Vaccines for seasonal flu in short supply in Japan

Sunday 08th November, 05:26 AM JST

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5 Comments

Foxie at 01:14 PM JST - 8th November

The Big Pharma frenzy over H1N1 vaccines has turned into a circus of hilarious medical quackery thanks to the fact that by the time the vaccines are available, most people will have already been exposed to the virus. Hence, most people will have already built up their own H1N1 antibodies, rendering the vaccine not just useless, but downright laughable.
dolphingirl at 01:59 PM JST - 8th November

I don't think everyone should go out to get vaccinations. The seasonal flu is more dangerous for older people whereas very young people or people with underlying health conditions are more likely to catch the H1N1 flu. And of course pregnant women are at risk for both. The public has to be educated rather than just scaring everybody and creating mass panic.
whatsgoinon at 05:54 PM JST - 8th November

The vaccine itself has become a hot topic in the west. I agree with both of you. The chances, even in the high risk group, of getting and dying from the disease is pretty low. Most people who get sick have mild symptems. The problems associated with the vaccine itself are also probably low, but if both risks are low, why wouldn't you opt to build your own anitbodies and get a stronger immune system?
kirakira25 at 07:15 PM JST - 8th November

I dont know the stats for seasonal flu cases and deaths, but last night I calculated the new flu mortality rate in Japan, based on 6 million cases and 48 deaths to be 0.0008% across the general population. I realise that amongst high-risk groups that mortality rate increases, but I still dont think that it is worryingly high.

I agree with Dolphingirl - some common sense has to be established here, rather than the mass panic that seems to be driving the innoculations at the moment.

We are "lucky" enough to have already had shin gata flu, so I am not getting me or my family vaccinated and leaving the vaccine for someone else who realy needs it.

As for seasonal flu, none of us have ever had a vaccine for that either, and despite a horrible bout of flu a few years ago where I felt rotten, I really do believe in allowing your own body to fight it whenever possible. It`s miserable whilst it lasts, but I survived it and I am certain my body is stronger as a result.
elbudamexicano at 12:50 PM JST - 9th November

Hey tell us something we don't know! I want to get vaccinated but fat chance! I am a healthy man, not a pregnant woman etc..so I have to wait and wait for the vaccine.