Physicians trust the safety and efficacy of H1N1 vaccine

A recent visit to the pediatric H1N1 vaccine clinic at a major Chicago medical center showed a surprising clientele - most parents bringing their children for vaccination were also medical professionals.

While H1N1 infection has been mild for the majority of children affected, there have been serious complications and many deaths - the CDC reports over 17,000 children have been hospitalized for H1N1 infection and approximately 540 have died from it (http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/estimates_2009_h1n1.htm#Numbers). Despite these statistics, most Americans are unlikely to vaccinate their children for H1N1.

One major reason that parents are not vaccinating their children is that they are afraid that the H1N1 vaccine is not safe. While several studies show there is no relationship between the modern vaccine and increased risk for autism or Guillain-Barre syndrome, studies do not appear to be convincing the average American. Parents, instead, want to know if physicians trust the H1N1 vaccine enough to inoculate their own children.

Physicians who are also parents were surveyed by MomMD.com. The results, summarized at http://mommd.com/h1n1-vaccinations.shtml, show that physicians overwhelmingly trust the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine. Eight-five percent (85%) of respondents either already had or are planning to vaccinate their own children for H1N1.

While most physicians intend to vaccinate their children, few think there is a high likelihood that their children will get seriously ill from H1N1. Dr. Jennifer Fleming, a Chicago emergency room attending physician and mother of two, had this to say: "Do I think my kids are going to die from H1N1? No. But I will vaccinate them if it's not too inconvenient. I'm already on the wait list at my pediatrician's office, so I'll come in if they call us."