Is the H1N1 or Swine Flu Vaccine Safe?

Flu season is upon us and now is the time to start thinking about flu shots. My family does not usually get a yearly flu shot. We will also not be getting the Swine Flu shot this year. In general influenza symptoms are mild and no reason for alarm. The same can be said of the Swine Flu or H1N1. The flu will make certain people sick and others will die from the flu - same story every year.

This year everyone is scared of the Swine Flu or H1N1 and now there is a vaccination available. People have died and that is cause for alarm. The Swine Flu does not follow the pattern of the general flu. Some people are getting severe symptoms from the flu that occurs within a short period of time. But is this any more alarming than the regular flu that happens every year. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't.

Reasons we will not get the shot:

The Swine Flu vaccine or the H1N1 vaccination are very new and may not have been tested for long enough. I have witnessed the Rotavirus vaccine that the government said was safe for my six month old baby, later on they pulled the vaccination because of severe side effects and a death. My family and me don't want to be guinea pigs for their science experiments.

Back in 1976 there was an outbreak of the Swine Flu and they made a vaccine and the vaccination caused more deaths than the flu itself. I do not want to be just another statistic from history that could have been prevented. Yes medicine has come a long way since 1976 and this years Swine Flu or H1N1 vaccination could be perfectly safe, but I will wait and see.

Many cases of the Swine Flu this year have been mild, just like the regular flu. Why risk possible side effects from a vaccine when everything could be just fine. One of my kids has had reactions to several time tested vaccinations, so I am leery about giving them anything new that I might see as potentially dangerous.

No, I don't want to see an outbreak of Swine Flu in my community and I certainly don't want anyone to die from H1N1. I have chosen in my opinion what is best for my family at this time. If the Swine Flu changes and worsens I may have to reevaluate and consider the H1N1 vaccine again.

I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV. This is just my opinion and you are welcome to your own opinion as well.

Source: World Net Daily, "Swine Flu vaccine linked to deadly nerve disease?" www.wnd.com