Don't be stupid, get vaccinated

I find myself thinking this over and over again when I hear about people, including those in "high risk" groups, who tell me they aren't sure if they are going to get vaccinated against H1N1.
It's harsh, I know, and I had to come out and say it out loud (in print) because I don't say it out loud to anyone, as I try and be supportive of other people's decision making. But last night I received an email from a friend with more anti-vaccine BS that I had to debunk (it fell on deaf ears, does no one believe in SCIENCE anymore? Why would you believe your friend who heard it from a friend before SCIENCE?), and I realized I may have had enough. No more Ms Nice Guy. Just call me ProVaccine Woman.
WHY?
Hear's why (and maybe since someone reads this, they too will vaccineated because I said so. SHEESH. Instead of actually looking into it for yourself!).

- In Canada and the US, 2-5% of confirmed H1N1 cases have caused hospitalization (according to the WHO). Since August 30, 2009, about 4% of confirmed H1N1 cases have resulted in hospitalization in Canada.
- There have been 17 deaths in Canada during this period (92 since the beginning of the pandemic), which is about 0.3% of those infected. Four of the 92 deaths reported were children under the age of 16.
- Since the beginning of the pandemic, about 60% of those hospitilized had underlying health conditions, 26% were pregnant and 80% of those who died also had underlying conditions.
 - The risk from having an adverse reaction to the H1N1 vaccine is 1 in 1 million.
- The current risk in Canada of dying from H1N1 is 3 in 1 million**, 3 times as high as any possible vaccine risk. (But our flu season isn't over. In Australia, the risk of death was 8 per 1 million people).
- The risk of hospitalization is much higher at 52 per 1 million people.

Primary Reference here.

It isn't just about you. One study estimated that vaccinating up to 70% of the population would limit an epidemic of H1N1. What does that mean? It means that because you got the vaccine you are not going to be passing to flu on to someone who might die from it. Such as your pregnant friend who didn't get vaccinated. Or your relative with diabetes. And you lessen the burden on the health system!


The bottom line as I see it: The risk of severe complications and death is not high, but it is a preventable risk. As one blogger pointed out, the risk of death from a car accident is higher than the risk of death from H1N1 (you will see I don't agree with his math because our flu season has only started). However I say this: You wear your seatbelt EVERY TIME you get in the car, a vaccination is like a seat belt since it reduces your risk of death.

Go ahead my small section of readers. Take me to task. But I am getting my son vaccinated as soon as possible. I don't see it as a worthy risk to take to not to.


** Calculated as: 92 deaths / Population of Canada 33,832,410 / 1 million