The scare of the H1N1 Influenza, also known as the “swine flu,” took on the globe as it swept across many countries leaving them feeling very under the weather. The H1N1 illness is jumping to more people every day and is more commonly attacking our generation.
H1N1 vaccines are now becoming the new hottest trend. The public is not messing around with this flu any longer. “This shot is important to help prevent further out breaks of disease and shorten the life span of the flu virus, and curtail further absences in school,” said Ms. Shakespeare. While the H1N1 mists are being given out to local residents around the country, the actual shot has not been given to many people. With hopes to have the vaccine sites up and running this October, shots are being prepared at top speed. Shipments of the H1N1 vaccine will hopefully be shipped out sometime this month to the sites the vaccines will be given out. “All you do for the mist is breath. The doctors stick a little bottle, like nasal spray, up your nose and right when they squirt the mist you breath in,” said sophomore Tricia Counihan. However, not everyone wants to get this vaccine.
Doctors are hoping that more than half of the United States population rushes to receive the vaccine over the period of the month. “Mass vaccinations are going to be given out in several middle school around the county very soon,” Ms. Shakespeare said. Conversely, the H1N1 vaccine is not expected to protect against the regular flu that comes at about this time. Many patients are worried how the two shots will react together, but doctors aren’t quit sure yet hoping there will be no side effects to the mix.
According to the Center for Disease Care and Prevention, people who are mostly targeted to get this vaccine right when it becomes fully available vary from pregnant woman to 25-year-olds. “I’m getting the shot so there is a smaller risk of me getting sick,” said sophomore Kunny Kou. The group includes, any persons who have children or work with young infants, healthcare and emergency medical personnel, infants older than 6 months, and people ages 25 through 64 who are at higher risk of obtaining this illness due to health and medical issues. Regardless of whether or not one falls into one of these categories, everyone should be receiving the vaccination. “Everyone should absolutely get this shot. It’s a new virus and our systems are not as immune to it,” Miss. Shakespeare stated. The last thing this world needs is another Black Plague. We all need to take this influenza seriously, and do the best we can to prevent it.
The FDA has approved that persons 10 years of age or older are only required to get the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine once. “After the shot I’m worried about irritation at the shot hole,” said junior A.J. Neazarei. Nevertheless, this flu shot is recommended to be given in two doses to children younger than 9. It will be given in just a short time period of 4 months, but if the children come within 21 days after the first shot the second she will still be considered valid. Still, this shot, along with the normal flu shot, is not for infants of 6 months or younger. Their bodies are still too small to handle such a dosage of vaccines.
Protecting yourself from this illness, along with receiving the shot, is a good way to keep it under control. If steps are not taken to stay healthy and clean, then the shot will not work as well. In order to protect ones self the best they can, one must wash their hands before eating and after sneezing or coughing, avoid ill people, and avoid touching the nose and mouth. This vaccine can only help people so far, we have to choose to stay healthy to protect our bodies and immune systems completely.
