H1N1 Vaccine Dangers and Dilemmas

By Amanda Pendolino on October 29th, 2009

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The vaccine for H1N1 is available around the country, but there’s not enough for everyone. ABC News reports that since President Obama declared that the H1N1 pandemic was a national emergency, people have come out in droves to get vaccinated–but they will be turned away if they’re not in a high risk group.

The groups most at risk for H1N1 include pregnant women, people who care for children under 6-months of age, health-care personnel, young people aged 6-months to 24-years and people aged 24-64 who have health conditions that make them more susceptible to influenza. “People who do not fall within the high risk groups will be turned away,” said Rosamond Rhodes, a professor of bioethics at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York.

However, some fear that rigorous screening could slow down busy clinics. “If in the effort to prevent a few people who shouldn’t be vaccinated from jumping to the front of the line, vaccine lines grind to a virtual halt, those who do need to be vaccinated might well just decide to stay home and take their chances,” said Dr. Robert Schooley, head of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of California, San Diego.

Heath officials are warning that it’s a big risk for pregnant women NOT to get vaccinated, though some women are concerned. According to Fox News, many women are concerned about Thimerosol, a component of some vaccines that contains mercury, blamed by vaccine opponents for causing Autism in children. Health professionals say this claim has not been proven through research.