To Take THE Shot or Not?

Well has my writing helped you decide about taking the H1N1 vaccine or just  made you more confused. I have had some of the highest page views ever on the days I post about H1N1, from my readers and across the country. What will I ever write about after the H1N1 pandemic settles?? I'd appreciate your comments on other topics we should get back to.

So will you take THE shot or not? That is the question it seems on many people's minds.

Some issues to remember.

First and most important H1N1 can rapidly overwhelm the lungs and kill by respiratory failure. Anyone with asthma or chronic lung disease is at higher risk of a severe H1N1 infection. These people need to take H1N1 shots when available. They should never take nasal inhaled H1N1 vaccine.

Second children under 17 seem unusually susceptible to complications of the H1N1, likely because they have never been exposed to any similar flu virus. This group needs to consider the immunization. H1N1 infection seem to spread easily in schools, far easier than I have seen it spread in families.

Third, anyone with a compromised immune system from chemotherapy or autoimmune disease should consider the benefits of protection from H1N1 with a shot versus the risks of getting the actual infection with a weakened immune system.

Fourth, pregnant women seem to be at high risk for a severe H1N1 infection. In this area one pregnant woman has died of H1N1.

Fifth, half of all hospitalized people with H1N1 complications have been very healthy prior to the infection. One in four  adults hospitalized with H1N1 were put in the ICU immediately.

So just staying healthy is no guarantee against a severe H1N1 infection.

drBob

Comments

[Frank]

Should anyone with suspected "flu" such as body aches, severe headache and a fever come in or just call for a prescription for TamiFlu or something similar IMMEDIATELY and not to think it's just a cold?

I have heard some doctors are asking patients to stay home and not come into the office and if the are really sick to go to the hospital. I haven't heard how your office is treating possible cases.

Thanks

[Dr. Dean Raffelock]

Dr. Bob,

Yes it is a dilemma to read Dr. Blaylock's dire warnings about the potential downside of the vaccine and Dr. Mercola's similar warnings against getting the H1N1 injection and then digest the potential downside of not taking the vaccine.

Then there is the possibility that the pandemic will be over before enough vaccine will be available to inoculate even the most at risk part of the population let alone everyone in the country that desires to take the injection.

Having seen the pharmaceutical companies exaggerate the seriousness of certain flus for billions in profits (last swine flu, bird flu etc.) and perhaps even "manufacture" scare tactics via the media in which they are the biggest advertisers, I remain conflicted.

Personally have decided to avoid the injection and to encourage the most at risk part of my patient population to receive the vaccine as it becomes available.

May I ask what your personal choice is ?

Thanks for all the good info.

Dr. Dean Raffelock

[Bob Sager MD]

Dean - I'm almost 65 so in the group not targeted at high risk. I have been exposed since July to countless cases in the office and not infected so I am not taking the shot. But I am recommending it to high risk groups for their consideration. I have seen two severe cases of complications here in the last week related to lung disease. Thanks for your reply.

[Bob Sager MD]

Frank - I like to see patients if possible who think they have H1N1 and get them started on treatment. The sudden onset of body-aches all over with fever/chills is the usually start of H1N1. Colds develop gradually over a few days without the body-aches and usually feature a lot of drainage which the H1N1 does not.
drBob