James Geiger MD – Physician, Author and Wellness Specialist

The Novel H1N1 Swine Flu vaccination. Will you get it?

Curious me took a poll of my 500 plus friends on Facebook and 1600 plus followers on Twitter.

The Poll asked…The Swine Flu vaccination.  Will you get it?

Preliminary Results of my poll.

75% said they will definitely not get the vaccine when it becomes available.

25% said, “Maybe.”

Why is that? Perhaps you have read many online reports of side effects and complications caused by vaccinations.

• Overwhelmed and confused by back-to-school Vaccination recommendations for Hepatitis,Tentanus-Diptheria-Pertussis(Td/Tdap),Varicella,Measles-Mumps-Rubella(MMR),Human papillomavirus(HPV), Meningococcal, Shingles,plus Flu and Swine Flu.
• Concern that the vaccine contains adjuvants may cause chronic inflammation.
• Concern that Preservatives (mercury) may cause brain and immune dysfunction diseases .e.g. Autism .
• Concern that chicken eggs, monkey organs and Live Avian Virus were used to make the vaccine.

What is known about the Swine Flu and the Vaccine.

• The vaccine will become available starting late Sept./Oct.
• Thousands of people have died worldwide from Swine Flu.
• Five manufacturers are producing vaccine for the U.S.: Sanofi Pasteur, Novartis, GSK, Medimmune,CSL and possibly Baxter.
• Formulation will vary by provider. For Novartis, vaccine may be preformulated with adjuvant (oil in water to stimulate the immune system). For CSL, GSK and Sanofi Pasteur, mixing of vaccine and adjuvant at the site of administration will be necessary. Medimmune vaccine will not be adjuvanted.
• The majority of vaccine will be in multi-dose vials with the preservative Thimerosal(mercury). The aim is to have enough vaccine in nasal inhalers and single dose syringes Thimerosal(mercury) preservative free for young children and pregnant women.
• The committee recommended that vaccination efforts initially focus on 5 target groups: vaccination for pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, persons between the ages of 6 months through 24 years, and people ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher risk for novel H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

TBA: Things yet to be determined about the vaccine.

• To be determined if a booster shot taken 21-28 days after the first shot will be necessary.
• To be determined if you should get the combination Swine Flu and regular flu vaccine at the same time.
• To be determined is how significant the Swine Flu resistance to Tamiflu will become.
• To be determined if Guillain-Barre Syndrome will become a significant side effect of the vaccine.  

Influenza and Swine Flu Preparedness  for Novel H1N1 Swine Flu Virus Pandemic.

Take steps to protect yourself from getting ill and spreading germs.

• Develop a family preparedness plan.

• Stock up on supplies.
  

• Stay calm to enhance your immune system.

As for me, I still have two months to decide.

James Tad Geiger MD