Debunking H1N1 Vaccine Myths
The internet is a wonderful place for getting information. But it's also a disaster in finding good information. The problem is that if you read medical facts on the internet, you tend to give equal value to both scientifically supported and outright pseudoscientific statements. I read a few posts on Facebook, which seems to be the modern world's gossip center, that spouted all sorts of conspiracy theories and ridiculous myths about the H1N1 Vaccine.
Let me debunk and bury the four most common myths:
So far during this flu season, 65 children died in the US as a result of Swine Flu. And we're a few months from the peak flu season. That's not a risk that anyone should accept.
By Michael W Simpson
Let me debunk and bury the four most common myths:
- Myth–the vaccine will actually transmit the swine flu to you. This is patently untrue and is based on misinformation. The injectable vaccine contains inactivated viruses, in other words, dead. It causes an immune reaction, so that you are resistant to the disease. The nasal spray vaccine uses an attenuated virus, which is weakened so that it cannot reproduce and infect the recipient. The virus is developed to be able to survive in cold environments of the nose. When it enters the bloodstream, the heat of the body destroys the virus, but induces an immune response. Neither vaccine can cause the disease.
- Myth–the vaccine causes Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS). In 1976, during the previous swine flu mass vaccination, there appeared to be a 1 in 100,000 increased risk of developing GBS. About 500 individuals (above the normal background number) developed the disease, although the mechanism and cause is unknown. Vaccine production technology is significantly different today than it was in 1976. And the virus is different. Finally, from a purely statistical standpoint, the risk of being hit by lightning is about 1 in 79,000. Of course, preliminary data indicates that there were around 800 deaths out of 5.7 million Americans who contracted the H1N1 virus over the summer. That rate is about 14 out of 100,000 people. This is an easy one. The risk of GBS, which may or may not be related to vaccines, is 1 out of 100,000. The risk of dying if you get H1N1 is 14 out of 100,000.
- Myth–the thimerosal preservative will lead to autism in children. This myth has been thoroughly debunked. In fact, thimerosal is only used in multi-use vials to prevent bacterial contamination, which is critical to its safety. Single use vials or pre-filled syringes do not contain it. But the fact is, thimerosal preserved vaccines are safe. Period.
- Myth–the vaccine wasn't adequately tested. Flu vaccines have been produced by the same manufacturers for decades, and their procedures for bringing seasonal flu vaccines to patients has been well studied and regulated. In addition, the CDC and FDA closely monitor adverse reactions for vaccines, and they react quickly to any reports. The H1N1 vaccine is really no different than other seasonal vaccines, which have been administered for years with only minor reactions like a stuffy nose or a slight allergic reaction (common if you are allergic to eggs).
So far during this flu season, 65 children died in the US as a result of Swine Flu. And we're a few months from the peak flu season. That's not a risk that anyone should accept.
By Michael W Simpson