To Vaccinate or Not -- That is the Question! *UPDATED*

As strongly suggested by my Heart Transplant Clinic, I get a regular flu shot every fall.

This year with the new H1N1 vaccine, things are more complicated as it's so new and appears to be an unknown vaccination in terms of people with organ transplants.

Every province in Canada is doing things differently in the order in which the regular and H1N1 vaccines are offered to the public and the order in which they are given.

I have read and heard in places that the H1N1 vaccine should be given BEFORE the regular flu shot . . . preferably leaving about 2 weeks between, otherwise problems may arise.

Quoted just the other day in our local newspaper, the chief public health officer, said "health officials are expecting the H1N1 influenza A virus, which caused the current swine flu pandemic, to be the dominant flu virus this fall.

That means the seasonal flu vaccine will be LESS IMPORTANT for people who are younger than 65 and not in a long-term care facility.
 

The government will begin seasonal flu vaccinations for seniors first and swine flu vaccinations for the rest of the population in early November. It expects to shift back to seasonal flu immunization in early January.
Other parts of Canada have adopted similar vaccination protocols this fall, partly in response to preliminary results of Canadian research that suggest the seasonal flu shot may put people at GREATER RISK for getting swine flu."

As you can sense from this posting, I am confused and unsure of what to do . . . I just sent off an email requesting more information and guidance from my Heart Transplant Clinic nurse and hope to hear from her in a couple of days.

Does anyone else have any experience with any of this?

After creating this post, I came across the following online by a US medical doctor and include it here for consideraton ~

"Dear Editor,

As a practicing physician of 29 years, I am encouraging people to not be scared or browbeaten into getting the new swine flu vaccine that is becoming available.

Clinical trials of safety and effectiveness started in August 2009. In the first place, so far the swine flu has not been nearly as deadly as the usual seasonal influenza A and B.

Secondly, the vaccine has no proof of safety based on the minimal studies done so far.

Thirdly, the vaccine has thimerosal, a mercury preservative that is toxic to all humans.

Fourth, the vaccine has an adjuvant [squalene] added that not only has not been approved by the FDA, but has substantial concerns that it triggers autoimmune disease. An adjuvant is added to vaccines to boost the immune response of the human who receives the vaccine.

There are a number of ways to help boost the immune system to help prevent infection or lessen the severity of ones that do occur. I advise researching more on the swine flu vaccine before you commit yourself or your loved ones to the irrevocable step of being injected by a potentially dangerous vaccine.

In medicine, risk and benefit should always be considered before undertaking a course of action. My opinion is that the risks far outweigh the benefits of this vaccine.

Daniel Blodgett, MD

UPDATE 

I received an email this morning from the Transplant Clinic and they contacted another province's clinic as well as one of the special transplant pharmacists who emphasized that there is NO MORE mercury in the H1N1 vaccine than in a small can of tuna ~ which I happily eat and has been a favourite for years!

I've inclued a link to the Canadian government special FLU SITE because it gives all sorts of helpful and current information regarding the H1N1 vaccine and helped me make an informed decision. [it might be of help to those in other countries as well, even if just for more information]

I AM going to get this vaccine but am going to WAIT 2 WEEKS to receive the seasonal flu shot because of things I've read and simply because it makes more sense to NOT barrage my immune system which is compromised by all my transplant meds, with 2 ANTIGENS at the same time, whether or not they give them in different arms!!

Thanks to everyone who shared their concerns and their help in my dilemna :o)