I discussed this with my doc the other week (when in about something else). Although I'm in the 'risk' category because of my diabetes I just don't think there has been enough testing on the jab and I certainly don't want to suffer any potential side effects which could be worse than letting the flu run its course.

My sis on the other hand has just had a week off work and is convinced she had Swine Flu. Apparently she had six of the eight symptoms but stayed away from the docs in case it was confirmed Now that she's had "Swine Flu" she can boast about it as though it's a badge of honour

I think the more you look into it, the less likely you are to make an informed decision one way or the other. Sometimes it's just down to gut feeling!

Al

Yes but the US has had a serious number of cases already and a number of deaths. Probably still a lot less than are shot every day but that is not worth dealing with.

But there's 300 million Americans. The total swine flu deaths is barely up to 1300.

We need to keep a sense of perspective about this whole "epidemic". What's the betting that by the end of the winter, all the usual influenza cases and deaths will have been conflated with those of H1N1, just to prove it really was the pandemic governments and the media have been trying to bounce us into all year.

I totally agree. I think that the numbers are tiny in comparison to a normal flu season. I think that the problem is that swine flu can kill normally healthy people like politicians. Hence their panic.

Don't know whether the virus is man made, but the hullabaloo around the pandemic and the jab is driven by profit...

What isn't these days?

Aye, it seems the Oil Companies are often tackled about their profit making and yet Pharmaceutical Companies, that have just as much if not more clout, get away with churning out medication for any price they fancy, even when there's no need for it.

Thousands have died from seasonal flu and, in comparison, a handful from swine flu and tax money is getting wasted on it when a larger number of lives will be lost by diverting away these funds from much needed treatments.

Fear is expensive, don't buy into it.

Well, unless it's on a BOGOF offer.

Don't need the jab - I have an immune system.

I doubt I shall be getting ill any time soon.

To be fair to the pharmaceutical companies - they spend tens if not hundreds of millions on research that doesn't lead to a viable medicine. They have to recoup the money somehow and without them we wouldn't have many of the medicines we enjoy today.

6 people dead in Germany now, compared to 15,000 that die from the normal flus that come around. Because the number of deaths is so high, the health minister is pleading for people to get vaccinated, before it is too late...

Received a letter from my GP surgery today inviting me to get a swine flu vaccination as I am "at risk". I have written back and politely refused.