Swine Flu Vaccine

[oakranger]

A virus is not a living thing. It is a fragment of a living organism that interacts with/corrupts a living host cell.

It is a living thing.  It consist of RNA, capsid, envelope, Nucleic acid. 

[Die Hard]

To fit the most common definition of life it needs to have both DNA and RNA and a cell structure. They are generally considered self-assembling organic molecules.

[Stalwart]

There are at least eight sets of vaccines you are "forced" to take in Texas before you can enroll in public school.  So the idea of a forced vaccination is nothing new.

The media and political environment in America today however is something I've never experienced before.  I'm more skeptical of reports and announcements than I've ever been.

[oakranger]

To fit the most common definition of life it needs to have both DNA and RNA and a cell structure. They are generally considered self-assembling organic molecules.

Virus do not have both DNA and RNA. They have DNA or RNA.

[Die Hard]

Virus do not have both DNA and RNA. They have DNA or RNA.

Exactly, so a virus is not alive. It's a self-assembling organic molecule.

[Fishu]

How many of you get the shot and dont get symptoms but are carriers.

They only test for one strain of the virus to pass fda reg. YOU can get other live viruses in a vaccine.

The occasional symptoms related to vaccination doesn't mean you've contracted a virus in the sense, it means that your immune system thinks there's something more dangerous going on than your usual petty intruder. Quite likely the heightened reaction is due to the booster component of a flu vaccination, in order to get the immune system interested in the nonfunctional sample. Otherwise it's like trying to give a pill to a dog. The dog might simply ignore the pill unless it's coated in something that attracts attention (unless the dog is the type that eats everything that isn't solid and bolted to the ground). in the case of a flu vaccine the pill is an empty container which content's, the genetic material, was dissolved by chemicals. So no, it's not likely for you to get any functional virus from a flu vaccine, much less infect other people with it.

[eagl]

I will be "forced" to get the vaccine, but I'm in the military.

My wife and child got lucky and happened to have a doc appt on the same day an unannounced shipment of H1N1 flu vaccine showed up at the clinic.  They are both now vaccinated against the usual seasonal flu and H1N1, and it's a good thing since they're both in "at-risk" statistical groups.  She's pregnant and our kid is under 2 years old, both at risk for the flu complications with high fatality rates.

I'll get the shot as soon as it's offered on base.

[eagl]

stupid slow server and it's triple posts...

[eagl]

stupid slow server and its triple posts...

[eagl]

they can keep their crap, im not taking it

If you're in a risk demographic, you might want to reconsider.  The swine flu has a much higher fatality rate among groups of people who have not been hit hard by other flu variants.  Specifically, otherwise healthy young people are having severe complications requiring immediate hospitalization.  The other thing that is different about this one is that the symptom onset is very rapid, and made worse by the fact that if you're going to have the complications, they come on so fast that it's often too late to do anything about it by the time you get to the hospital.

The main effect that is killing people is breathing difficulties...  The lungs pretty much fill up and quit working, with death coming as rapidly as 3 days from the very first onset of symptoms.  From the first sniffle to hospitalization can be under 12 hours, and it can be "too late" less than 48 hrs after the first onset of symptoms.

Feel free to scoff the hysteria about the overall fatality rates, feel free to scoff at the hysterical media reporting, and feel free to express concern over the safety of the vaccine itself, but if you're in a risk group for this one then you're an idiot for not getting vaccinated.  The spread and onset rate of this one is unusually fast and if you're at risk of dying from it, by the time you change your mind it is going to be too late.  That's not hysteria, that's the facts regarding this flu strain.

[oakranger]

Exactly, so a virus is not alive. It's a self-assembling organic molecule.

It is alive. 

[Die Hard]

It is alive. 

Lol, if you say so...

[oakranger]

Lol, if you say so...

I did, twice.

[MiloMorai]

If you are having young children vaccinated make sure whoever is doing it uses the correct dose. This is 50% less than an adult dose.

[myelo]

If you are having young children vaccinated make sure whoever is doing it uses the correct dose. This is 50% less than an adult dose.

That's the case for only one vaccine, made by Sanofi. Children 6-35 months get 0.25 mL, 36 months and older, including adults get 0.5 mL. The Novartis vaccine and Medimmune nasal vaccine use the same dose in children and adults. The CSL vaccine is only labeled for adults. Children up to 9 years of age should get 2 doses, about 4 weeks apart.