I have been infected by the H1N1 and am in great pain

[Asher]

Understood.

So my position is clear - I'm not claiming the vaccine is a bad idea as I'm sure the potential risk from the vaccine is far lower than the potential risk from swine flu. I just don't believe the vaccine risk = 0.

Asher - Did these people with the allergic reactions know ahead of time they would react this way? An allergic reaction is a side effect. The extent of the reaction will determine how "serious" it was.

Some probably did (they ask you a million questions to weed out risky injections when getting it, some people may lie in order to get the injection anyway), but I'm sure most didn't. But again, calling them a serious side effect is disingenuous and irrelevant. You'd probably get a much higher "serious averse reaction" rate hosting a milk vending stand.

I believe it was quite obvious when people are talking about "serious side effects" of medical treatments they're not referring to people who have abnormal allergies (which is a problem with the person, not the treatment), but more along the lines of the vaccines having effects not intended on healthy, normal people.

If you're going to fixate on this point, then everything in this world has had a "serious side effect". It's a ridiculous point.

[Wezil]

Guy & Asher - Fair enough. I'm not into an argument over definitions.


* I will note - It was a Star article...

[Asher]

Speaking of The Star....

yesterday they ran two articles side-by-side:

http://www.thestar.com/news/sciencetech/environment/copenhagensummit/article/735124--star-joins-global-climate-crusade

Star joins global climate crusade

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/735399--oilsands-pollution-exceeds-official-estimates-study

Oilsands pollution exceeds official estimates: study

They don't even try to pretend to be a reasonable news source anymore.

[Asher]

FWIW, I appreciate everyone's concern but I am fine.

My right arm (seasonal flu vaccine) is 100% normal now and my left arm (H1N1 vaccine) is just a bit stiff.

[Wezil]

Speaking of The Star....

yesterday they ran two articles side-by-side:

http://www.thestar.com/news/sciencetech/environment/copenhagensummit/article/735124--star-joins-global-climate-crusade

Star joins global climate crusade

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/735399--oilsands-pollution-exceeds-official-estimates-study

Oilsands pollution exceeds official estimates: study

I'm sure AB will be pleased with the stance.

They don't even try to pretend to be a reasonable news source anymore.

I contend they never did. I used to have access to a free daily copy of the Star but couldn't bring myself to accept it. I'm a person that will read most anything put in front of me...

[SpencerH]

Sounds like a distribution problem, not a production problem.

It could be either, both, or something else again, I havent looked into the specifics. All I know is that it's still not available here via the schools. That's a fiasco!

[Asher]

America

[SpencerH]

Guy, this is totally anecdotal of course, but what I'm seeing here amongst friends and family (and a volleyball team I coach) is mostly mild cold/flu symptoms which may or may not be H1N1 (most people dont even bother seeing their physician over them and those that do arent tested for H1N1 specifically). What seems to be unusual to me is how long the mild symptoms last and the development of what appears to be a high number of atypical pneumonias and bronchitis. Given the reported association between H1N1 mortality and respiratory failure I'm wondering if there is an unusual pathogenic link.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Incidentally, around 60-70 million people have received the H1N1 vaccination to date. There have been zero serious reported side effects--no Guillan-Barre, no anaphylaxis, no nothing.

You should check out my Counterglow thread. The most serious side effect I've heard of from the vaccine was my wife's reaction. She collapsed and passed out stone cold unconscious- scaring the crap out of me.

[KrazyHorse]

Or she collapsed for some completely unrelated reason.

[Guynemer]

You should check out my Counterglow thread. The most serious side effect I've heard of from the vaccine was my wife's reaction. She collapsed and passed out stone cold unconscious- scaring the crap out of me.

We see that with the HPV vaccine as well. Not a serious side effect.

And while I think this is unlikely to apply to your wife, given that she is married to you, most of the women who pass out after the HPV vaccine are those you might expect to pass out: the highly-dramatic, scared-****less of needles type.

[Asher]

His wife collapsed sometime after, if not hours after IIRC. While on the sofa at home?

[Asher]

Frankly I was hoping that'd happen to me. Day off work + scaring my SO ****less. Alas, I just have a stiff arm to show for it.

[Guynemer]

Guy, this is totally anecdotal of course, but what I'm seeing here amongst friends and family (and a volleyball team I coach) is mostly mild cold/flu symptoms which may or may not be H1N1 (most people dont even bother seeing their physician over them and those that do arent tested for H1N1 specifically). What seems to be unusual to me is how long the mild symptoms last and the development of what appears to be a high number of atypical pneumonias and bronchitis. Given the reported association between H1N1 mortality and respiratory failure I'm wondering if there is an unusual pathogenic link.

The problem with "bronchitis" is that many doctors toss that diagnosis at patients who have simple viral coughs (ie, the flu), in order to make the patients happy and give them a Z-pack, which is what they really want. I've never once made the diagnosis of "bronchitis", and I've never had any subsequent problems.

[Guynemer]

It could be either, both, or something else again, I havent looked into the specifics. All I know is that it's still not available here via the schools. That's a fiasco!

Some school systems simply are decided not to distribute it themselves, due to logistical or medical-legal reasons.

Check with your local doctor's office. MOST should have it by now, if they applied to get it in the first place.

There isn't a shortage in most of the country, but your mileage may differ.