Health

H1N1 Vaccine Shunned Despite International Availability

by amyellensoden | October 14, 2009 at 11:20 am

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The H1N1 vaccine is currently being distributed throughout the US and will soon be made available throughout Europe, but a recent quiz done by UK newspaper The Guardian suggests that many people are having second thoughts about racing in to get vaccinated. Parents in particular are wondering if the vaccine's side effects outweigh the risk of swine flu itself.

Meanwhile, British hospital bosses quizzed by The Guardian newspaper claim that as few as 10 per cent of staff will have the shot. In the US, many hospital employees are protesting against rules saying they must be vaccinated or lose their jobs.

Children are also at the top of the vaccine list. In the US summer outbreak, the age group most hospitalised was children under 4. Yet 40 per cent of US parents say they won't vaccinate their kids, according to a poll by the University of Michigan.

Warnings continue that the H1N1 virus can manifest itself in serious illness and disease, but it's becoming clear that many people are hesitant to take yet another vaccine for another illness they could get.