To vaccinate or not? Some wary on H1N1 choice
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/HEALTH/10/09/h1n1.vaccine.skepticism/art.peterson.swine.flu.courtesy.jpg caption="Mary Peterson's daughters, 3 and 1, will not be getting the new vaccine, she said."]
Elizabeth Landau
CNN
Mary Peterson of Des Moines, Washington, doesn't believe the vaccine for the novel H1N1 flu has been studied enough to get it for herself and her daughters, who are 1 and 3 years old.
"I wrestled with it," she said. "I think the side of caution in this case is just waiting until we have more information."
Peterson is one of many parents who are discussing - whether in real life or on Twitter - their skepticism of the vaccine. The vaccine is being distributed as an intranasal spray this week, and will arrive next week in injection form, said Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, earlier this week.
The CDC and other public health authorities say the new vaccine is safe, and are encouraging everyone to get it, especially those in high risk groups. But experts acknowledge that many people struggle with the decision.
"I bet half the people in the country have concerns," Dr. Mehmet Oz, host of the "Dr. Oz Show" and professor of surgery at Columbia University, told CNN's Anderson Cooper earlier this week.
|
|
Filed under: H1N1 • Medical News • Parenting |
About this Show:
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
Questions or comments? Send an email
Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with AC361°
Subscribe to the podcast
On Twitter
Search the AC360 blog
I recently received my yearly seasonal flu vaccination. I noticed on the manufacturer's list of ingredients, that H1N1 was listed. Ive also checked the WHO's web site and it is recommended that H1N1 is included in the incredients for the seasonal vaccine. I havent seen any coverage of this on the news. If H1N1 is in the seasonal, will it be enough or both vaccines are really needed?