H1N1 media hype-r-allergenic?
First off, I want to thank the media for creating the largest feeding frenzy in a decade with it's aggressive hype of the H1N1 strain. Not only is there an extreme lack of world news coverage, but people are going NUTS! H1N1, yes is extremely contagious, just like the regular flu which is shown by how wide spread it currently is. But does it deserve the hype of being more deadly? Are the vaccinations safe? And are the technicians poking your children with needles telling you everything about the vaccination they are poking them with? These are questions I will attempt to answer in this post.
There are many different strains of influenza that have come an gone over the millennia. The worst in recorded history had to be the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic which killed 20-40 million people (http://virus.stanford.edu/uda/ .) "Each year in the United States on average, 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu; on average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related complications, and; about 36,000 people die from flu-related causes." (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/) Taking this into consideration, H1N1 is on par with the "normal" flu, its just that the "normal" flu changed quickly enough to where our immune system can not recognize it, which is called 'antigenic shift'. For this reason we have to get the "normal" flu shot every year, except the "normal" flu changes much more gradual which is called 'antigenic drift'. So in essence, H1N1 seems to be just as, but not more dangerous as the "normal" flu unless there is another 'antigenic shift' in the close future which could be devastating.(plausibly)
Vaccinations on the other hand are safe, to a point. The CDC states that all vaccinations are non-infections, even the nasal mist which contains a live(weakend) culture. What many don't know is that for the H1N1 vaccine and others, there are usually multiple types of vaccines. There is the mist which we just talked about, available for children over 2. Just picture it, a room full of 2,3,4,5 year old children all getting their "shots" and not crying for fear of being poked! Sounds like a dream from my childhood! Heck! I would even opt for the mist if I could. The second is your standard shot which comes in a vial, the doctor draws it, and shoots it in, pretty easy and safe right? This is where I get a little concerned. In that vial is a chemical called THIMEROSAL (http://www.cdc.gov/Flu/about/qa/thimerosal.htm) which is also known as ethylmercury. Everyone should be aware that mercury metabolization can be harmful or even life threatening. It truly depends on the weight/quantity ratio of an individual that is exposed. Since the 30's Thimerosal has been used in vaccinations as a preservative to combat potentially deadly contamination which is very important, however there have been documented cases where children vaccinated have developed autism from vaccines with Thimerosal (http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/thimerosal.php). Generally these cases are considered allergic reactions to the preservative. Steps are being made to eliminate ethylmercury from early childhood vaccination schedules states the FDA (http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/SafetyAvailability/VaccineSafety/UCM096228), who has approved the amounts used in vaccines. Still the influenza vaccine is the heaviest user of the preservative.
I am sure there are a few of you that have heard of this, but the majority probably has not. Next time you go to the flu clinic, H1N1 clinic or have your routine vaccinations, it my be well worth your time, child's safety and your safety to ask for the THIMEROSAL free vaccine. This is what we did today, and when they said "We are out" (then tried to SELL us on safety of the other) we walked out to find someone with the "Safer" version. Its not that we are scared that there could be an adverse or unsuspected allergic reaction to this or any vaccine, it's just the fact we are unsure, so better to err on the side of caution.
The FDA site is the best at providing adequate information on which preservitives are used in specific vaccines.
And to the MEDIA, you guys don't know when to stop beating a dead cow! GIVE US SOME GOOD NEWS!
Please make an educated decision.
There are many different strains of influenza that have come an gone over the millennia. The worst in recorded history had to be the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic which killed 20-40 million people (http://virus.stanford.edu/uda/ .) "Each year in the United States on average, 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu; on average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related complications, and; about 36,000 people die from flu-related causes." (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/) Taking this into consideration, H1N1 is on par with the "normal" flu, its just that the "normal" flu changed quickly enough to where our immune system can not recognize it, which is called 'antigenic shift'. For this reason we have to get the "normal" flu shot every year, except the "normal" flu changes much more gradual which is called 'antigenic drift'. So in essence, H1N1 seems to be just as, but not more dangerous as the "normal" flu unless there is another 'antigenic shift' in the close future which could be devastating.(plausibly)
Vaccinations on the other hand are safe, to a point. The CDC states that all vaccinations are non-infections, even the nasal mist which contains a live(weakend) culture. What many don't know is that for the H1N1 vaccine and others, there are usually multiple types of vaccines. There is the mist which we just talked about, available for children over 2. Just picture it, a room full of 2,3,4,5 year old children all getting their "shots" and not crying for fear of being poked! Sounds like a dream from my childhood! Heck! I would even opt for the mist if I could. The second is your standard shot which comes in a vial, the doctor draws it, and shoots it in, pretty easy and safe right? This is where I get a little concerned. In that vial is a chemical called THIMEROSAL (http://www.cdc.gov/Flu/about/qa/thimerosal.htm) which is also known as ethylmercury. Everyone should be aware that mercury metabolization can be harmful or even life threatening. It truly depends on the weight/quantity ratio of an individual that is exposed. Since the 30's Thimerosal has been used in vaccinations as a preservative to combat potentially deadly contamination which is very important, however there have been documented cases where children vaccinated have developed autism from vaccines with Thimerosal (http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/thimerosal.php). Generally these cases are considered allergic reactions to the preservative. Steps are being made to eliminate ethylmercury from early childhood vaccination schedules states the FDA (http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/SafetyAvailability/VaccineSafety/UCM096228), who has approved the amounts used in vaccines. Still the influenza vaccine is the heaviest user of the preservative.
I am sure there are a few of you that have heard of this, but the majority probably has not. Next time you go to the flu clinic, H1N1 clinic or have your routine vaccinations, it my be well worth your time, child's safety and your safety to ask for the THIMEROSAL free vaccine. This is what we did today, and when they said "We are out" (then tried to SELL us on safety of the other) we walked out to find someone with the "Safer" version. Its not that we are scared that there could be an adverse or unsuspected allergic reaction to this or any vaccine, it's just the fact we are unsure, so better to err on the side of caution.
The FDA site is the best at providing adequate information on which preservitives are used in specific vaccines.
And to the MEDIA, you guys don't know when to stop beating a dead cow! GIVE US SOME GOOD NEWS!
Please make an educated decision.
