One Third of Parents Oppose Swine Flu Vaccine For Their Kids, Poll Says

by Tom Henderson (Subscribe to Tom Henderson's posts) Oct 12th 2009 11:00AM

Categories: Safety, Medical Conditions, In The News

Will you have your child vaccinated for the swine flu? Credit: mharvey75, Flickr

More than a third of parents in the United States oppose getting their children vaccinated against the swine flu, according to a poll conducted this month by The Associated Press.

Some parents said the vaccine is too new and they worry about possible side effects. Others said the swine flu is no worse than the regular season flu.

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention said getting children vaccinated against the H1N1 virus is important. Unlike with the regular flu, the CDC said that its studies have shown that children have no natural antibodies effective against the virus. This can cause the disease to last longer with more severe symptoms, according to the CDC Web site.

Additionally, immunizations help stop the spread of the disease, according to the CDC Web site.

CDC officials have said there have been no serious side effects reported as a result of the vaccine so far. Still, some parents are jittery. One of them is Jackie Shea, the mother of a 5-year-old son in Newtown, Conn. "We're talking about putting an unknown into him," she told the AP. "I can't do that."

It is not an unknown, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said last week. "We know it's safe and secure," she said.

Because of people's fears, however, the federal government has set up a monitoring service to look for negative side effects.

The AP conducted the poll between Oct. 1 and 5. Some parents polled remembered immunizations against the swine flu in 1976 that resulted in a torrent of complaints from people who said the vaccine gave them a paralyzing condition known as Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Health officials never found a link between the vaccine and the disease, claiming the disease was bound to show up in such a large population anyway.

Jennifer Barnes of Decatur, Ga., enrolled herself and her two children in an early government study of the new vaccine. She said parents are polarized on the vaccine issue. There's the "crunchy granola group" against the vaccines, she told the AP. Then there's the "very staunch, follow-everything group."

She said she wanted the vaccine not only for her own children, but to do her part to help control the extent and severity of a pandemic that nationally has caused 9,000 hospitalizations and 600 deaths, 60 of whom were children.

"My kids hang around kids who might have lowered immune systems," she told the AP. "I would hate for them to get something and pass it on."

What do you think? Should parents ignore the swine flu vaccine?

Source

Comments (17)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Lauren 10-12-2009 @ 11:29AM

It's funny how people are so oppsosed to vaccines when most of them have no clue about how a vaccine works, or the disease that it's supposed to greatly help prevent for that matter. Get a clue parents, you're not experts.

Elizabeth 10-12-2009 @ 1:33PM

Exactly! Why risk your kid getting a life threatening disease when it could be prevented. And honestly, what would you rather deal with--side effects or death? I really don't understand the thinking behind not getting your children vaccinated, and unfortunately it's becoming more and more popular. But hey, more vaccines for those of us who want to live, right?

me 10-14-2009 @ 5:24AM

A cold can kill people, in fact 4500 people die from colds a year. I don't know why so many people think that once you get swine flu you are automatically sentenced to death. Just like the regular flu you have to get vaccinated once a year unlike the chicken pox vaccination.

Patrick Holdsworth 2-03-2010 @ 10:59AM

Dear Editor

Parents should not be frightened into giving their children swine flu vaccines (Swine flu vaccine plans for under-fives). Before anyone considers giving the swine flu vaccine to their children, they should consider the following.

With the regular flu vaccine researchers found that children who had received the vaccine had three times the risk of hospitalization, as compared to children who had not received the vaccine. ScienceDaily (May 20, 2009) The vaccine promoters say it is safe, but swine flu vaccine production was "rushed" and the vaccine was never tested on humans.

The vaccines contain dangerous adjuvants (chemical substances which are supposed to enhance the immune response) that cause an inflammatory response in the body. This is why they are suspected of causing autism and other neurological disorders.

Remember we have been here before. Doctors still don't know why the 1976 swine flu vaccines paralyzed hundreds of people in the US.

The Council of Europe member states launched an inquiry in January 2010 on the influence of the pharmaceutical companies on the global swine flu campaign, focussing especially on extent of the industrys influence on WHO.

Wolfgang Wodarg , chairman of the European parliaments health committee, initiated the inquiry. He said the influence of the pharmaceutical industry on scientists and government officials resulted in millions of healthy people being exposed unnecessarily to the risks of an inadequately tested vaccine.

No swine flu vaccine works as well as vitamin D to protect you from influenza.

Yours sincerely,

Patrick Holdsworth

Kristen 10-12-2009 @ 3:02PM

For those of you who "know" how vaccines work, then you "know" one of the side effects of any vaccination is death. Yup, you can die from receiving this vaccine. This, to prevent a flu that does not have a higher death rate or complication rate than the regular flu. Also, vaccines do not completely prevent a disease always. They can reduce the severity of the symptoms. I am not saying people and children should not receive the swine flu vaccine, but, before you judge people who have a different opinion for not knowing the facts, read up. Also, read up on the vaccines your doctor is recommending. The majority of M.D.'s are over vaccinating you and your children. This can predispose you to developing immune-mediated diseases, some of them are fatal.

Lauren 10-12-2009 @ 5:11PM

Yeah, in rare instances death can occur. The benefits however, greatly outway the risks. You also risk choking and dying on toothpaste when you brush your teeth in the morning, yet people find it necessary to do (hopefully) every day.

ame s 10-13-2009 @ 8:42AM

My ped isn't giving it to her kids so I'm not giving it to mine. It's the same with the cervical cancer vac. Why would I give it my daughter if she isn't giving to her daughter?

Lucrissa 10-18-2009 @ 10:11AM

Thats stupid just because your kids ped isn't vacc. her children don't mean you folow her I have four children and I don't want to lose any of them. I never didn't do something because everyone else is not doing it. You need to do more research on the vacc before you decide anything. My kids come first I do whats in their best intrest not mine or anyone else.

Lisa 10-27-2009 @ 4:33PM

I think I get the point you're trying to make -- that if your ped is a professional and if she's not giving it to her daughter, you're not going to give it to your child... If that's the basis for you not doing something that could not only affect your child, but others that he/she comes into contact with, then you seriously need to wake up. Something like to vaccinate or not to vaccinate is a personal choice as much as it's a medical choice. Don't not do something b/c someone else isn't doing it. Do YOUR OWN research. Educate yourself, then make an informed decision. Your ped's medical degree doesn't make her any smarter than you. My son has a thyroid disease that requires him to take a maintenance drug every day for the rest of his life. His ped suggested an over-the-counter cough medicine for a bad cold he had. I went to the drugstore to get it, read the back of the box which said it should not be used for anyone with thyroid disease. His ped is terrific and I highly respect her, but she made a bad call. Do YOUR due diligence and don't rely on anyone else b/c they are only doing what they think is best for THEIR OWN family.

Sean 10-13-2009 @ 10:39AM

Keep track of the latest swine flu vaccine developments as and when they happen at Swine Flu Britain

Aimee 10-13-2009 @ 6:59PM

I spoke to a medical professional last night who I trust implicitly and she said I should absolutely get my children vaccinated for swine flu. What many parents don't realize - and I didn't - is that the majority of people who die from swine flu are under 25 (with a high proportion of younger kids) and there's no rhyme or reason to who it kills in that age group. Most of the kids who have died are perfectly healthy. And so what if 99% of the kids who get it recover (that's not a valid stat but it makes my point). Is it worth it for my kid to be that 1%? That's enough for me. Mine will get vaccinated. Check out my client's new web site www.feelingflu.com which can help you figure out if your child has it, if they should be among the first to get vaccinated, and what to do next. It helped us and it can help you.

redneckmama0307 10-14-2009 @ 11:35PM

I understand why some parents want to have their children vaccinated. BUT- all people are different. Some people don't need to be vaccinated and others do. Some react way differently than others. My daughter is going to be 3 in March, and she has not had any type of flu shot, but she has all the others needed. I will not have my family vaccinated for the swine flu because it is so simple to stay bug-free: WASH YOU HANDS! DON'T TOUCH YOUR MOUTH, NOSE, EYES!

Think about all the nasty things we touch and all the germs that are on our person..it's no wonder we have all these nasty infections! If someone near you is sick, stay away from them if possible, and wash your hands. Offer them a tissue to sneeze in. This is all very simple sanitary things to do, yet people still do not do them.

wynnsmomma 10-19-2009 @ 9:41AM

Personally I think the parents that do vaccinate their children are doing them a great disservice-- and vaccinating without doing any research borders upon neglect. If you do the right research-- that is research that has not been funded by Merck or big pharma than you'll realize that vaccines are made with formaldehyde, mercury, made with chick or sometimes human embryo cells. And if a MEDICAL DOCTOR says they will not be giving their children a vaccine doesn't that tell you something.....Oh and if you read the insert that comes with the swine flu vaccines it says that it contains Carcinogens-- this vaccine is not being regulated to the safety standards that the other vaccines supposedly have been. Don't knock on other parents if you have not done the correct research yourself.

Deliah 10-22-2009 @ 10:11AM

See? This is the problem. Every post on here indicates YOUR'E GOING TO DIE IF YOU GET THE SWINE FLU.
Hysteria.
Read the posts. It's absolutely ridiculous how people become crazy.
Not saying it's not serious, but for God's sake, quit painting a picture that 99%, if not all people under 25 who catch the "swine" flu are going to DIE.

melissa 10-27-2009 @ 4:15PM

These parents really need to wake up. They say they don't want to put an "unkown" in their childrens body. Well, what about the vaccine's they have their children get as they grow up (3 month, 6 month, yearly shots) It's the same thing. Nobody knows what's in those either. I think these parents are just making excuses on why they don't want to protect their own kids from harm.

gail 11-06-2009 @ 6:29PM

Getting vaccinated is a personal choice.
However, I don't totally trust the swine flu, it is too new on the market. Just because a drug company says itis safe doesn't
mean that is entirely true. They don't know themselves what will
happen yrs. from now. Plus, selling drugs is big business. Yes,
many vaccines are questionable. That doesn't mean we have to take all of them. And not giving a child the swine flu vaccine doesn't
mean that a parent doesn't care for their child nor does it mean
that a parent that gives their child the vaccine cares more.It is
freedom of choice. People need to not panic. It is not the plague.

tro0y 11-30-2009 @ 6:42PM

consider this, every year there is some grand emergency, along with a lot of propaganda. we have had, swine flu, sars, avian flu, gas shortages, energy hikes, aids and hiv, all of these things are designed to generate fear. you cant control brave and honest people, so big brother scares you to death to control you. Its that simple. if you look on the forms sent out for swine flu you will notice they claim it is a new virus, but on the same page they admit to making a vaccine for same virus in 1976. Crack open an old set of encyclopedias, you will find h1n1 listed there. It is propaganda people.