Are 'Swine Flu Parties' Safe?

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This is for Leah of PA
Darlin, you better be scared of getting H1N1..and your statement, "Not everyone dies from it". I pity you if you do get H1N1, cause you will wish you were dead, it's the most sick, I've ever been in my entire life. So rethink your comments.

Shelia Addair of VA 6:46PM December 28, 2009

I've had the swine flu, and I'm a healthy person, no underlying medical problems, and I thought I was going to die. I threw up for over 30 hours, every 30 minutes, couldn't keep anything down, not even water until about the fourth day. That was the week before Thanksgiving, and I'm just now feeling like myself again. Who ever said it lasts 3 days, did not have the swine flu, probably just a virus, because this flu is deadly and you wish you were dead. As for the people wanting to have a swine flu party, all I got to say is " you need your head examined".

Shelia Addair of VA 6:22PM December 28, 2009

FYI, I have already had swine flu. Even though it disabled me for 3 days (really disabled me for only 16 hours), I am happy now because I don't have to worry about it.
In my humble opinion...
Pros for swine flu parties:
- free
- likely able to schedule the flu and the likely immunity
Pros for the vaccine
- costs money
- side effects (symptoms) are minimal
- safer for people with certain medical conditions
I think it is really a question of symptoms, scheduling and money factors. Which matter to you?

Baylor of CA 10:58PM September 29, 2009

I havent heard of anyone having any parties before but if I knew someone with it, I'd probably pay them a visit. I'd much rather get it now and be immune to it. We're thinking of getting pregnant and I would not want to risk it during pregnancy. so it would be nice to know that you've already had it. Not everyone dies from it. They can't scare me into getting this vaccine. Not in a million years. They'd have to kill me first. I haven't had a vaccine in over 30 years and Im doing just fine.

Leah of PA 10:35PM September 29, 2009

David Deitsch, RN of IL Does that RN mean you are some kind of nurse You know the kind that will not mind overdosing people to make a living. Of course you will want to back vaccines of all kinds because you are part of the scams being run on the people who went to the hospitals looking for help and instead they get treated worse than test rats. Until we get a public option I will not see any snake oil salesmen(doctors) for fear of my health.
I have been diagnosed as having epilepsy and snake oil salesmen always insist on a therapeutic level which starts me having problems so I do not see snake oil salesmen anymore so I will remain healthy
them so called doctors are just to hard on me.
Don D. Brock

Don D. Brock of AZ 6:45PM September 29, 2009

Of all of the posts, the one that makes me the saddest is the one that states, in part, "Personally, I trust my own immune system over any vaccine for Flu." That sentence would be hysterically funny if it did not reveal such a massive reserve of ignorance. How is it that we push children through an education system, and even college, and they come out so scientifically illiterate that they could write that sentence and not know how absurd it is? Very sad!
As for those who criticize the original author for pointing out that 500 people in the U.S. have died of H1N1 flu this year, please let me explain the significance of the author's observation: Getting H1N1 at a "Swine Flu Party" will confer immunity to some (no way to calculate how many) of the party goers (benefit), but it will do so by making them sick (risk), and some of them might get dangerously sick (high risk).Getting the H1N1 vaccine will confer immunity to many of the vaccine recipients (about 75% of them) by the same natural immunological mechanism (benefit), but will not make them dangerously ill (low risk). Some vaccine recipients will experience vaccine reactions that may include achiness, fatigue, and a low fever that mimics flu, but is not flu, but most will not suffer even that (low risk). Benefit of vaccine outweighs risk of vaccine. This makes the vaccine a much safer way to obtain protection.

David Deitsch, RN of IL 2:53PM September 29, 2009

Dave, Do parents of children who work in Pediatric ICU's qualify to back talk to your brand of sarcasm? You probably have a government job or suck a living off of taxpayer money.

Jeff of WI 1:50PM September 29, 2009

Let's break a few of the new cfl bulbs in your house. It is one thing to be in the parts per billion and quite another to be one of the primary ingrediants. Your post poo poo's the research that has ordered the halt of it being used in children's vaccinations. Oh and since then the number of Autism cases has also gone down in that age group. You may be my guest and step up though to be some of the first to take this new "preventative measure" for the good of the nation. I hope that the results aren't like the first go around with swine flu scare that happened back in the early 70's. Thats odd! Carter was president then.
One more thing to all you proponents of Darwinism. That kind of racism is not good in this age. His penchant for "selective breeding" is what gave Hitlter alot of his ideas. You wouldn't want to fall into that camp of thinking or would you?

Jeff of WI 1:36PM September 29, 2009

Flu parties are UN American because the they do not cost money except for the party but health officials do not get paid!.
The American dream is to be so far in debt you will never get out of it which the health officials give us
We must be so Dependant on big business and not allow Government to control big business so we all can live a modest life while big business lord there life styles over us because we were afraid of big government instead of big business
Don D. Brock
independent

Don D. Brock independent of AZ 12:48PM September 29, 2009

Jeff: Every time you eat a piece of fish, you just ate some mercury ! so get over it, its probably less than that.
Intentionally risking infection of a child is the worst form of parenting I could possibly think of. Get the vaccine, administered by a professional in a clean environment. Hay presto ! you're child is now safer and doesn't have to get sick, possibly infecting other friends and family.
If this was the deep south in the 20's anyone who wanted to speak out against this would brand it the devils work; You're consciously spreading an infectious disease in an uncontrolled manner and environment, it is the HEIGHT of stupidity.
I wonder how many of these parents graduated college, or know someone that works at the CDC or has a biology degree or has studied infectious disease ?
None. fail.

dave of AZ 12:25PM September 29, 2009