Important Swine Flu Vaccine Information

**joho** · 10-01-2009, 10:42 AM

Newsmaxhealth.com - Health, fitness and medical advice

**TooFarTampa** · 10-01-2009, 11:02 AM

I am all-for any well-sourced information about the swine flu vaccine, since this is going to be a very important topic in the coming weeks. But can we please refrain from linking to anything from Newsmax?

This is the company that two days ago published an article from one of its weekly contributers that detailed why it might be a reasonable for the U.S. military to take care of the country's "Obama problem" by staging a bloodless takeover of the government.

Newsmax took the column down yesterday, but you can find it in numerous places, containing such gems of wisdom as

Imagine a bloodless coup to restore and defend the Constitution through an interim administration that would do the serious business of governing and defending the nation. Skilled, military-trained, nation-builders would replace accountability-challenged, radical-left commissars. Having bonded with his twin teleprompters, the president would be detailed for ceremonial speech-making.

Now that is real sickness for you.

**Rita** · 10-01-2009, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by TooFarTampa

I am all-for any well-sourced information about the swine flu vaccine, since this is going to be a very important topic in the coming weeks. But can we please refrain from linking to anything from Newsmax?

This is the company that two days ago published an article from one of its weekly contributers that detailed why it might be a reasonable for the U.S. military to take care of the country's "Obama problem" by staging a bloodless takeover of the government.

Newsmax took the column down yesterday, but you can find it in numerous places, containing such gems of wisdom as

Now that is real sickness for you.

.
Even if you're not a fan of Tom Friedman, you will surely realize the importance of what he says in this column. It certainly is a concern of mine and likely anybody in this country who sees things from somewhere in the middle. Those who incite people to hate need the rest of us to bring them to their knees!.

Where Did �We� Go?
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
.................
I was in Israel interviewing Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin just before he was assassinated in 1995. We had a beer in his office. He needed one. I remember the ugly mood in Israel then � a mood in which extreme right-wing settlers and politicians were doing all they could to delegitimize Rabin, who was committed to trading land for peace as part of the Oslo accords. They questioned his authority. They accused him of treason. They created pictures depicting him as a Nazi SS officer, and they shouted death threats at rallies. His political opponents winked at it all.

And in so doing they created a poisonous political environment that was interpreted by one right-wing Jewish nationalist as a license to kill Rabin � he must have heard, �God will be on your side� � and so he did.
.............................
And Mr. Obama is now having his legitimacy attacked by a concerted campaign from the right fringe. They are using everything from smears that he is a closet �socialist� to calling him a �liar� in the middle of a joint session of Congress to fabricating doubts about his birth in America and whether he is even a citizen. And these attacks are not just coming from the fringe. Now they come from Lou Dobbs on CNN and from members of the House of Representatives.

Again, hack away at the man�s policies and even his character all you want. I know politics is a tough business. But if we destroy the legitimacy of another president to lead or to pull the country together for what most Americans want most right now � nation-building at home � we are in serious trouble.
.................................

Where Did ‘We’ Go? - Readers' Comments - NYTimes.com
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**GoodWitch58** · 10-01-2009, 02:29 PM

I have to ask the question: what is the purpose of the right wing attacks on the president?

We are all Americans. He is the duly elected president--there can be no rational explanation for this behavior. If they succeed in tearing down the presidency, then we all suffer.

Where is the Republican Leadership? Too bad that John McCain can't stand up to those in his own party, the same way he stood up to that woman in one of his campaign town hall meetings.

I think many people--many Republicans-- are yearning for some adult person to stand up for rational behavior.

**deepender** · 10-01-2009, 05:59 PM

My 9 year old son just recovered from swine flu.

This is not a political thing, but amazing how quick you people want to make real issues about politics.

Use your common sense...
get your family the regular flu shot, get your kids a pneumonia shot (most of the deaths have been from complications of pneumonia brought on by the flu). Demand a flu test from your doctor at the first signs of illness and get on Tami-flu. This is your best shot at fighting this.

Do not blame it on right or left. do not bring up politics at all when talking about this and do what you have to do...
The doctors in Destin have seen more than 200 cases last week alone... you will get the flu... take care of yourself and stop wasting time talking about stuff not relevant.

**sunspotbaby** · 10-01-2009, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by deepender

My 9 year old son just recovered from swine flu.

This is not a political thing, but amazing how quick you people want to make real issues about politics.

Use your common sense...
get your family the regular flu shot, get your kids a pneumonia shot (most of the deaths have been from complications of pneumonia brought on by the flu). Demand a flu test from your doctor at the first signs of illness and get on Tami-flu. This is your best shot at fighting this.

Do not blame it on right or left. do not bring up politics at all when talking about this and do what you have to do...
The doctors in Destin have seen more than 200 cases last week alone... you will get the flu... take care of yourself and stop wasting time talking about stuff not relevant.

Thanks! and

This is not a political issue, it could be a life or death issue. I appreciate your honesty.

**TooFarTampa** · 10-01-2009, 09:49 PM

Originally Posted by deepender

My 9 year old son just recovered from swine flu.

This is not a political thing, but amazing how quick you people want to make real issues about politics.

Use your common sense...
get your family the regular flu shot, get your kids a pneumonia shot (most of the deaths have been from complications of pneumonia brought on by the flu). Demand a flu test from your doctor at the first signs of illness and get on Tami-flu. This is your best shot at fighting this.

Do not blame it on right or left. do not bring up politics at all when talking about this and do what you have to do...
The doctors in Destin have seen more than 200 cases last week alone... you will get the flu... take care of yourself and stop wasting time talking about stuff not relevant.

I am so glad to hear he is recovering, and yes this is the health and wellness forum, and politics probably doesn't belong here.

But the article posted came from a very irresponsible "news agency" that was making some very serious, unsourced allegations about the coming swine flu vaccine and I thought it was important to point out why the article was not worthy of its own post.

I know we are all interested in hearing properly sourced, relevant information about the vaccine, which may be available within weeks. Ideally from the NE Journal of Medicine, JAMA or the Lancet or some such publication, if available. Rumors and innuendo just don't have a place in this discussion. As you point out so ably it is too serious of a matter.

**TooFarTampa** · 10-02-2009, 06:59 AM

Here's an editorial from the New England Journal of Medicine, dated Sept. 10. Most of it concerns vaccine effectiveness but it has this to say about complications:

Both vaccines tested have generally acceptable side-effect and adverse-event profiles, with pain or tenderness at the injection site being the most common adverse event observed. The local reactions seen with the adjuvanted vaccines were moderately higher than those generally seen with nonadjuvanted vaccines.7 Any association of uncommon adverse events with the vaccine cannot be ascertained in studies of this size. It is reassuring that the manufacturing process for these vaccines is identical to that used for seasonal vaccines, which have a strong record of safety. Although concerns linger about the association of the 1976 swine influenza vaccine with the Guillain–Barr� syndrome, the syndrome was rare, with approximately 1 case for every 100,000 persons vaccinated. The rate was even lower among persons under 25 years of age.11 One notable difference is that in 1976, we did not have a pandemic influenza virus that was spreading quickly throughout the world, and causing illness and death, as we do today. A plan for robust and comprehensive safety surveillance should be in place to detect uncommon events rapidly during the upcoming vaccination campaigns, so that risk–benefit ratios can be reassessed.

NEJM -- Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Policy -- Considering the Early Evidence

**Jdarg** · 10-13-2009, 06:21 AM

Does anyone know if the H1N1 is available yet here?

We also received a $10 off flu shot coupon in the mail for Emerald Coast Urgent Care (across from Seascape)- that means $20 flu shots for us! They will not be getting the H1N1 vax though- sounds like that one may be hard to track down.

Of course Bdarg and I are both sick with head colds this week- cross your fingers that the kids stay well enough to take care of us.

**sunspotbaby** · 10-13-2009, 06:52 AM

I was just at the Health Dept. on Friday for another immunization and the nurse told me they were completely out of flu vaccines & wasn't sure when they would get more. Are you going to get the H1N1 Jdarg? I haven't decided whether or not to get the girls those shots. I'm skeered that it's too new.

**Jdarg** · 10-13-2009, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by sunspotbaby

I was just at the Health Dept. on Friday for another immunization and the nurse told me they were completely out of flu vaccines & wasn't sure when they would get more. Are you going to get the H1N1 Jdarg? I haven't decided whether or not to get the girls those shots. I'm skeered that it's too new.

If I can find the H1N1, yes, both kids will get the shots, especially Kate, who has some pretty good respiratory history. We all get seasonal flu shots every year.

Guess I better call the Urgent Care place and make sure they have some left!

**TooFarTampa** · 10-13-2009, 09:19 PM

Just a little bit on the H1N1 - shipments are starting to come in to the Tampa Bay area. In Hillsborough County schools (where Tampa is), the kids with disabilities will be first on the list, early next week. The week after that it will be available to more of the general student population. Middle school and high school students will be able to get it at school, with parental permission, and parents of elementary age students will be able to bring their students to a local high school to get a shot in afternoon and early evening hours.

This is the info for Hillsborough but it is notable that they are the first in our area to with a fairly comprehensive plan. They also say things may change depending on availability. So it appears that not much is set in stone, anywhere.

I have also not heard anything from our pediatrician, or from my daughter's preschool, both of whom are great at communicating these things. So I think it is fair to say if you haven't heard anything yet from your peeps, they don't have a firm enough plan.

**aggieb** · 10-13-2009, 09:38 PM

i've had both flu shot and H1N1 nasal vaccine because it was mandatory. i'm not gonna lie, i was petrified of the H1N1 and was worried also about the flu shot, i've never taken the flu shot, but as of today i'm alive and well. i actually worried so much about the H1N1 that after my vaccine i woke up in the middle of the night worrying about it. i'm over it now.

**sunspotbaby** · 10-15-2009, 11:15 AM

I'm so glad that vulnerable inmates will be in front of the general public...NOT.

Massachusetts Prisoners With 'Health Risks' to Get H1N1 Shots Before General Public - Infectious Disease - FOXNews.com

**scooterbug44** · 10-15-2009, 04:26 PM

They aren't giving the prisoners shots before the public - it is the same preference system as everywhere - high risk and health care workers first - the typical inmate will only get it after anyone in the general public who wants it gets it.

It would be a HUGE mess if swine flu starts going through the prison population................no matter how much the evil voice in my head says it would seem to solve a lot of problems.

Question - should anyone on death row or serving a life sentence get it? Is it necessary medical care?

**Jdarg** · 12-09-2009, 04:42 PM

FREE H1N1 shots at the SoWal health department today until 7 and every Wednesday before Christmas. A small line, but was in and out in 30 minutes or so. Give yourself an early Christmas present of a no-swine winter!

**scooterbug44** · 12-09-2009, 07:38 PM

Can you make an appointment with them for a non-wednesday?

**Jdarg** · 12-09-2009, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by scooterbug44

Can you make an appointment with them for a non-wednesday?

I don't know. But I talked to a gentleman on the way out, who still needs to get his seasonal flu shot, and he was told that appointments for those are booked until after the first of the year.

**Beach Runner** · 12-09-2009, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by jdarg

FREE H1N1 shots at the SoWal health department today until 7 and every Wednesday before Christmas. A small line, but was in and out in 30 minutes or so. Give yourself an early Christmas present of a no-swine winter!

We decided that the benefits of the swine flu vaccine outweigh the risks, so all three of us got the vaccine before Thanksgiving. Big D's primary physician said he's seen a lot of cases of H1N1 and that the victims are very ill. Basically he said that H1N1 is something you don't want to risk getting.

I mean, can you imagine if you decided against the vaccine, and your Princess or son got H1N1? You'd never forgive yourself. That's what we decided. Daughter is in the 24-and-under group, so she's high risk. I teach the 18-22 yo group, so I'm at risk. And hubby is at risk from being around her and me.

**scooterbug44** · 12-09-2009, 08:46 PM

I know a lot of people who have gotten it - so I figure it is just a matter of time before I get it, so I think the shot is a damn good idea. Even more so if you are in a high-risk group.

**Jdarg** · 12-09-2009, 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by Beach Runner

We decided that the benefits of the swine flu vaccine outweigh the risks, so all three of us got the vaccine before Thanksgiving. Big D's primary physician said he's seen a lot of cases of H1N1 and that the victims are very ill. Basically he said that H1N1 is something you don't want to risk getting.

I mean, can you imagine if you decided against the vaccine, and your Princess or son got H1N1? You'd never forgive yourself. That's what we decided. Daughter is in the 24-and-under group, so she's high risk. I teach the 18-22 yo group, so I'm at risk. And hubby is at risk from being around her and me.

I have now personally known 2 people hit by h1n1- sick sick miserably sick, so no, not taking a chance with my family. Kids got their shots at school.