H1n1 (Swine) Flu: Overrated?

H1N1 (Swine) Flu: Overrated?

 flu is a virus that everyone has to prepare for.  It’s much more then just the normal seasonal flu.  The schedule of immunizations for people ages between 7-18 are: Tetanus and diptheria toxoids and aceular pertussis vaccine around the age of ten, HPV around the age of nine, MCV around the age of eleven, Influenza vaccine receive every year, PPSV should be given to children with certain medical conditions, HepA should be given to anyone over the age of one, HepB to the age between 11-15, IPV should be given at the four years old or older, MMR only receive one dose if have not been vaccinated already, and Varicella vaccine between the ages of 7-18.  Some changes from the schedule of immunizations from last time they were published are: in rotavirus vaccines the maximum age for both the beginning and ending doses have changed, influenza vaccination should be received every year and for children under the age of nine who is receiving it should be given two doses, for tetanus and diptheria toxids and tetanus and diptheria toxiods and acellular pertussis vaccine the minimum length has changed, for Hib for the ages of five and older has been increased risk to the invasive Hib disease, and pneumococcal polysaccharide, meningocococcal polysaccharide, and rotavirus vaccinations has had the abbreviations changed.  There are both state and national laws that declare which immunizations and vaccinations are required for your children.  Even there are some required vaccinations your child will have to receive before he/she is allowed to enter into school.  The CDC believes that parents should go to a trusted doctor to learn about the risks and diseases.  Also by law the health official is supposed to give them a paper that talks about all the risks.  Although there are laws in place forcing children to get immunizations, there are none for adults.  Besides when adults are traveling outside of the country and then there are some required immunizations.  One way a child is exempt from getting immunizations are because of religious beliefs that go against immunizations.  A study done in Ohio about how the immunizations work on internationally adopted children and this is what they concluded.  They came to a conclusion that the result of the immunizations are limited and also varied depending on the birthplace of the child.  Some risk factors that you can’t control are: your family history, sex, ancestry, age, and health.  Also there are some risk factors that you can control and they are: what you eat, getting physical activity, use of tobacco or not, alcohol use or not, and using drugs.  If you are doing those things that are making you at more of a risk, stop now.  You can help yourself by staying healthy and stay away from things you know you should. 

The H1N1 flu vaccination is not the same as the normal seasonal flu vaccination, and also it’s not trying to substitute for the seasonal flu either.  The seasonal flu vaccination won’t prevent the H1N1 flu and also the other way around too.  Getting both vaccinations are recommended for an individual.  If you don’t want to get the H1N1 flu shot there is a nasal spray that will prevent the virus also.  The common symptoms of H1N1 flu are cough, fever, stuffy nose, headache, sore throat, chills, and some diarrhea along with vomiting.  The symptoms of the H1N1 flu are very close to the normal seasonal flu symptoms.  In some severe cases of the H1N1 flu deaths and major sickness has occurred from this virus.  The first confirmed case of H1N1 in the U.S. happened April 23, 2009.  Also since August 21, 2009, 522 deaths and over 4,714 cases have happened in the U.S. due to the H1N1 flu, and 2,475 deaths have occurred over the world.   Those are statistics for the country and world, but for Utah there has been 91 reported cases.  Along with getting the vaccination comes side effects.  They’re just like the normal seasonal flu shot side effects.  Which are: fever, redness around the spot of the injection, and aches.  The side effects won’t last for longer then one or two days, and practically everyone who receives the flu vaccination doesn’t have any severe problems from the vaccination.  Although there have been few accounts of major problems, mostly allergic reactions.  Then side effects of the nasal spray for children are: headache, muscle aches, stuffy nose, fever, throwing up, and wheezing.  Then the side effects with the nasal spray for adults are: headache, coughing, stuffy nose, and sore throat.  The effectiveness of the vaccination or the nasal spray depends how healthy and the age of the man or women who received the H1N1 vaccination flu shot.  After the U.S government bought 250 million doses of the H1N1 vaccination this year so there is enough vaccination for everyone to be vaccinated, but the vaccination will be ready in restricted amounts.  The ACIP has come up with five major groups that are recommended to receive this vaccination.  First, pregnant women, second, people that deal with infants and babies, third, people who work in the health field, fourth, ages from six months to the age of twenty-four, fifth, ages from twenty-five to the age of sixty-four which have conditions that may have them at more risk to the disease.  There are also some people who should not be receiving the H1N1 vaccination and they’re babies under the age of six months, people that are allergic to flu shots and eggs of a chicken, people that suffer from fever, and those that developed the syndrome called Guillain-Barre syndrome after six weeks from receiving the vaccination. 

My personal belief is that everyone should have a choice to receive a H1N1 vaccination or not to receive a vaccination for the H1N1 flu.  There should not be a law or restriction that will make people do things they don’t want to do, and especially to their own body.  I have never received a flu vaccination in my life and I don’t see myself getting a vaccination anytime soon.  I don’t have anything against receiving vaccinations for people.  I just don’t see the necessity of getting a flu vaccination when you’re healthy.  My body can fight off the virus if I keep my body healthy and clean.  I wouldn’t deny a vaccination if it was brought to me, but I wouldn’t go out and spend time and money getting the vaccination even if it’s available somewhere.  I agree that the vaccination helps prevent the virus and I am not against it.  I feel like my body can keep me safe from the H1N1 virus without help from a vaccination.  I like being free from injections and medicine that I don’t have to take.  At the age I am at and the healthy lifestyle I live I don’t feel the risk from this virus that many other people do.  If I was older or have some sickness I would get the vaccination, but I am perfectly healthy and strong so I don’t.  If people want to go out and get a H1N1 flu vaccination shot this year I would say, “Do what you want to do.”  I don’t care what other people’s beliefs or thoughts of receiving vaccinations.  All I care about is I don’t want to get a vaccination and I for sure don’t want people to make me get a vaccination.  Everyone has their beliefs on this subject and I won’t stop people from doing what they believe unless it restricts what I want to do.