Swine Flu Vaccine – Why People Refuse the Shot

A Review of Reasons People Have for Rejecting H1N1 Vaccine

Oct 30, 2009

Giving a Vaccination, CDC/ Judy Schmidt ; James Gathany, photography

Some 50% to 60% of people are reluctant to take the "pig flu" vaccine. Reasons are the apparent lack of testing, concerns about safety and effectiveness, and more.

According to various surveys, over 60% of Americans (ABC News/Washington Post, released October 22, 2009) and 50% of Canadians (Ottawa Citizen, Oct 24, 2009) are planning not to receive the swine flu vaccine in the immediate future.

This includes health workers. One report (Daily Mail, August 25, 2009) said that about half of British family doctors were planning not to take the flu shot. A similar proportion of Hong Kong health workers was planning not to have the shot (Associated Press, August 26, 2009). Perhaps they've changed their minds since.

Reasons given range from practical concerns over long lineups and strain on medical facilities to media exaggeration of both the extent and threat of the disease.

The main concern seems to be the way the vaccine has been rushed into production (with little testing, bypassing normal procedures and absolving the vaccine manufacturers of any culpability should things go wrong) and consequent fears of the vaccine's effectiveness and safety.

Practical Concerns over the H1N1 Vaccine Administration

Incredibly long lineups in most provinces and states are upsetting citizens – and encouraging some to delay having the swine flu shot. Various media reports include such concerns as the following:

Clinics were not prepared for the demand (with media and health agencies working to stir concern and fear about the H1N1 virus, this should have come as no surprise)
In many areas there were too few clinics for the population (There was an unconfirmed report that Toronto, Ontario had two clinics for a population of 2.5 million. Who didn't do the math?)
The health workers doing the vaccinations have been working long hours, which may lead to their becoming ill, resulting in further delays
There may not be adequate supplies of the vaccine, some fear, which further drives the long lineups but which leads others to shrug, "if there's not enough, let somebody else have it."
Lack of screening, so that people with low risk (healthy seniors, for example) are receiving injections ahead of high-risk populations

Safety Concerns Over the Swine Flu Vaccine

Doubts over the safety and efficiency of the vaccine forms the second cluster of concerns.

Safety concerns – the hectic rush for mass immunization has led to cases of children receiving the adult dose (two reports, Edmonton, Canada, October 29th).
Worry about side effects, largely due to the lack of sufficient testing and to confusion about the impact of the adjuvants squalene and mercury-containing thimerosal.
Concern that it won't work - about 10 to 15 per cent of people vaccinated will not develop immunity to the disease, giving rise to the idea that the vaccine is ineffective, so why bother?

Exaggerated Dangers of the H1N1 Virus

Some believe that both health agencies and the media have exaggerated the danger of the H1N1 pandemic (conspiracy theorists even suggest that the exaggeration is deliberate). This hysteria is even leading to proposals of mandatory vaccination with jail sentences for those refusing the swine flu vaccine.

"Pandemic" simply means "widespread, everywhere", a step up from "epidemic". The word does not involve any judgment of the severity of the disease.
A survey of British GPs (Daily Mail, August 25th, 2009) said that of those who planned not to take the vaccine, "Most also believe the flu has turned out to be so mild in the vast majority of cases that the vaccine is not needed."
Even the World Health Organization has stated that the disease is usually mild. "The overwhelming majority of patients experience mild symptoms and make a rapid and full recovery, often in the absence of any form of medical treatment.” (WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan, June 11, 2009)

The public may simply be weary of the "disease of the season" approach, as SARS, avian flu, and others have each been touted as the deadliest pandemic since the black plague. Perhaps health organizations and the media have cried wolf once too often?

Lack of Swine Flu Vaccine Testing

This is a common concern even among health professionals. There are conflicting reports from supposedly knowledgeable health authorities (Health Canada saying it's safe and well-tested, followed by evidence that it has hardly been tested at all). For details, follow the links at the end of this article.

Political Process of Swine Flu Vaccine Approval

Although a detailed examination is beyond the scope of this article, there have been concerns expressed in both the U.S. and the UK about the following:

Health officials being involved on the boards of the pharmaceutical companies making the vaccines. This seeming conflict-of-interest situation is raising red flags.
The speed with which the virus was rushed into production and bypassing normal testing and approval procedures (other accounts argue this as a necessary health measure to meet the anticipated spread of the disease)
The pharmaceuticals being granted immunity from prosecution in the U.S

Polls in various countries have shown that about half of respondents are not planning to rush to get the swine flu vaccine. Reasons cited by those not seeking the H1N1 vaccine include concerns over the administration, safety, efficiency, and testing of the vaccine as well as concerns over the political/economic aspects of rushing the vaccine into production.

The copyright of the article Swine Flu Vaccine – Why People Refuse the Shot in Public Healthcare Issues is owned by Thomas Alan Gray. Permission to republish Swine Flu Vaccine – Why People Refuse the Shot in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.