As fears about the H1N1 flu virus spread Tri-State families are rushing to get children vaccinated. But some are saying not so fast.
Fears about side effects have some parents saying 'no way' to the vaccine. Some of those fears are seeded in the 1976 swine flu scare and subsequent mass inoculation to prevent the spread of the virus.
The vaccine is believed to have caused some to have serious side effects, including a rare paralyzing condition known as Guillain-Barre Syndrome. However, health officials assure the H1N1 vaccine is safe, saying it's made the same way as the seasonal flu vaccine.
Local 12's Jessica Donnellon talked to parents and health care workers about their reservations.
With shortages of the H1N1 vaccine, long lines are a common sight but this seven year old who chose to pay homage to the King of Pop for Halloween, won't be waiting for a swine flu vaccine shot. "I want to build up her immune system and also I was a little concerned how quickly it was manufactured and put on the market."
We caught up with Sharon and Macie Whiteside at West Chester Family Dental's Halloween party...and this dental hygienist says she's not the only one who's leery of letting her kid get the H1N1 vaccine. "I've been pleasantly surprised that a lot of people say no, for the same reasons."
Other healthcare professionals say they're staying away from this shot too. "I just didn't feel it was necessary for me."
Did you feel any pressure as someone in health care to get the vaccine? Yes, I was pressured at work. They told me if I got sick I would have to stay home. I was pressured but not forced."
"I choose not to because it's pretty new, how fast it came on the market."
Some local parents who are waiting in line to get H1N1 vaccine say they agree with those not getting the shot but for them they say the risk of getting swine flu outweighs the unknown with this. "Our daughter Kendra, we brought her up here to get the shot because she has asthma and our doctor advised it."
Did you have any apprehension about it at all? "I do, I still have a lot but the doctor says she wants it so we're gonna go ahead and get it and hope for the best."
Parents on both sides of the swine flu issue say beyond the debate over whether to get vaccinated, there is one benefit from all the talk about H1N1 this flu season, finally people seem to be taking the age old message about clean hands and good hygiene to heart. "There's so many germs out there anyway, I thought it was important for her to learn that also."
