Have you had your swine flu vaccination yet?

I had Swine Flu in July, does that mean that I’m immune to it now (like chicken pox) or no… or could it of mutated since then.
Am I at risk still?

Nope. I am pro chlidhood imunisation but No way am I going to get a very new vacine against a disease that would not be all that serious for me IF I was to contract it.

When most GPs can be trusted to not try giving someone a rubella vaccine when that person is allergic to egg (despite the big “CONTAINS EGG” warning on the box), then I’ll start thinking more about the swine flu vaccine.

Besides, if we have a repeat of the Spanish Flu, it won’t be the first round that we’re being vaccinated against that ends up killing people, it will be the mutated second round. The reason we have “seasonal flu shots” is that the common flu virus mutates all the time – you need a different vaccine to handle each new mutation.

In the meantime, I’m just practicing eating healthy, washing my hands, and coughing/sneezing into tissues instead of other people’s faces.

I’m not using alcohol-based “sanitisers” since they’re a crock. Anyone who’s had a run-in with Giardia will know just how effective chemical-based treatments are against bugs in our water supplies (Giardia is a microscopic crustacean, so iodine and salt won’t kill it since it’s hiding in its shell). You’re better off washing your hand with soap and water to mechanically remove any greeblies.

Wash your hands with soap and water. Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Wash your hands before handling food. These basic hygiene habits, along with covered sewage and clean running water are the greatest advances mankind has ever made in health and wellbeing.

Bus girl I totally agree with your thinking – I am pro childhood immunisation but both the cervical cancer vaccine and this swine flu one are not in the same category. You could die of polio, and it has been proven effective for 50 years.
Whereas, the cervical cancer one doesn’t even mean you can get out of pap smears! (which to me would be a reason to have it!) and it is too new (my girls have not had it). Plus, if you DO get genital warts it is from your own actions, quite different from an epidemic like polio.

Swine flu – well, I am happy to await my usual free departmental shot in March – though I am starting to wonder if even these are worth it, given the mercury content and the fact that they won’t work if the gurus don’t get the anticipated seasonal forms of the virus correct.

Besides, while the shot might be free, my doctor is NOT free.

On second thoughts, maybe I won’t get it…
Just found out that the multi-dose vials being distributed for this campaign use thiomersal (mercury) as a preservative. I think I need to do more reading before using my children as guinea pigs for this new vaccine, and I wouldn’t get it if I were pregnant.

Explanation of why mercury in vaccines is not a good idea:
http://kindredmagazineblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/swine-flu-vaccines-contain-mercury.html
Ingredient list as provided by CSL to ABC:
http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2009/09/swine-flu-vaccine-ingredients.html
And from the other side, Wikipedia explanation of thiomersal being safe in vaccines:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiomersal_controversy

dare2dream said :

The powers that be…

The Wizards?

Do you like the Swine Flu Vaccine with mercury added? Don’t get it then!!!!!!

dare2dream said :

The powers that be want us all to have the vaccine so we wont have to take sickies if we get it…the more contagious the flu the more sickies….

It is my belief that this is why Varicella (chicken pox) was introduced into the childhood immunisation schedule…this particular virus is contagious for quite a while and that equals either lots of time off work for a parent or sending a child back to childcare too early.

The powers that be want us all to have the vaccine so we wont have to take sickies if we get it…the more contagious the flu the more sickies…I’ve had it so I dont have to worry about the vaccine. Guess it’s a question for the individual. It’s a good idea for those who have health problems that could make them vulnerable to complications if they get swine flu to have the vaccine and also for those who work with or interact with the sick.

Never had the flu shot, but had the Swin vaccine on Friday, I’m fine, just a bit of fever, and a bit tired, I’m sure my daughter had it week before last, and it knocked her for a sixer, she had to have time off work, and she is a really healthy fit girl.

Not a chance.

They didn’t do sufficient testing on it before manufacturing the millions of vials of it that was distributed around the nation. They are relying on patients to act as guinea pigs. I won’t be their guinea pig.

I’ll wait til I’m good and ready. And even then it’s not a certainty since I usually have a shocking flu-like reaction to Tamiflu that lasts about a week, and it’s likely this one will be the same.

Had the normal flu vaccine, but this rush job is for guinea pigs not me. Phalidamide come to mind for anyone else?

Bet there’s a few people wishing the government never sold off the CSL…

I suspect that Katy Gallagher didn’t fall into a high risk category, so she waited til all the high priority vaccinations were done before kicking off the campaign for the general public to get vax’ed by having it done herself. That and I hear she’s pretty busy.

I’ve gone looking for information on serious side effects (other than redness at injection site and possibly a bit of fever, which can happen with regular flu vax too) and haven’t found anything about this particular vaccine. I did see stories about serious side effects (like paralysis), but they referred to the 1976 swine flu vaccine – not this one. So I think I’ll get it done – the only people really contraindicated are those with an allergy to eggs or feathers.

i had it a few weeks ago and have had no side effects – my son was waiting to see if he grew a little piggy tail but didn’t. phew!
i was talking to my Dr and apparently the older generation who went through the depression etc are mostly immune to it as it’s the same flu that was around then.

stonedwookie said :

they make you fill out a consent form one whole page is just the risks they tell you to read.

Sounds like the Amoxil anti-biotic I was given for a chest infection last year, came with a 5-page leaflet explaining the risks, benefits, dosage, etc all in the name of full disclosure.

I-filed said :

Nuh – I’ve read far too many accounts of bad reactions to this vaccine. If I were in the vulnerable category I would risk a couple of days of feeling crap though!

For clarification, are you referring to ‘a couple of days of feeling crap’, as a couple of days of having the flu, or the day-after effect of the vaccination?

busgirl said :

but I don’t agree that we should all take (or, be made to take) this one-off vaccination for a virus that mutates every year…

Yet, the media keeps on insisting that we get the flu shot every winter, so at least youll be covered for what happened last year (for those who didnt get sick, and produce their own antibodies anyway).

I got the vaccine a few weeks ago and felt fine afterwards. I only get the vaccine as I had nasty bout of the flu five years ago and was really sick (2 weeks off work, then took me about 4 weeks to fully recover). Now that work offers the vaccine for free, haven’t had the flu for the last five years.

LB – There is a huge difference between the standard schedule of childhood immunisations and immunisation for the swine flu. I agree that all Australian children should be administered the vaccinations as listed on the schedule (except varicella though – I don’t believe that one is necessary)…but I don’t agree that we should all take (or, be made to take) this one-off vaccination for a virus that mutates every year…especially those who are not in the at-risk category.
But I won’t ramble on…not after the caning I received last time I posted my opinion on this subject.

no way its to risky and im not a experiment.
saw a whole heap of people getting it today at some medical centre.
they make you fill out a consent form one whole page is just the risks they tell you to read.
then the doctor gives you a speach before you get your shot.
sounds like signing your life away to me

It’s a bit odd that the Health Minister has been critical of vaccination rates so far, but left it until now to get hers.

I like the way you think, however swine flu really isn’t the most dangerous flu (let alone virus or disease) we’ve seen. How about everyone just vaccinate your children like doctors (you know, the ones that spend nine years at uni) tend to recommend for most avoidable viruses etc. There’s a very good reason homeopathic ‘medicine’ is not proven.

Sorry, that may have appeared a long bow to draw, but people who refuse to immunise their children are morons.

I’m waiting for others to play guinea pig on this one.

I called to make an appointment but got cut off when put on hold. I will probably try again heh.

Nuh – I’ve read far too many accounts of bad reactions to this vaccine. If I were in the vulnerable category I would risk a couple of days of feeling crap though!