brinshannara (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
brinshannara) wrote2009-11-12 06:53 pm
brinshannara) wrote2009-11-12 06:53 pm
The flu.
Today, I am going to use my LJ as a soapbox.
I got my flu shot today. The Quebec government is letting people between the ages of 20 and 65 with chronic diseases (asthma, in my case) get their flu shots for H1N1 now. So I went and it was surprisingly painless and I hardly waited around.
That's not soapboxy.
What drives me crazy, and I don't know if it's just because my dad's a doctor or what, are those people who don't like vaccinations.
And by "don't like", I mean don't vaccinate their kids or themselves against actual dangerous diseases, not the people who don't like needles or what have you.
It continually astounds me to hear about people who do not want to vaccinate their children for fear of autism, cerebral palsy or risks to do with mercury and aluminum. Drives me nuts. If vaccines actually, without a doubt, caused things like autism and cerebral palsy, would they still be used? Seriously. I'm guessing not. All I've read is that there are tenuous, POTENTIAL links between these illnesses and vaccines in a small PERCENTAGE of populations.
As to mercury, yes, thimerosal (a form of mercury) is used as a preservative in some vaccines, particularly the H1N1 vaccine that I got today. Know what? You get more mercury in a can of tuna fish than you do in this particular vaccine. And do not get me started on aluminum causing Alzheimer's, because again, there isn't a direct, proven correlation. My dad worked in the aluminum industry for 20 years, doing his part for occupational health and safety of the workers. If my dad tells me there's no direct link between exposure to aluminum and Alzheimer's, I'll believe him, because he's a doctor who has had a job in which he had to do research that covered that possibility.
Is everyone going to have an easy time with a vaccine? No. Everyone's body is different, everyone's immune system reacts differently. People are unique individuals and there will be more severe reactions to vaccines than others.
I got the shot about two and a half hours ago.
In the first fifteen minutes or so (where they ask you to stay in a waiting area to ensure you don't have a severe reaction), I felt a little bit light-headed and dizzy, but it soon faded. And I am TOTALLY jinxing myself here, but my arm isn't even sore. I'm sure it will be, since that's a side effect in 50%+ of the population, but right now, I'm feeling pretty good. I am not concerned that I will develop autism, cerebral palsy or Alzheimer's. I am not concerned that I will have a severe reaction to the vaccine. And what's more, I'm not concerned about getting H1N1, now. I wasn't terribly worried before, but the reason I got the vaccine was that I got the regular flu last year and felt like death. So I wanted to avoid that again, and will also get the seasonal flu vaccine when it becomes available.
In so doing, by making myself as close to immune as possible (as it bolsters, but does not guarantee full immunity), not only am I saving myself the trouble of being very ill, but more importantly, people are probably not going to get sick because of me. I take public transportation, I hang out in public places, and if I'm contagious just before I'm symptomatic, then guess what? I've just potentially infected the 50 or so people I was sitting near, handed money to or held the door for. That's how a pandemic works, people. That's why governments are setting up vaccine centers, are giving out information. It's not necessarily because they care SO much that you, personally, are going to be sick. But one sick person can get any number of other people sick. That's why there are vaccines -- to immunize and prevent the spread of disease. That's why there's a schedule for people who are eligible for vaccination. Health-care professionals first, because they're the ones in contact with the sick people. Then people at risk of serious cases of the illness. Then people at risk of moderate cases or side effects of the illness (chronic illnesses, like asthma). Then people who are basically healthy. And finally, people who have probably already been exposed.
And speaking of that, H1N1 isn't new, people. My dad had it in 1968. He was miserable, but he lived to tell the tale. And, just in case, he STILL got his flu shot, too.
What really drives me crazy about all this is that there's very little middle-of-the-road thought about this. I saw a man today who lied about his age to try to get a vaccine. They're currently vaccinating people 20-65 with chronic illnesses, right? Dude was born in 1938 and was busted. He said he was 64 and then had to hand over his medicare card (province-run health insurance card) and they're like "uh... you're 71."
So you have all these people PANICKING about the flu and trying to lie their way in to get a vaccine, and then you've got the other loonies who are so adamantly against vaccinations that they look at you as if you have three heads when you tell them that yes, you got the flu shot.
Obviously, I feel strongly about this myself, but I didn't panic about getting the flu and I even debated getting my shot, but ultimately, I got it because I didn't want to be as sick as I was last year and I didn't want to spread it.
Anyways, rant is done for now, but oooooh, some people being so misinformed makes me nuts. It's like that xkcd comic: http://xkcd.com/386/
I try to tell myself to breathe, but it doesn't always work. :P
I got my flu shot today. The Quebec government is letting people between the ages of 20 and 65 with chronic diseases (asthma, in my case) get their flu shots for H1N1 now. So I went and it was surprisingly painless and I hardly waited around.
That's not soapboxy.
What drives me crazy, and I don't know if it's just because my dad's a doctor or what, are those people who don't like vaccinations.
And by "don't like", I mean don't vaccinate their kids or themselves against actual dangerous diseases, not the people who don't like needles or what have you.
It continually astounds me to hear about people who do not want to vaccinate their children for fear of autism, cerebral palsy or risks to do with mercury and aluminum. Drives me nuts. If vaccines actually, without a doubt, caused things like autism and cerebral palsy, would they still be used? Seriously. I'm guessing not. All I've read is that there are tenuous, POTENTIAL links between these illnesses and vaccines in a small PERCENTAGE of populations.
As to mercury, yes, thimerosal (a form of mercury) is used as a preservative in some vaccines, particularly the H1N1 vaccine that I got today. Know what? You get more mercury in a can of tuna fish than you do in this particular vaccine. And do not get me started on aluminum causing Alzheimer's, because again, there isn't a direct, proven correlation. My dad worked in the aluminum industry for 20 years, doing his part for occupational health and safety of the workers. If my dad tells me there's no direct link between exposure to aluminum and Alzheimer's, I'll believe him, because he's a doctor who has had a job in which he had to do research that covered that possibility.
Is everyone going to have an easy time with a vaccine? No. Everyone's body is different, everyone's immune system reacts differently. People are unique individuals and there will be more severe reactions to vaccines than others.
I got the shot about two and a half hours ago.
In the first fifteen minutes or so (where they ask you to stay in a waiting area to ensure you don't have a severe reaction), I felt a little bit light-headed and dizzy, but it soon faded. And I am TOTALLY jinxing myself here, but my arm isn't even sore. I'm sure it will be, since that's a side effect in 50%+ of the population, but right now, I'm feeling pretty good. I am not concerned that I will develop autism, cerebral palsy or Alzheimer's. I am not concerned that I will have a severe reaction to the vaccine. And what's more, I'm not concerned about getting H1N1, now. I wasn't terribly worried before, but the reason I got the vaccine was that I got the regular flu last year and felt like death. So I wanted to avoid that again, and will also get the seasonal flu vaccine when it becomes available.
In so doing, by making myself as close to immune as possible (as it bolsters, but does not guarantee full immunity), not only am I saving myself the trouble of being very ill, but more importantly, people are probably not going to get sick because of me. I take public transportation, I hang out in public places, and if I'm contagious just before I'm symptomatic, then guess what? I've just potentially infected the 50 or so people I was sitting near, handed money to or held the door for. That's how a pandemic works, people. That's why governments are setting up vaccine centers, are giving out information. It's not necessarily because they care SO much that you, personally, are going to be sick. But one sick person can get any number of other people sick. That's why there are vaccines -- to immunize and prevent the spread of disease. That's why there's a schedule for people who are eligible for vaccination. Health-care professionals first, because they're the ones in contact with the sick people. Then people at risk of serious cases of the illness. Then people at risk of moderate cases or side effects of the illness (chronic illnesses, like asthma). Then people who are basically healthy. And finally, people who have probably already been exposed.
And speaking of that, H1N1 isn't new, people. My dad had it in 1968. He was miserable, but he lived to tell the tale. And, just in case, he STILL got his flu shot, too.
What really drives me crazy about all this is that there's very little middle-of-the-road thought about this. I saw a man today who lied about his age to try to get a vaccine. They're currently vaccinating people 20-65 with chronic illnesses, right? Dude was born in 1938 and was busted. He said he was 64 and then had to hand over his medicare card (province-run health insurance card) and they're like "uh... you're 71."
So you have all these people PANICKING about the flu and trying to lie their way in to get a vaccine, and then you've got the other loonies who are so adamantly against vaccinations that they look at you as if you have three heads when you tell them that yes, you got the flu shot.
Obviously, I feel strongly about this myself, but I didn't panic about getting the flu and I even debated getting my shot, but ultimately, I got it because I didn't want to be as sick as I was last year and I didn't want to spread it.
Anyways, rant is done for now, but oooooh, some people being so misinformed makes me nuts. It's like that xkcd comic: http://xkcd.com/386/
I try to tell myself to breathe, but it doesn't always work. :P
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Problem I'm having is that there's no flu vaccines of ANY sort available here -- not seasonal, not H1N1. That's just one of the many reasons why living in the Butthole of the Country seriously sucks sometimes.
Personally, I'd forego my shot for the next five years if it meant that my pregnant daughter, her sister, her brother and her two children (aged 3 years and 7 months) could get it right now. They're all in that higher-risk group.
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*spares you the rant about anti-vaxxers, because clearly, the choir does not need it*
*hugs you around your possibly-soon-to-be-sore arm*
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Minor correction - thimerosal is not an adjuvant, but a preservative (still important)....(: Yes, I am a vaccine nerd.
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http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/news/releases/20091106.shtm
Looks like stuff is in the works for Texas, but you'll probably have to wait a bit before getting access to the vaccine. :/
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This is the first time I've gotten a flu shot, but I got a meningitis shot back in highschool (while on the phone with
Given the spread of this kind of flu, though, I thought I'd get it, just to be on the safe side. If I'd had to wait 3 hours for it instead of the five minutes I did, I'd probably have changed my mind and decided to wait, if I bothered to go at all.
I also <3 that you're, you know, logical about the reasons behind Boychild's autism. I presume you've met up with crazies who have assumed other reasons (like vaccines) are the reason for it?
<hugs much>
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Whoops, I knew it was a preservative, too. And you're kind of allowed to be a vaccine nerd, Dr. Pediatric Infections Diseases. ;) Is your rugrat vaccinated or going to be?
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I've realized it's because I'm not dumb, because I've done at least some reading and it seems to me that the personal and societal benefits of vaccinations are worth the side effects, in general. But I never really felt like the flu was serious enough to merit a shot.
Pretty much, yeah. I'm glad it is easily available in your area.
I also <3 that you're, you know, logical about the reasons behind Boychild's autism. I presume you've met up with crazies who have assumed other reasons (like vaccines) are the reason for it?
Some of them are in his class. *cries* I'm like, "You don't understand personal space and your husband doesn't make eye contact with humans! You are missing a basic point here!" I also like to do my random, "So, what do Mom and Dad do for a living?" when I talk to a parent of someone with autism or Asperger's. ASTOUNDING the numbers of "scientist," "engineer," "computer tech" and similar that I get in response.
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I got mine last week, I work in the healt industry so I was able to got it before mostly eveybody ! Anyway, there's a lot of thing to talk about vaccin, there's a lot of reason to have or not have specific one... but anyway, the most annoying thing is when someone will not let their kid got the shot because they are scare of needles... by they I mean the parents !
But I'm gonna stop right here, because I just don't want to hear more about the H1N1 ! My head can't take it anymore !
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I'm glad it's easily available here, too. They seem really on top of things for distribution. Which is surprising, since it's, you know, the government. ;)
Oh, boy, re: crazies. I am so very sorry that you have to deal with them. :( I did laugh at not making eye contact with humans, mind you. ;)
But of course, it can't be genetic, because then, if anyone is to blame for such conditions (and I don't believe people are, obviously -- genetics work in funny ways), then it's the parents and not the big bad evil vaccinations.
People like scapegoats. :P
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Les parents sont des vrais fous, j'ai déjà remarqué...
Et moi non plus, j'en ai assez de parler de la grippe! :)
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IDEK.
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People are crazy, y/y?
<hugs>
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Definitely one of the choir, here.
*can't believe Boychild/Girlchild's ages*
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Youngest falls into the priority group, with her prematurity and previous RSV and RAD. Oldest had RAD as a young child, but hasn't had a respiratory illness in several years, *kow* except for the flu she had in June that knocked her on her ass for three days that was not H1N1. And that was mostly just aches, high fever, flushed face, and misery, but not a lot of coughing. (We know this because they were still testing at that point, and the dad of the family she got it from got really sick and was tested. It was A, but not H1N1. And I know she had the same strain, because fully half of her school was out the last week of school with this flu, and she and the friend had it about four days later.) Nobody else in the house got it, oddly.
I'm not sure if
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I can't believe anyone's ages, lately, to be honest. I'm going to sit here and pretend I'm still 17 and everyone else is the age they were when I met them. ;)
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And you're telling me that not only is there a waiting list of 700 people, but there isn't even any vaccine available for those people?
How old are Edgar and Bob, now? I think we're only doing 5-19 as of next week, regardless of conditions.
I hope California, and the rest of the US, gets their shit together. We've been vaccinating people for about 2 weeks now. That you people I know in Illinois, Texas and California have no access to the vaccine is really unsettling.
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The waitlist at my girls' peds office is over 700 people, or at least it was three weeks ago. I imagine it's longer now, since they haven't gotten any vax in and three weeks have passed.
Supposedly, the reason it's so hard to come by is that the manufacturers are having a hard time growing the virus in sufficient quantities. They grow flu virus in chicken eggs, but this one doesn't grow well in chicken eggs.
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Oh - and the US has a lower supply partly because they chose not to use vaccines with adjuvants, unlike Canada.