Don't vaccinate? You could be putting everyone at risk

Young military man receives vaccination for the flu

While the flu epidemic in the 2014 - 15 season spreads across the country, there are those individuals who are against vaccines of any kind, worried that they either do not work or cause death or disabilities.  But what happens when the flu strikes areas and individuals who have immune systems compromised by other conditions and how do some media reports influence how people behave in the era of modern medicine and its treatments?

The flu epidemic was reported by CNN to have continued its march across the country, taking with it the lives of 21 children, six in the past week.

Officials concerned about health challenges during government shutdown

[caption id="attachment_20621" align="alignleft" width="300"] IRG activation following pathogen entry[/caption]

Gordon Matilla---Officials are concerned about public health safety during the government shutdown, with the CDC emasculated and programs and services withdrawn for lack of money.  The public health, given the potential of any kind of germ warfare or just the diseases that can make their way around the world, are of particular significance; and without watchful eyes, health issues could be significantly impacted. And as pilgrims return from the Hajj, the pilgrimage to the sacred shrines, officials are concerned about infectious diseases, without sufficient health personnel to intervene in the event of an emergency.  Still the flu season itself brings challenges to health officials who worry about not having sufficient personnel on hand to manage problems this season. Blumenstock, of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, is particularly concerned, mentioning they are significant flu-related functions the CDC cannot currently perform because of the government shutdown.  He said, " “Depending on how bad flu season turns out to be, that could provide increased risk of illness or death if CDC doesn’t get back in business.” At the same time the American Public Health Association has voiced concern about a salmonella outbreak.   In a recent press release the organization observes:

“Diseases do not respect government shutdowns. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had to recall 30 furloughed workers this week to help handle the multi-state outbreak. While I applaud the agency’s decision and quick response, these key staff will now be playing catch-up thanks to the government shutdown.” “In response to the shutdown, the U.S. House of Representatives continues the folly of a piecemeal approach to funding the government. Last week they approved funding for the National Institutes of Health. This week they approved funding for the Food and Drug Administration. Yet they haven’t approved funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, our leading public health agency. Nor have they approved funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is central to the disease investigation."

Public refusal to take flu vaccinations worries health experts, fuels pandemic concerns

Carol Forsloff — According to January 10, 2012 reports, approximately 91 percent of the types of flu viruses are ones included in the currently available flu vaccine. The H1N1, or swine flu virus, that has been an ongoing concern since it was identified several years ago, is one of those types presently circulating. Yet, in spite of widespread publicity on television, newspapers, radio, and the Internet, many people refuse to accept the vaccine or the evidence of its protection, fueling pandemic concerns.

Around the country the flu outbreak is reported to be increasing and in some cases to be deadly. Boston, for example, refers to the flu season this year as a public emergency. But if it is an emergency, then why are there people who refuse the vaccine?

In 2009, a research survey found that 60% of Americans refuse to take the flu vaccination. This number reflects specifically the refusal to take the vaccine for the H1N1 flu virus. Reasons given include safety concerns, belief the vaccine won't work, or that there are side effects that can be troublesome. The percentage of those refusing the vaccine in the United States was reflected in the numbers found to refuse it in other parts of the world.

Ethel Hoover, a former nurse for IU Health Hospital Goshen, was recently terminated because of her refusal to take the vaccination, as she cited some of the reasons listed for that refusal. On the other hand, Elaine Cox, Director of Infection Prevention at Riley Hospital for Children, an IU Health Hospital, recommends the vaccine for health workers, saying, “If you go patient to patient, you can be the vector of which the flu is spread,” Cox said. “We get them the flu shot so they won’t unwillingly spread it to patients.” She also recommends college students get vaccinated since the flu symptoms are usually not noticed until three to five days of exposure.

Morbidity rates among young people were especially higher among young people during the outbreak of the swine flu virus in 2009.  By late 2009, 30,000 people had died worldwide.

But despite the entreaties from health care management, people continue to refuse vaccination for the flu. This is in spite of entreaties from national and international organizations and a history of influenza in the recent past that reveals the millions of people that died during epidemics, such as the one in 1918. More recent estimates by researchers indicate global mortality from the 1918-1919 pandemic at anywhere between 30 and 50 million. estimated 675,000 Americans were among that number. Life expectancy in the United States during those years was 20 - 25 years less than it is today, with part of the reason cited as the influenza virus and other diseases for which modern medicine has found prevention.

Some experts maintain vaccinations are being used to control the population, directed at infecting otherwise healthy individuals. An article on this publication presents an interview with one such "expert, "Dr. Rebecca Carley. " I say there is no such thing as a safe vaccine" and goes on the downplay the news information on vaccines such as those for polio viruses, although she has made a generalized statement about all vaccines and their risks. Dr. Carley, however, lost her license to practice, but is the kind of medical expert sometimes cited as an authority by those who retain fears of vaccine risks.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends vaccination, especially seniors and children, but also for for  the general population. The Agency maintains that some people can still get the flu even if vaccinated because of age and health factors related to given individuals,  because they were vaccinated after having been exposed to the flu virus, or because they have that small percentage of viruses not covered by the vaccine.

"It’s important that health care providers and the public remember that influenza antiviral medications are a second line of defense against influenza. CDC has recommendations on the use of these medications (sold commercially as “Tamiflu®” and “Relenza®”) to treat influenza illness." The CDC further states that " Influenza vaccination is not a perfect tool, but it is the best tool currently at our disposal to prevent influenza."