Is It Safe To Take A Swine Flu Vaccine?

Swine flu is a respiratory infection caused by the H1N1 virus. The severity with which the symptoms of swine flu manifest varies from person to person. Swine flu can be mild in some; and fatal in others.

The symptoms presented by a person suffering from H1N1 infection or swine flu are: fever, tiredness, cough, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, headache and body pain.

Swine flu can be serious in people with a weak immune system, pregnant females, and in those with other health conditions. Such patients need hospitalization, and if the swine flu worsens, then the patient can even lose his/her life. This makes it important to take the Swine Flu vaccination to prevent you from catching this fatal disease.

Swine flu vaccines are definitely safe to take. Swine flu is different from seasonal flu, which is affects people every year. The swine flu vaccines prepared are clinically tested in the trials on all age groups.

Vaccines to prevent swine flu are different. They are available in two brands of vaccine Pandemrix and Celvapan. Few people who have had a severe allergic reaction to the swine flu vaccine in the past are not able to take it.

Pandemrix is prepared from hen’s egg, and those who have an allergic reaction to any egg product cannot take this brand of swine flu vaccination. Except for those allergic to swine flu vaccine, everybody can get it. Also, those suffering from symptoms of influenza, such as moderate to severe illness with fever, common cold, influenza should wait until they recover from the illness before taking the swine flu vaccine. Even pregnant females should get swine flu vaccine, as they are at risk of getting seriously ill with swine flu.

Depending on the swine flu vaccine you get, the doctor would recommend the dosage.

Those at a higher risk to catch swine flu should make sure they get the swine flu vaccination. The people who fall in the priority list to get swine flu vaccination include:

• Children over 6 months and adults who suffer from any chronic health condition such as: chronic lung disease, neurological illness, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease and suppressed immune system.
• Pregnant females are at a higher risk of catching swine flu and more is the risk of getting serious complications from it. The risk increases in later stages of pregnancy.
• People with a compromised immune system are at a greater risk of getting infected with this virus and need to take swine flu vaccination ASAP.
• If living in the same place where a person infected with swine flu is living, then a swine flu vaccine becomes a must.

Swine flu vaccination is safe to take, even by pregnant ladies. The exceptional cases are those people who are allergic to the swine flu vaccine and can obviously not take it. Swine flu is not severe always, but if it is, then it’s very bad. If there is something, which offers protection from swine flu it, you should actually go ahead and get the swine flu vaccine. Talk to a health professional about yourself and any health conditions, he would advise on the right path to take.

Also Read:

• Swine Flu or Swine Influenza (H1N1 Virus): Symptoms, Signs, Diagnosis, Treatment, Risk Factors