“Weighing The Risks Vs. The Benefits Of Flu Shots” |
| Weighing The Risks Vs. The Benefits Of Flu Shots Posted: 17 Oct 2010 02:23 PM PDT What we're excited about this week: the DVD release of "How To Train Your Dragon." What we're dreading this week: flu shots. Growing up, I always received the vaccination. So I put my boys through the torture, too. But as a parent, I've noticed that the flu-shot debate is a passionate topic for many moms. There is a lot of nervousness about the vaccine's effects. But many experts say the small risk is worth the reward. "The vaccine is much safer than the flu," says Dr. David Katz, director and founder of Yale University's Prevention Research Center. According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health, 36,000 people in the United States die each year from flu complications. Senior citizens, young children and people suffering from health conditions are the most susceptible. Allergic reactions, including hives and anaphylaxis, are rare and most likely to show up in people with severe allergies to eggs. We need to think about the big picture, Katz says: "We're all in this together. It's partly about protecting ourselves so we don't transmit it to someone else," such as a grandparent or young sibling. Katz, a father of five, thinks suspicion about the shot is unfounded. "We are privileged to live in a society that is mostly spared of the plagues of the past, which vaccines eliminated for us," says Katz, citing polio and mumps as examples, and he advises anxious parents to watch out for the blogosphere when searching for facts about the flu: "Consider the sources and their legitimacy." And, have an open mind and look at both sides: "There is some risk, but doing nothing has risks, too. So do your homework." With the threat of H1N1, the flu-shot situation was a nightmare last year. There was the regular vaccine, then two doses of the special serum that was administered at crowded clinics. This year, though, one visit to the pediatrician covers the whole enchilada. Nevertheless, getting shots is no fun. I'd much rather be watching a flying dragon. >>To contribute your own adventures in motherhood, or to read more from Fox CT reporter Sarah Cody and freelancer Teresa Pelham, go to http://www.ctnow.com/mommyminute. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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