The H1N1 Vaccine Dilemma

26 October 2009By Zhu 21 Comments

H1N1 Shot The news is out: as of today, October 26th, the H1N1 flu vaccine is available in Canada.

A primary group should get the flu vaccine as soon as possible: people under 65 with chronic health conditions; pregnant women; children 6 months to less than 5 years of age; people living in remote communities; health care workers involved in pandemic response or the delivery of essential health care services; and populations otherwise identified as high risk. As for the rest of Canadians, it will be up to them to show up at their local vaccination clinic.

So, should we get vaccinated? I’m wondering. I don’t believe in massive conspiracy theories but yet, as your average Canadian, I can’t help being confused by all the mixed information we have been getting so far.

First, is the vaccine safe? The WHO is bracing for a second wave of H1N1 outbreak this winter. As a result, some suggested that the production of the swine flu vaccine have been fast-tracked and haven’t been fully tested. I do believe the Ministry of Health Canada has pretty high health security standards and I can’t imagine it bowing to political pressure, so this is not what bugs me the most. However, I am concerned about the vaccine side-effects. For example, I’m allergic to quite a few medicines, including some antibiotics and even anaesthetics. Is the vaccine safe for me? Would the benefits of immunization outweigh the risks?

One of the problems is that in Canada, we are facing a severe shortage of health practitioners. Like most Canadians, I don’t have a general practitioner. When I’m sick and when I need it, I just go to the walk-in clinic. While the care provided is usually good, most patients see a different doctor each time — basically, whoever is on duty — and consultations are often a bit rushed. Therefore, we lack health care practitioners who know our health history and could discuss with us the benefits and the risks of the vaccine. And I’m sure getting a professional’s opinion on the vaccine would really help to debunk some myths and make people more comfortable with their choice.

Yet, it is true that getting vaccinated is a public health issue, not just a personal one. Some people cannot get the vaccine (infants, for instance), so it’s up to us to protect them. The more people immunized, the less are the chance of worsening the pandemic. So, are we just being selfish?

Generally speaking, I am being more careful. I wash my hands often and more than once, I shot other passengers in the bus dirty looks because they were coughing on me. I use the hand sanitizers made available in most public buildings. I try to have a balanced and healthy diet, to rest — basic common sense, with turning paranoid.

One major issue that worries me is the lack of social welfare in North America and our labor laws. Officials are urging people to stay home when they are sick to avoid spreading the infection. However, a lot of people don’t get sick days. In Canada, for example, those who work for employers that regularly employ at least 50 employees are entitled to personal emergency leave, which is basically unpaid, job-protected leave of up to 10 days each year. Most casual or contract workers don’t even get that. And a huge chunk of the working population don’t get paid sick days. For example, when I was teaching, we had 2.5 paid sick days a year! Unless you work in the public sector or for major companies, you are unlikely to get good social benefits.

The effects of this kind of social policy could be disastrous. How many times did I see co-workers coming in sick before they didn’t have any more sick days and couldn’t afford to lose a few days’ wage? How many times did I show up at work myself, instead of resting at home, just because I didn’t want to lose a day worth of salary? How many times did I drag a cold for weeks because I hadn’t taken the time off to rest and to get rid of it?

It seems to me that if governments are serious about curbing the pandemic, various Employment Acts throughout the country should be updated to guarantee all workers some kind of paid sick leave.

So, how about you? Are you going to get vaccinated? Why and why not?

21 Comments »

shionge said:

Hiya Zhu, my company is also arranging for free vaccine next week and like you skeptical and still concern about the side effects really. Like you mentioned, we take good care of ourselves, eat healthy, enough rest & good hygiene I am not sure if it is really necessary to go for the shot.

I know what you mean by going to work when one is sick and yes, 2.5 days sick leave out of 365 days in a year is pathetically low and I hope the employment act would look into this.

I have 14 days of medical leave and as I exercises regularly, I have a clean record of not taking at all. Still, for my shift members, sometimes 14 days are not enough for them too in view of the working hours & shift patterns.

# 18 November 2009 at 8:06 pm

Priyank said:

Hi Zhu,

I am NOT going to get the flu shot because I am too egoist to do that. Its true that 25 years living in India makes me more resistant to viruses, but not H1N1 – its a truly “international” virus. Plus you mentioned the unknown sideeffects problem. Oh and after 3 years, I might finally be getting a GP, just because my partner has one and we are going to try to add me too, lets see!
cheers
Priyank´s last blog ..Linguistic delights of Toronto

# 12 November 2009 at 10:57 pm

Zhu (author) said:

@Cello Lynx – I’m actually surprised to hear that other provinces are doing better in terms of health care access — I thought it was the same everywhere! I know Québec is even worse though, but it doesn’t make Ontario any better.

I have little experience with the health care system here (touch wood). Walk in clinic were fine the two times I went there. My immediate concerns were taken care of, but there was no follow-up whatsoever and yes, it was very rush. Great for a quick fix… no so great if you have more serious issues, which I’m lucky I don’t have.

@Shantanu – I heard of a similar panic in Ukraine lately… no wonder, considering all the buzz around H1N1.

@Seb – And I don’t think anybody know right now!

@CK – I’m pretty pissed off at the way the whole H1N1 issue is handled, you are right. First, the federal government is scaring people, then it tries to say it didn’t, meanwhile little is done to actually get people vaccinated which was supposed to be the primary goal. Stupid.

I won’t get vaccinated because: 1) apparently there is such a mess in clinics that we won’t be vaccinated before Xmas, basically after the peak of the flue season 2) I’m not sure which kind of side effects could the vaccine have on me given my health history and I have nobody to talk to about it.

So I’m being cautious, washing hands etc but no vaccine for me, thanks.

@Deadpoolite – Thank you for your comment! You know what, you should hold a press conference, this is one of the most comprehensive and logical thing I have heard lately!

As I was saying, I decided not to get vaccinated for the reasons mentioned above. While I don’t believe in a vaccine conspiracy, I can’t be assured that I will handle any side effects well given my health history and I don’t see the point in taking the risk. H1N1 is not the ebola virus.

@Angela – I’m glad to hear that it went well for you. And it makes sense to me that you need the vaccine given that you are pregnant and “high risk”.

I don’t think the vaccine is that bad. I just don’t want to risk any side effect for me, and I have no GP to talk to about them. This is my main concern.

@Max Coutinho – I have never gotten the regular flu shot either, come to think of it.

Unfortunately, sick leave is a big issue here… but for students, who, at my university, can just fill up a form saying they were sick and missed classes/ exams for that reason!