Interesting discussion. Just found out that I am going to get the H1N1 shot. My employer is offering it for free once it becomes available in December or January. I've already signed up.

Since everyone at high risk can get them now, I don't think I'll be taking from a limited supply by getting a shot. Also, I like the idea that I won't be able to spread it, either.

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There is also a sizable portion of the population that would prefer not to inject foreign substances into their bodies when the potential benefits are uncertain. I don't think an attitude that people who refuse flu shots are ignorant is at all helpful in promoting the case for vaccination.

There is a gross propensity in the US for doctors to over-prescribe medication. Partly I think to placate whiny patients, but also because they just want to do everything to help. However, it's my firm belief, both through experiences as a patient and as a medical researcher, that the absolute minimum dosage (maybe none at all) be used to get the job done. When the chance of potential side effects is present, the choice to take a drug may not be an easy one. I personally know several people who have gotten very sick from getting flu shots. Until I am satisfied that the medical community gets better data on the harmful side effects from flu shots, I will not be getting one since I am not in an at-risk group.

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An interesting analysis of the (over)predicted flu deaths: http://thomaspmbarnett.com/weblog/2009/10/the_death-rate_prediction_isnt.html][/url]http://thomaspmbarnett.com/weblog/20...tion_isnt.html

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My wife is a nurse in one of the hospitals where I live, out of the last 7 deaths, atributed to N1H1, 7 have had pre-existing medical conditions. So are these actually deaths from the H1N1 or the pre-existing medical condition?

Are there figures available for the number of deaths from H1N1 without any pre-existing or underlying medical conditions?

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I'm certain that data is not being reported to the CDC and is not widely available. There's simply no way to process all that information. In any case 9/10 deaths are actually caused by pneumonia that results from damage to the lungs from H1N1, so the pre-existing conditions and/or the viral infections are only co-factors in the strictest sense.

I got infected with H1N1, probably two weeks ago from my dad.
I'm 26, have very mild asthma, and I've never been sick for longer than two days for the past six years. This H1N1 laid me out for a week and a half, but strangely doesn't affect middle aged people as bad.

I would have gotten the vaccine if it were available where I'm at in California.
Thanks to a lack of supply (and typical politician bureaucracy), even doctors have a hard time getting the vaccine.

If you have the option of getting the vaccine (especially if you're in your twenties-thirties), get it!

I've recovered for the most part, but it's the nastiest bug that's hit me in a very long time.

Let the numbers speak for themselves. Any Joe Schmoe can visit the CDC (Center for Disease Control) website, or the WHO (World Health Organization) website and do the math.

Last month, when the H1N1 death toll was just shy of 6000, I compared the H1N1 weekly death reports against previous "seasonal" flu strains. WHO predicts that the average flu kills between 250,000 and 500,000 people per year. At the current weekly fatality rate, the H1N1 is averaging about 750 deaths per week over 52 weeks, whereas the seasonal flu averages between 4500 and 9000 deaths per week over 52 weeks.

Either we haven't seen anything yet, or this whole BS with H1N1 is just a crock to boost GlaxoSmithKline profits. I'm voting for the more than obvious latter. If I recall correctly, at $23 per shot, if every person in the US alone were to be injected with the H1N1 vaccine, you'd be looking at approximately 8 billion dollars in revenue. Factor in the population of other developed countries and GSK will give Microsoft Windows 7 a run for its money this year.

At work, our insurance company arranged for a nurse to come in and offer the shot to everyone, BUT my doctor told me specifically not to take it, becuase I had been exposed to the 1957 Asian Flu (from the Boy Scount Jamboree in Valley Forge, Pa) when I was a kid.

Interesting, no? Anyone else (old like me) hear this or get this advice?

I got my vaccine but then my company make them...so I got it early and free.

No.

@%#& YOU, diseases. Bring it on.

I got mine a couple weeks ago...had a sore arm the night of after that seems all is good.

Just got mine - the live nasal spray - on Friday.

I just had one of my H1N1 infected friends puke on a syringe and then inject in straight in to my jugular. MMMMmm.. I feel SOOO good.

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LOL...I like your attitude Pop!

My whole family mosty likely had it already. 45% of the kids in my sons school were home from school because of it. It was actually on the news, which was weird. So we wont be getting it.

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That's pretty scary, I have bad asthma, and our University gives priority to people with asthma so I got it. I'm really glad I got it now, can't imagine what it would have done to me if that's what it did to you. Hope you recover fully and stay healthy.