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Marissa Reaume

To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate

Posted November 14, 2009 @ 6:00PM

...lately, that has definitely been the question surrounding the H1N1 vaccine.

Many people are torn between the dangers of receiving the shot and the consequences of catching swine flu.
So far, I have had three nurses tell me that they would not get the shot nor would they recommend it. Their reasoning behind this opinion relates to the fact that currently we do not know the long term effects of the shot.
Terrifying stories of those who have received the shot are also swirling throughout the news. One particular incident of a vaccination gone wrong involves a 26 year-old Washington Redskins cheerleader ambassador named Desiree Jennings. After receiving the shot she developed a rare neurological disorder called Dystonia which prevents her from speaking and eating properly. She also has difficulty walking and frequently has seizures. If you want to learn more about this story there is a youtube video that features an interview with Jennings conducted by Fox News (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX_kTEzleJI).
Odds are that a young, healthy woman such as Jennings likely would have survived the flu had she not been vaccinated. I personally know more than one healthy young person who has caught this flu and recovered within a week or two without having to go to the hospital.
So is the vaccination worth the low risk of dangerous side-effects? Possibly, if your immune system is compromised. After all, Windsor’s eleven o’clock news program last night revealed that two 50 year-old men in Windsor have died from the swine flu. Both men had pre-existing medical conditions.
I’m still pondering both sides of the to get the shot or not to get the shot debate. What is your opinion?

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