No really good reason to *oppose* vaccination for the flu. It can help, or at worst be a wash, just a stick in the arm. There have been complaints about timerosol, a preservative included in the vaccine, particularly in complications for pregnant women. There is also a version of the vaccine without preservatives though. I think there could be arguably good reasons not to be vaccinated, but outright opposition isn't one of them imo.
Question for armchair virologists out there: if H1N1 mutates and becomes a killer (by percentage of infection, or killer of a specific age/community), will the current H1N1 vaccination provide any protection?
All things being equal, I may skip immunization on H1N1, have the flu, and develop some bit future immunity. It doesn't seem very severe (deadly to my age group), and immunization might just up the odds of becoming deblitated by a more virulent and deadly strain. I think differently for my college age daughter going off to the germ factory / college in a couple weeks. Question there is whether the vaccination ready in mid-October will be ready in time to prevent H1N1 in kids starting college in early October.
I am talking out of my arse, so need to spend some time on public health and CDC sites...
Edited by Lono (09/16/09 02:05 PM)