don’t want to intentionally inflict harm upon my kids. I am trying to stay away form the doctors office, that way they can’t pester me about getting it.
I’ve been researching this issue myself. I’ve opted for my family to NOT get the swine flu vaccination. I’ve always gotten my children vaccinated and (at least at this point) I think I’ll continue to do so. But this vaccine, IMHO, is different. I agree that it seems to be rushed (to say the least), it appears to be more an attenpt to say “we are at least doing something”, etc. My main reason, above all, for not getting the vaccination is this: from my understanding (which isn’t all that great to start with LOL) of how flu vaccinations work is that it’s like a little tiny bit of that current strain (or strains) so that your immune system can build a resistence to it on a very small scale so that when you come in contact with that strain later on, you already have some immunity to it. For instance, with the regular flu, they have a different vaccination each season that is tailered to the top flu strains (usually several) that they think will be a problem this coming season. This is the same with the swine flu, I think. Therefore, it’s being reported that unless you have “underlying health issues” (i.e. compromised immune system or bad health to start with) that this strain isn’t bad at all. The “bad” part is the fact that it’s VERY contagious and that it has the increased possibility of mutating into something worse. But, if and when it does that, the vaccination they are putting out NOW won’t help. I’ve read some places that perhaps the vaccination for the strain now may help you to better fight off a new and deadlier strain in the future… but that isn’t a guarantee. Therefore, for the strain that’s out there NOW, I’m not any more concerned about it than any other sickness that my (overall healthy) kids may come in contact with.
Now, if the swine flu developes into a worse strain, I’ll stress then. And if they have a new vaccination (for that strain), then at that time I’ll re-evaluate the situation based on that new set of circumstances.
I’ll finish by saying that I’m a TOTAL worry wart to start with. LOL. So, I did lots of research myself adn even a worry wart like me is willing to take a chance without this vaccination. IMHO, it’s more of a chance to take the vaccination than go through a few days of a fever.
Nancy-
I’m with you. Either way has it’s risks, but I could never live with myself if the harm was caused because of something I purposely did.
I don’t do the flu shot, or the H1N1 vaccine, nor will my daughters get the HPV vaccine (unless I change my mind when they are old enough). However, my youngest daughter did get the chicken pox vaccine, and the one that helps prevent ear infections (can’t remember what it’s called).
My older DD had the chicken pox so bad that I honestly thought she was going to die. I had no idea that it could get that bad, but it did. She didn’t eat or drink, and pretty much just cried constantly for a straight week. My other daughter had rotovirus a few years ago, and that was even better than the chicken pox.
While I choose to research and wait on these new vaccines, I think that it is also important to realize that these illnesses can be a lot more serious than what we regularily hear about. My dd had no underlying reason why she had the pox so bad, she just did.
I personally think that the media attention is trying to educate people on the importance of cleanliness and prevention of H1N1. If we don’t hear about the horror of it, then it becomes no big deal.
That being said, we are not getting the vaccine, nor are we being super-vigilant about germs – aware? Yes. Paranoid? No.
Basically, my point is that it can be a big deal. People have died from it, or at the least gotten really ill. This does not mean that we need to fear it, but it is not just a flu. If my child died from it, it would really hurt to hear people saying that it is no big deal.
It reminds me a lot about a comment that my MIL said about car seats. Her arguement was that people have gone overboard with safety… her children had a basic seat and they turned out fine. I think about all those poor children who needlessly lost their lives, and how lucky we are that these seats are available to us.
If it comes down to an epidemic – I am going to be very grateful that the vaccine was created.
And they’re not even testing for H1N1 anymore. Which, to me, says that it’s really not that big of a deal. And if it isn’t a big deal, then why oh why are we giving it to our children and taking a chance? In fact, the doctors *think* I have Swine Flu now, but they don’t even care if I come in because they’re not worried about it. Sure, I’ve been sick for five days, but my fever didn’t get past 100.3 (THANK GOD!) and I’ve been able to take care of my child all week long. Again, THANK GOD! Anyway, I’d rather have THIS than have to worry about what a shot could possibly do to me for months… Now, if it’s not Swine Flu and I DO end up getting it and it’s way worse than this I might hate that I chose not to get it. I guess time will tell, but I’m pretty hopeful that my system can handle it.
Kellie-
You know, me and the kids (yes, even baby Xia) have all taken turns being sick over the past three weeks. It started with my daughter having a fever and sore throat, that turned into a stuffy nose and cough for two weeks. Then Titus got a stuffy nose and mild cough. Then I felt really tired, and got the stuffy nose thing too. Xia had congestion as well (which is where I think the ear infection came from). So… I’m wondering if that could have been Swine Flu? I hope it was (for immunity). We never did go to the doc. I was able to care for the kids and function like normal, no big deal. I, too, am hoping that that was as bad as it is gonna be for this flu season. We’ll see.
As a former hospital nurse and public health nurse, I’m going to just leave you with a few opposing (but, I promise KIND) thoughts. First, vaccination DOES NOT guarantee you will not get H1NI; however, it does however reduce the possibility that if you get H1NI you will not have a severe, life-threatening case.
Second, it is not considered safe or ethical practice to “test” any drug or vaccination on children. In most cases, adults are always the “guinea pigs” simply because children cannot give informed consent. A lot of times ( again not always), scientists can learn enough from adult reactions to reasonably say whether or not a vaccine is safe for children. Vaccination reporting and surveying provides the rest of the information to researchers/ scientists…and determinations are made from there.
Third, and this is the point, that I really want people to consider. While most of us, when we get H1N1 will have a “mild” case, we don’t know how our exposure will affect the person we sit next to in church, who uses the cart after us at the grocery store, or who picks up and drinks the sippy cup of another child in a daycare/nursery/ school setting. Vaccination is not only about the individual; it is also about the welfare and well-being of other individuals– individuals that you can protect by a simple willingness to have some faith in process that has been taking place since the mid-20th century. We no longer die or are mamed from diseases like smallpox, polio, measles, mumps, etc due to vaccination.
Having a father with lung disease and a husband and two children with asthma, I look at the whole thing a bit differently.
Just some thoughts…thank you for letting me share.
@ Leaane
No, I have to disagree with you on your third thought. Those people also have a choice, it does not have anything thing to do with if I decide to vaccinate or not. I’ve heard that argument before, but it carries no weight.
I dont understand Sarahs thought about how other people also have a choice. no one has a choice to be around who knows what kind of illness when we have to go out in public. I thought Leanne had some valid points to her arguement. When we are sick we need to respect the publics welfare and stay away from others, if possible, but its not always possible, and then some people dont care who they conataminate anyway. We should remember to be thankful that childhood diseases like polio and smallpox and others have been eradicated from the use of vaccines. Me and my kids, and as a matter of fact, everyone I know of turned out fine, and we need to remember, we are not doctors and dont know it all. I dont think we have to be paranoid about it all. medicine is mostly a good thing and we can be thankful we live in a country, where we have options and opertunities to have proper care.
Sandra
The point that Leanne was making was that we should all get vaccinated because we don’t know if the people around us will get deathly sick.
So my point was that those people who could get deathly sick also have a choice to be vaccinated. Meaning that if they got the vaccine they should be protected in their eyes (they shouldn’t get sick right?). But, if those people chose not to get the vaccine and were around people who were sick which is inevitable because not every one stays home when they are sick and they died from this swine flue… it was the person who chose to not take the vaccine responsiblity and their choice is ultimatly theirs.
If I take the vaccine, how does that keep my husband safe. He lives in the same world as I do, he would eventually come into contact with someone who is sick. So to keep himself safe he would need to take the vaccine. Personally I would rather take my chance with the actual swine flu than a vaccine.
Well we all have the suspected swine flu right now. My dd picked it up in school last week. Half of her 12 student class was out sick. Then my ds 2 got it and now my husband. While they are sick, (fever sore throat, congestion, fatigue) they arent any sicker than they have gotten with any other illness. The only thing different with this illness is they all have (TMI) diarrhea.
We will not be getting the vaccine. I think it is of no use to us anymore and a pain to go to a germ infested clinic to get the silly thing anyways.
My heart goes out to people who have serious complications, but really you can have serious complications with just about any disease out there. So we will continue to follow basic precautions and not panic.
Sarah – Back to the first point of Leanne’s response. Getting the vaccination does not guarantee that you are ‘protected’.
Kara
and? Not trying to be rude but I’m not getting the point your trying to make. Yes, I know that the vaccine is not guarantee to protect me and I actually think the opposite.
I DIDNT REALIZE PEOPLE WOULD GET SO UP IN ARMS ABOUT THIS. ITS NOT MANDATORY, BUT IT COULD BE SERIOUS, WE REALLY DONT KNOW. WE HAVENT GOT IT (THE SHOT) AND PROBABLY WONT. WE DID ALL GET THE FLU LAST YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS, AND IT WAS TERRIBLE. NOT MILD AT ALL. MY DAUGHTER AND HUSBAND GOT BRONCHITIS RIGHT AFTERWARD AND ENDED UP SICK ALL IN ALL FOR ABOUT A MONTH. WE PROBABLY SHOULD GET THE SHOT, BUT ITS ONE OF THOSE, OH WELL , MAYBE NOT THIS YEAR KIND OF THINGS. I JUST DONT LIKE THE UGLY TONE PEOPLE GET TOWARD PEOPLE WHO DO TAKE DOCTORS ADVICE AND TAKE REAL MEDICINE. I DONT UNDERSTAND THE PARANOIA AND SEEMING LIKE YOU ACTUALLY SEEM TO LOOK DOWN ON OTHERS WHO DO WANT THE SHOT. WHY SO PERSONAL? LIKE I SAID BEFORE, ITS NOT MANDATORY.
huh, ok….no ugly tone here, I also don’t look down on people for taking doctor’s advice. There is no paranoia just a healthy debate(well I thought it was) and it’s not personal (I have no idea who you are.)
Ladies Ladies
Okay Okay Break It Up
Just kidding. I’m glad that you guys are having a nice debate. I just *hope* we can all remain friends around here 
Don’t make me break out my boxing gloves!
Many people, mostly children, are injured or killed from vaccinations(not the diseases from which they are designed to protect) every year. It’s a fact. Look it up. I am aware of the deaths of 2 children through my family circle of friends. In fact, most health care professionals will deny that a vaccination could have anything at all to do with even an OBVIOUS vaccination related death or injury… because they either don’t care to investigate the truth out of ingnorance from all pro-vaccine propagana they’ve been taught, and/or are protecting their livlihood (well baby visits). If you’re not injecting your infant or child with dozens of poisonous shots in the first 2 years of life, there is no reason to go to the doctor every 2 months. Since reporting these incidents is VOLUNTARY (ridiculous!), the problem is extremely under reported.
I won’t even get into the revolving door between high level pharmaceutical execs and the CDC, or the “advisory panel” of high level pharmaceutical execs who make recommendations to the CDC regarding the vaccination schedule in this country. Hmmmm… can you say confilct of interest?!?
I’m not convinced that my decision not to vaccinate my child will ever affect anyone else, but honestly, I don’t care. As a mother, my highest priority is my child, and no one else. The risk is too great. I encourage every parent to do their own research about vaccinations, and think for yourselves.
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