Health professionals don't fear H1N1 vaccine, but public does
By Fleur Magbanua-Mansur, North America News Bureau | 11/04/2009 11:19 AM
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Chandler, AZ—Arizona is now armed with 70,000 H1N1 vaccines. But even with a declared national emergency of the swine flu, some Fil-Ams are not willing to take it.
Ben Tejada, a local office manager, says he will skip the H1N1 vaccine. “It’s a new vaccine. We don’t know how it works with the majority of the population. And I fear there isn’t enough data or information, if it’s efficient, or what the signs & symptoms that could happen,” Tejada said.
But some are not so fearful. Healthcare workers trust the H1N1 vaccine will protect them from the infection.
Christine Tejada, a registered nurse, gives this advice: “Besides getting the flu vaccine, I would stick with basic precautions: handwashing, sneezing into a tissue, covering your nose and mouth, taking vitamins like vitamin C, and staying at home if you do get sick, preventing yourself from exposing others to your illness.”
Dr. Red Espiritu, a valley physician who advocates for the H1N1 vaccine says there is no room for complacency when dealing with the swine flu virus.
“You don’t want to be the person that will get the serious complications that may cause pneumonia or even death,” Dr. Espiritu said.
The H1N1 flu has been in Arizona since last April, and has been rapidly spreading in the past few weeks. Whether residents get the swine flu vaccine or not, health officials say staying healthy and knowing health risks should be a top priority.
The public in Arizona can go the website www.fluaz.org for more information.
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