Will you get Tamiflu?

[caravel]

The vaccine is actually untested and is similar to the one used in the US back in 1976 and the rare side affect is Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Despite being "rare" it managed to kill off more than the swine flu itself.

This pandemic is nothing more than big pharmaceuticals corporations making big money out of the fear and histeria generated. Four members of my extended family abroad have had this and none have been hospitalised and none have died. Those that get very sick or die usually have other health complications - the same goes with regular flu. You've more chance of being hit by a bus tomorrow so cheer up.

[drone]

Voted Gah! for old times sake, but I won't be getting Tamiflu or any flu jabs. I never do, and I never have any problems. Ever since I was young, I try to avoid taking medication if at all possible, and I think my immune system is better for it. Just say no to the medical-industrial complex!

[lars573]

^And that is why I've never goten a flu vaccine. Althoug this year my sister did, but she has a baby. Sick babies are not cool.

[Ronin]

I never take flu shots (nobody over here does unless you are a senior or seriously ill to begin with)...haven´t caught a flu in something like 10 years.

I´m not going to start now over something that seems more like media hype than anything else, yes the disease is out there, so far it has shown itself to not be a serious problem for healthy people...I´m not sweating it.

[Centurion1]

I never get sick. Never. Unfortunately that means i have had perfect attendance since kindergarten. Never had the flu and i doubt this could kill me unless i got the most serious strand. i am young and in shape so why worry about it.

[Fragony]

I never get sick. Never. Unfortunately that means i have had perfect attendance since kindergarten. Never had the flu and i doubt this could kill me unless i got the most serious strand. i am young and in shape so why worry about it.

You have the biggest risk of becomming sick then, congrats

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

The vaccine is actually untested and is similar to the one used in the US back in 1976 and the rare side affect is Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Despite being "rare" it managed to kill off more than the swine flu itself.

This pandemic is nothing more than big pharmaceuticals corporations making big money out of the fear and histeria generated. Four members of my extended family abroad have had this and none have been hospitalised and none have died. Those that get very sick or die usually have other health complications - the same goes with regular flu. You've more chance of being hit by a bus tomorrow so cheer up.

Ok, but you have a problem here: How many more people would have died if not for the vaccine in 1976? It's difficult to know, isn't it? One would have to go back to 1918.

The fact is, 'flu probably won't kill you as long as you can be treated. However, mass-infection might strain hospitals beyond capacity. At that point the potenial for fatalities rises sharply.

[caravel]

Ok, but you have a problem here: How many more people would have died if not for the vaccine in 1976? It's difficult to know, isn't it? One would have to go back to 1918.

A valid point, but looking at the present stats for the UK: http://www.nhs.uk/news/2009/04April/...flulatest.aspx

It seems to me that the NHS stats are based on "flu" like illnesses and that these are being lumped into the main swine flu category? (with all of the misdiagnosis going on over here, it's hardly surprising)

Of cases reported (well over 100,000) and of the hundreds hospitalised, only 49 have died so far. UK winter mortality rates for last year (those dying of colds, flus and flue related illnesses) numbered in the tens of thousands according to national statistics. Are these deaths then simply part of the normal statistics? If these individuals had not contracted swine flu, would they then have suffered the same fate with regular seasonal flu anyway?

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

A valid point, but looking at the present stats for the UK: http://www.nhs.uk/news/2009/04April/...flulatest.aspx

It seems to me that the NHS stats are based on "flu" like illnesses and that these are being lumped into the main swine flu category? (with all of the misdiagnosis going on over here, it's hardly surprising)

Of cases reported (well over 100,000) and of the hundreds hospitalised, only 49 have died so far. UK winter mortality rates for last year (those dying of colds, flus and flue related illnesses) numbered in the tens of thousands according to national statistics.

Well, it's fairly balmy here right now, not winter. Bear in mind, it is usually the old and mal-nourished that die; this outbreak has hit the young and middle-class. Against that backdrop 49 is significant.

[caravel]

Well, it's fairly balmy here right now, not winter. Bear in mind, it is usually the old and mal-nourished that die; this outbreak has hit the young and middle-class. Against that backdrop 49 is significant.

In the past yes, not in modern times though. It's the elderly the very young and those that have underlying health problems that are the most vulnerable. Irrespective of class. The same goes for seasonal flu.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

In the past yes, not in modern times though. It's the elderly the very young and those that have underlying health problems that are the most vulnerable. Irrespective of class. The same goes for seasonal flu.

Except the deaths have not been among the very old, very young and very infirm.

Pregnant mothers and older children with Asthma are also seriously affected, as are others.

I'm not saying this is the end of the world, but winter has yet to arrive, and it will not be until December that we will know how this disease will spread compared to "regular" flu.

[Centurion1]

No one really builds up a resistance to the flu virus. It is really to do with exposure and certain physical conditions. I was just reading an article that said people with astham have a greater chance of contracting swine flu. any orgahs should get the vaccine, please.

Like it has been said the ones who really need the vaccine are the old, sick, and very young. Much like a ship sinking, the women and children first.

[caravel]

Except the deaths have not been among the very old, very young and very infirm.

Pregnant mothers and older children with Asthma are also seriously affected, as are others.

I'm not saying this is the end of the world, but winter has yet to arrive, and it will not be until December that we will know how this disease will spread compared to "regular" flu.

...those that have underlying health problems that are the most vulnerable. Irrespective of class. The same goes for seasonal flu.

I suppose pregnancy is not an "underlying health problem", but a pregnant women and her unborn child are still very vulnerable to illness. Asthma would count as a serious underlying health problem. A person can die from an asthma attack whether they get flu or not.

[Motep]

No, I dont think I will. I dont really think I need to worry about it. If I die of the swine flu, then I made one hell of a mistake, but if I dont, than I shall ... well, continue living.

[Husar]

I'd probably contract swine flu while sitting in the waiting room among 14 seriously ill, coughing people waiting for my vaccine shot...

[LittleGrizzly]

Wouldn't you be slightly more at risk if you hardly ever get flu ?

Whereas Grizzy suffers flu at least about 4 times a year... so my immune system is trained and prepared for the situation!

If some mass vacination program starts I wouldn't avoid it, but as it is atm i wouldn't get tamiflu


If i had swineflu I probably would have tamiflu aslong as there were plenty of supplies of it... I wouldn't want to take a young kid or old person's tamiflu instead of them...

[lars573]

Ok, but you have a problem here: How many more people would have died if not for the vaccine in 1976? It's difficult to know, isn't it? One would have to go back to 1918.

And I think you'll find WW1 had more to do with the death rate for Spainish flu. Rather than how deadly it was.