What to do about The Flu?

What to do, what to do?

Like many parents, I'm struggling with the flu vaccine question. Do I get Sonwun and Sontoo the shots or just let them deal with the possibility of the flu, and, possibly the H1N1 variety?

There is so much conflicting information out there right now. What's a dad to do?

Some of the medical experts say that if you get the regular seasonal flu shot, you increase your risk of getting H1N1. Some say the H1N1 vaccine is new and unproven and wonder whether it's worth risking potential side effects, immediately and down the road.

The Canadian government, it seems, is encouraging folks to get vaccinated, specifically those in high-risk areas (like Thompson, Manitoba), children ages six months through five years (like Sonwun and Sontoo) and those with chronic medical issues, such as Type 2 diabetes (like myself).

That being said, I read things in news stories, such as:

" . . . research and data so far show that the H1N1 vaccine's side-effect profile has been good and that it has undergone rigorous testing to ensure it is safe."

I need to know what "good" means in that context. I only know it does not mean "excellent" or "perfect" or even "very good." So what exactly qualifies as "good?"

A press release from the Manitoba government offered the following:

"Health Canada has assessed available data on the safety, quality and effectiveness of the H1N1 vaccine and concluded the benefit-to-risk profile is favourable for active immunization against the H1N1 in an officially declared pandemic situation."

And again, the wording scares me. "The benefit-to-risk profile is favourable . . . in an officially declared pandemic situation."

Wording has always interested me. And the wording here is certainly interesting. Favourable is a weak and scary word. And the qualifier, "in an officially declared pandemic situation," is also making me nervous

Does this mean that if we were in an unofficially, possible pandemic situation the benefit-to-risk profile would remain favourable, or would it be unfavourable? Or would there be a weaker word attached, such as "reasonable" or "within acceptable limits?"

I don't think I ever had a flu vaccination as a child. If I got sick, I went to bed, puked, suffered through the fever and aches and BUILT MY IMMUNE SYSTEM the natural way. Isn't that important too?

Now that being said, I certainly do not want to risk serious, deadly illness for my children. And even that's up for debate. I've read articles and reports about children getting this flu, suffering as I did as a child (a couple of days of discomfort) and coming out the other side just dandy, and, with a naturally upgraded immune system.

Just for giggles, I did an informal poll on the Dadstayshome.com website to see what my fellow SAHDs planned to do. That started a spirited debate on the risk vs. benefit angle. But, in the end, the poll came back showing that, of the 29 voters, four are getting the seasonal flu shot only, no one is opting for H1N1 only, 17 will get both and eight are avoiding flu shots entirely.

And during the spirited debate, many of my questions were reiterated but not definitively answered. Just more questions.

I also emailed my family members in the health care profession for opinions. But I haven't heard back from them yet.

So, I'm left with the following:

1. H1N1 has killed people this year. (Generally the very young, very old and those with compromised immune systems).

2. The common flu has killed people every year. (Generally the very young, very old and those with compromised immune systems).

3. There have been adverse reactions to swine flu vaccines. And while the numbers are small, the reaction has been big. Specifically, following the 1976 mass immunizations for swine flu, there was an increase in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) among those vaccinated. It is a rare, paralyzing, lethal neurological disease and no one has yet figured out the connection between the vaccine and GBS. And, based on what I've read so far, the chances of getting it from the vaccine appear to be about 1 in 100,000.

4. The H1N1 vaccine is still relatively new. While short-term side-effects may partially be known, the long-term effects remain a mystery.

5. I have had and survived the common flu many times, as a child and as an adult.

6. I have never had H1N1 flu, and neither have my children.

7. This all means I'm really no further ahead in my decision. Is the risk of the H1N1 vaccine greater or lesser than the risk of the flu itself?

I wish, dear readers, that I had some kind of definitive answer here. Not for you, of course, but for myself. Vaccination clinics are expected to get under way here in Thompson next week. That give me three days or so to make up my mind.

Right now, I'm sitting squarely on the fence and it's just not a comfortable position.

I feel that if I could get just one question answered HONESTLY, I could make my decision.

I've heard from the politicians, I've read as many news reports as I could find, I've heard from my buddies, I've heard from the lady in the tinfoil hat on the corner of Westwood and Arctic Streets and I've heard from doctors who don't actually study the vaccine, but rely on information from the drug manufacturers, in this case, for Canada, GlaxoSmithKline.

But the question I need answered is this: Are all of the scientists, the lab rats, the ones who designed, tested and are profiting from this vaccine, (the good folks at GlaxoSmithKline, who have ALL available data in front of them) are they giving this vaccine, without reservation, to their children under 5?

An absolutely honest answer to that question will go a long way in helping me make my decision. And I just don't think I'll get it.