I'm heading off to Safeway for the walk-in flu vaccination, and I'm on the second-tier list for the H1N1, probably the end of October.
Revere at Effect Measure (an epidemiologist and senior public health official) explains why to get the seasonal flu vaccine, with elaboration by Orac.
The H1N1 vaccine is safe and likely to be effective. I don't want the disease -- it is already circulating in my area, but I'm not in a high-risk group. Drummer Woman and Jumper Girl are in a high-risk group by virtue of their ages, and Scholar Woman has the age and pregnancy whammy, so they are already signed up for both vaccinations.
Go read Harriet Hall, who rebuts the swine-flu vaccine fearmongering canards and Mark Crislip, who takes on some of the quack "alternative" treatments.
You could also read
Tara C. Smith, Ph.D, an academic epidemiologist on
Why I'll Be Getting My Kids Their Flu Vaccines
So, it's not a perfect vaccine, and the odds of myself or my kids dying from influenza are pretty slim. Why, then, do I think it's worth it?
I view vaccination as akin to wearing seatbelts while traveling. Though I always buckle up, odds are good that I won't be in a car accident that day, and even if I am, I probably would only suffer minor injuries. There's even a small chance that the seatbelt itself could cause me--or the kids--some bruising or similar minor harm, and sometimes it annoyingly digs into the skin on my shoulder if I'm wearing a sleeveless shirt, but the little discomforts are worth it because I know that it dramatically increases my odds of living through a serious car wreck. That doesn't necessarily mean I'd be unscathed--I could still end up with whiplash, or broken bones, or even more serious injuries--but I'm doing what I can to protect myself and my family. Flu shots are the same thing--some initial discomfort from the shot and a bit of soreness for a day or so afterward, but I know that they increase the odds of staying healthy. This is especially true for my son, who has asthma and is therefore in a group with a high risk of influenza complications.
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