Now this article actually, for once, had a numeric comparison that I can understand and take into real consideration. There have been 76 pediatric deaths in the United States from H1N1 as of this point in the year. Each of the past three years has seen from 46 – 88 pediatric deaths from seasonal influenza, the entire year. So this year the mortality rates for the H1N1 virus alone has reached seasonal flu levels. And we still have months left in the flu season. And it appears that the numbers are of course, coming in more rapidly now that flu season is really gearing up.
Between this and the study that showed that young women are seemingly more susceptible to the more severe complications of H1N1, my own personal thoughts are definitely wavering towards getting the family inoculated this year. We still won’t be getting the seasonal flu vaccination as nothing has changed there, we still aren’t considered at risk because of underlying health conditions or age category really.
I was wavering on getting the vaccine for my children until I talked to my brother, who is a health care worker. He is of the opinion that this flu is going to take a terrible toll on children/teens/young adults (under 25). The reason he believes this is he can access parts of the CDC website (at work) apparently not available to the public. After speaking to him, I can't get my children vaccinated quickly enough!!