Have you had the swine flu and if not are you getting the vaccine?
By mariposaman
@mariposaman (2959)
Canada
November 9, 2009 3:51pm CST
We are in the midst of the swine flu pandemic in North America and lots of people are getting sick. Apparently we are in the middle of the second wave of the pandemic here as winter is our traditional flu season, and the swine flu, for some reason named H1N1, is circulating.
Luckily it is not as dangerous as first anticipated, not like the 1918 flu pandemic which killed millions, but not without a death toll.
Canada has plans to vaccinate every citizen who wants it, but has been running out of vaccine so the program is behind schedule as the flu came early and killed some young people so everyone panicked. The vaccine is now restricted to high risk groups. I fall into one of the high risk groups so I got my vaccine and it made my arm sore for about three days. Other than that I have had no side effects.
A lot of people will not get the vaccine, preferring to endure the wild virus flu instead. It is estimated that about 1 in 4 will get this flu.
Have you had the swine flu yet, and are you going to get or have got the swine flu vaccine? If you have or going to have it why or why not if you are not getting it. People are claiming there is mercury that causes Autism in the vaccine and well and a number of other side effects. The authorities like WHO says it is safe.
4 people like this
13 responses
@zalilame (880)
• Malaysia
10 Nov 09
It is horrid that we have to face this pandemic now. I just take precaution steps. Wear mask and wash my hands properly. But recently there were rumors saying that eating more than 6 green apples a day and drinking milk could help to prevent it. I don't know about the effectiveness but it sure worth to try. I don't know about the effects of the vaccine but I think I'd rather not have it.
2 people like this
@mariposaman (2959)
• Canada
14 Nov 09
I would rather not have either, but for some reason the virus seems to pass from person to person, so I cannot afford to take any chances that some careless person will pass it on to me. I hate having to vaccinate, but I hate being sick, I just wish there was an alternative.
You can eat all the healthy foods you want but if you get the virus, you will probably get sick. I think a healthy body will eventually overcome the virus, but some of the people dying are otherwise healthy persons. They tend to be a minority as most people get sick and get over it.
I guess all you can do is make an informed choice whether to vaccinate or not.
@marguicha (215325)
• Chile
9 Nov 09
I don´t usually get flu vaccines even though in my country they are free for people my age. I prefer to trust my immunologic system and live in a clean environment.
It seems though that the swine flu is not a problem in my country. There were some people who had it that were in contact with people who had arrived to the country from somewhere else. To those people the government helped and quarantined their close family.
I´m almost sure I won´t get the flu
@mariposaman (2959)
• Canada
10 Nov 09
If people were careful and did not spread the flu virus, it would just die out. Unfortunately people are not careful and spread the virus around infecting others, and so it has spread around the world. There seems to be only a couple of ways to break the chain, quarantine which is unpopular and vaccination.
I see you are born before 1957. They say that people born before that date have a 1 in 3 possibility of already having immunity to the virus as at sometime it is speculated they were exposed to a similar strain.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
14 Nov 09
Personally even though I probably fall into one of the categories that should be vaccinated, I have chosen not too, and have always hoped for the Best as well. I just am a little scared to get injected with a live virus knowing I have a lot of other things that are not the Best as well. But I have had 3 mild cases of the Flu here this yr. and nothing ever lasted over a day, so I just continue to always Pray and believe God for protection from this type of Flu as well.
1 person likes this
@mariposaman (2959)
• Canada
15 Nov 09
It is always a difficult choice to make if you already have other conditions. Although the conditions make the choice harder, not doing anything is a legitimate choice. However in doing so you have to avoid others with symptoms and avoid touching you face with your hand when out in public. I always got in the habit of washing my hands as soon as I came in from being out shopping etc, because who know what you are bringing in when touching surfaces that hundreds of people already touched.
Eventually this swine flu will burn itself out hopefully. In the meantime I felt I have to protect myself from others. I was just in the bulk food store yesterday and the cashier was coughing into her hands. I was in the next checkout thank goodness but still she should have used some hand gel afterwards though as she is handling all those food containers.
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
11 Nov 09
Actually I've wanted the regular flu shot but can't find any. I'm not worried about the swine flu thing, ppl are blowing it all out of shape...while it is serious more ppl die of the regular flu by far then of this swine flu. Even if they offered the swine flu shot I probably wouldn't get it but that's just me.
~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~
**STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]
1 person likes this
@Shar19 (8231)
• United States
10 Nov 09
It is spreading here too in the Northeast of the U.S. A friend of my daughter has had the swine flu and the doctor just told her to stay home for the week from school. She had plenty of rest and is now fine. Our doctor's offices don't even have the vaccination yet. The school that my daughter goes to is offering the vaccine in about two weeks for any children that go to school. I still haven't made up my mind about whether I will get my kids vaccinated or not.
1 person likes this
@mariposaman (2959)
• Canada
14 Nov 09
If more people stayed home when they were sick, the flu would not spread so fast. It seems to spread among young people is school and then they bring it home.
@lildlyn (21)
• United States
10 Nov 09
My family has been lucky so far. I do not plan on getting the vaccination for myself or my children. I have had many friends and their children get the flu and they were well in just a few days. I think this is being carried overboard and is no worse than the seasonal flu; different strain of course. Take precautions such as washing your hands, covering when you cough or sneeze, keeping your hands out of your mouth, and of course stay home when you don't feel well will help reduce the spread and severity of it. My family does not receive the seasonal flu vaccine and so far, for many years, we have not gotten the flu.
1 person likes this
@mariposaman (2959)
• Canada
14 Nov 09
Good for you being lucky not catching the flu. Sometimes being very careful helps. I think most people get it by touching the face with your hands which most people do unconsciously.
@BarBaraPrz (45472)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
10 Nov 09
No and No. I haven't had the flu since 1988, and I doubt I'll get this heinie flu, either.
Did you know, that about 4000 people a year die from the seasonal flu every year? And yet no one get's their knickers in a knot about that.
1 person likes this
@mariposaman (2959)
• Canada
10 Nov 09
maybe people should be upset at the numbers who die each year from the flu. I think one reason people do not care is because the dying are just a bunch of old people. One of the reasons people are upset with this new flu is that it targets young people who are not normally expected to die. So even though the numbers are not as large, the age range of those succumbing is different.
1 person likes this
@lyzabelle (1668)
• Philippines
10 Nov 09
I would never take that vaccines.
It is more dangerous than the virus itself.
Thanks God...it's not pandemic here in our country.
being healthy all the time is the best defense from this virus.
Not the vaccines.
@mariposaman (2959)
• Canada
14 Nov 09
You have to make your own choices that are right for you.
I wonder if being in a hot country helps. Apparently the virus circulates more in the cold winter of most countries, and transmits little in the hot summer months.
@lindiebiz (1006)
• Canada
10 Nov 09
So far I have not heard of any side effects from the vaccine and a lot of people have lost thier lives as a result of the flu. I have not taken my shot yet but will when the queue reduces. I think everyone should take it
1 person likes this
@mariposaman (2959)
• Canada
14 Nov 09
If everyone got this vaccine in a timely manner, we would develop herd immunity and transmission of the virus would stop. It will not happen however because there is a half of the population that is not going to get the vaccine under any circumstances so it will continue to circulate in the remaining population. All you can do is make the decision on whether to protect yourself or not as the epidemic is not over. We are lucky in that the virus is not more fatal.
@Brown_Fox_815 (101)
• United States
10 Nov 09
No, I haven't had the swine flu, and I don't plan on getting the vaccine.
1 person likes this
@EViLiC0US (3)
• United States
10 Nov 09
We haven't been hit by the H1N1 bug yet and hopefully we won't. My 2 girls will be vaccinated through their schools sometime this month. I should get the vaccination because of health issues but we really don't have the extra money to pay for the copay at this time. Most likely I would get it from my girls so we are hoping that if the girls get vaccinate that should be enough to keep it out of the house.
1 person likes this
@mariposaman (2959)
• Canada
14 Nov 09
I hope your plan works. Here in Canada the shots are free to all who want them, and apparently the plan is to do anyone willing to accept the shots to be done by Christmas. Unfortunately the swine flu is circulating now, which is quite early as flu does not usually circulate and peak until later in the winter.
I wonder how many Americans will be sneaking across the border to get free shots. We seem to have more than enough for all Canadians and then some as half the Canadian population says they will not be getting their shot.
