Who should get swine flu vaccine?

I have heard on TV(lol, not that everything or anything you hear or see on TV is true) That most people over the age of fifty have already built up an immunity to H1N1.  So, now you have my two cents worth.

I was just reading that people mostly do NOT have natural immunity to this H1N1 flu, unless they had a brush with it when it came through earlier in the year. They are verifying side effects from the new vaccine, but there are always "coincidental events" when a large number of people are vaccinated at once, as will likely be the case with this new vaccine - things happen that may or not be a direct result of the vaccine itself. For example, I read that the jury is still out on whether the Guilliane-Barre syndrome really was caused by the flu vaccine.

This is from the CDC site:

Who will be recommended to receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine?

CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended that certain groups of the population receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine when it first becomes available. These target groups include pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old, and people ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

We do not expect that there will be a shortage of 2009 H1N1 vaccine, but availability and demand can be unpredictable. There is some possibility that initially the vaccine will be available in limited quantities. In this setting, the committee recommended that the following groups receive the vaccine before others: pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel with direct patient contact, children 6 months through 4 years of age, and children 5 through 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions.

The committee recognized the need to assess supply and demand issues at the local level. The committee further recommended that once the demand for vaccine for these target groups has been met at the local level, programs and providers should begin vaccinating everyone from ages 25 through 64 years. Current studies indicate the risk for infection among persons age 65 or older is less than the risk for younger age groups. Therefore, as vaccine supply and demand for vaccine among younger age groups is being met, programs and providers should offer vaccination to people over the age of 65.

Do those that have been previously vaccinated against the 1976 swine influenza need to get vaccinated against the 2009 H1N1 influenza?

The 1976 swine flu virus and the 2009 H1N1 virus are different enough that its unlikely a person vaccinated in 1976 will have full protection from the 2009 H1N1. People vaccinated in 1976 should still be given the 2009 H1N1 vaccine."

 http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub.htm

Some of us should not be in a hurry to get the first issue of H1N1 vaccine. For example, I'm too old for it.   

This paragraph was in an article in the on-line Los Angeles TImes on Septeber 19:

"The first vaccine available will be Medimmune's FluMist intranasal vaccine, but injectable vaccines should be distributed a week or two later, Dr. Jay Butler, chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2009 H1N1 vaccine task force, said at a morning news conference. The intranasal vaccine has not been approved for children younger than 2, adults older than 49 or pregnant women, so it may go primarily to healthcare providers."

The on-line New York Times published something similar in its September 19  issue: (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/19/health/19flu.html):

"More than three million doses of swine flu vaccine will be available by the first week of October, a little earlier than had been anticipated, federal health officials announced Friday. But nearly all those 3.4 million doses will be of the FluMist nasal spray type, which is not recommended for pregnant women, people over 50 or those with asthma, heart disease or several other problems, officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned.

"Nonetheless, it will still be possible to vaccinate people in other high-risk groups, health care workers, people caring for infants and healthy young people.

"The nasal spray contains a weakened live virus, while injections contain killed and fragmented virus. The spray gives a stronger immune reaction but carries a small risk that the virus will multiply too quickly in people with compromised immunity."

I had my seasonal flu shot (inactivated form) last week. 

otter 

There are a lot of concerns about the Swine Flu Vac. ... The technician who draws blood the other day said that pregnant women, women with compromised immune systems and young children should not get the shot. I haven't had the flu in several years. Imune boosters such as golden seal, lyzine, and garlic keeps me from getting colds and the flu. Below, interesting read...

http://www.prohealth.com/blog/boardDetail.cfm?id=5947
Another Shocking Warning About Swine Flu Vaccine
Posted by: Dr. Mercola
September 08 2009

"The swine flu vaccine has been hit by new cancer fears after a German health expert gave a shocking warning about its safety.

"Lung specialist Wolfgang Wodarg has said that there are many risks associated with the vaccine for the H1N1 virus. The nutrient solution for the vaccine consists of cancerous cells from animals, and some fear that the risk of cancer could be increased by injecting the cells.

"The vaccine can also cause worse side effects than the actual swine flu virus.
Sources:

Please visit the Mercola site if you would like links to click on for the sources:

Dr. Mercola's Comments:
"Finally some good news to report about the swine flu mess.

"This site, and many others seeking to shed light on this deceptive manipulation, are making a huge impact and the people are refusing to believe the government propaganda.

"Vaccine safety advocates everywhere are beginning to make a serious dent.

"According to a recent Fox News poll, the majority of people in the US now believe the swine flu vaccine may be deadlier than the actual virus.

"Additionally, there is more good news when it comes to what health care professionals believe. Research published in the August 25 issue of the British Medical Journal reveals that more than half of doctors and nurses in public hospitals would also refuse the H1N1 vaccine, due to concerns about side effects and doubts about its efficacy.

"New Potential Health Risks of the Swine Flu Vaccine Emerge

"Just last week I reported on the confidential correspondence between the British Health Protection Agency and 600 neurologists, warning them to be on the lookout for cases of Guillain- Barré Syndrome once the swine flu vaccine campaign begins.

"I've published earlier articles about some of the more dangerous ingredients in this vaccine, such as mercury, and squalene, which has been linked to the development of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

"Now, German lung specialist Wolfgang Wodarg has come out about even more potential health risks associated with the swine flu vaccine. Interestingly, Dr. Wodarg also holds political office, as the chairman of the health committee in the German parliament and European Council.

"According to Dr. Wodarg, the swine flu vaccine contains animal cancer cells, and there's no data indicating whether or not this may cause an allergic reaction when injected.

"It also raises questions about the risk of contracting cancer.

"He also told the German press that the widespread fear of the pandemic was an "orchestration," stating,

"It is great business for the pharmaceutical industry. Swine flu is not very different from normal flu. On the contrary, if you look at the number of cases it is nothing compared to a normal flu outbreak."

"More Documentation about Swine Flu Vaccine Safety

"A recent article by Dr. Blaylock also highlights the many reasons why the vaccine may be far more dangerous than the virus. If you have interest in this issue I would strongly encourage you to read Dr. Blaylock's article.

See Mercola's site for Blaylock's article

"He states that the Baxter swine flu vaccine, called Celvapan, uses cultured cells from the African green monkey, which has previously been implicated as having transmitted a number of vaccine-contaminating viruses, including the HIV virus.

"Likewise, Johannes Löwer, president of the Paul Ehrlich Institute, believes the side effects of the vaccine can be far worse than the actual swine flu virus, which typically causes only mild symptoms, requiring just a few days in bed.

"As you may already know, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) consistently claim the seasonal flu kills about 36,000 Americans each year. After investigating that figure, it has been found to be a gross exaggeration based on flawed data compilation, but still, the swine flu has claimed FAR fewer lives than the seasonal flu in any given year, and no draconian measures have ever been taken to curtail the seasonal flu.

Maybe I am wrong or maybe I am right .....

But I am going to take my chances and NOT get the vacine ..... regular or swine.  I am in my mid-fifties and have been exposed to swine flu already and yet to get anything.  Why would I compromise my system by injecting a virus intentionally?  I used to get the flu shot and EVERYTIME I would get sick with the flu.  Kind of stupid when you think about it ... get a shot so I can get sick.  If we use good common sense, like washing our hands with soap and water ..... (all the while singing happy birthday to yourself - at least once or twice), keeping our fingernails short (germs live under the nails), keep your hands/fingers out of your mouth, eyes, and nose ..... and walk the other way FAST when someone coughs (while in a store) ..... these are some of the best ways to prevent getting sick.  In fact .... before cancer .... I rarely got sick with colds, stomach flus .... and haven't since my cancer. 

 Drink lots of fluids, get a good night's sleep, and take care ...of yourself. 

Many, many blessings,

K

I certainly intend to get the vaccine, subject to my doc's approval on timing.  I would have done so before my cancer diagnosis anyway, but now, facing the prospect of chemo, I definitely don't want to risk my life (beyond cancer!) by contracting a deadly virus when my immune system is weakened.