H1N1 Immunizations Recalled
Posted: Tuesday, December 15, 2009
by Abigail Richards
I guess we should have expected it, with the rush and all to get the vaccine out to prevent swine flu. I had just hoped it would not come true.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced the recalling of 800,000 vaccines intended for children. The good news is that the recall is not being made because of a life threatening side effect.
The doses are pre-filled syringes intended for young children, ages 6 months to almost three years.
Health officials say it's not clear how many doses have already been given, but they don't think children need to be re-vaccinated. The lots passed potency tests when they were first shipped, but tests indicate the potency waned after.
In our own family, we have not been vaccinated despite new reports that one in six Americans have contracted the swine flu. Our school district offered free shots to all students. After much consideration, our family decided that we would not chance the side effects of the vaccine in the end.
To us, this vaccine was made too fast and tested too little. This recall seems to verify that. These drug companies tend to make a lot of money off of these vaccines and I think they are not held accountable to the effects of the vaccines.
For example, Bloomberg.com reports that this company who had the recall has made millions off of the vaccine. “Sanofi’s vaccine sales totaled 1.05 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in the third quarter, including 78 million euros from H1N1 influenza shots," the site said. “In October, the Paris-based company forecast that sales of H1N1 vaccine would surge to about $500 million in the fourth quarter."
Our family will continue to say no to the vaccine and take our chances with the illness. It just does not seem that much research and knowledge is going into the process. I mean take my son's school. They are lining kids up and giving them the shot. How well do the school nurses really know the kid's health histories.
I feel for all of these babies who already received the above recalled vaccine. Will they have to redo it? Can they get the right dose with already one dose in them? I think someone needs to be accountable to the people who already have taken the shots.
Early reports say that those kids will not need be re-vaccinated, but then why the recall to begin with. I caution you to do all the research before sticking your children. Especially if your child already is allergic to eggs, stay away from the vaccine.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)It's a tough call to make Abagail. I am glad my children are now 19 and 21, I forwarded them all the information I had on H1N1 and told them to read everything they could, talk with their doctor and make their own decision whether to get it or not. I guess time will tell what the best decision would have been.
Scary news. the first swine flu problems way back more died from the vaccine than the flu... hopefully they have learned much since then. Your RN here is quite vaccine shy - only one I have had lately is updating my tetnus booster and the Shingles Vax. Marijo
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