Swine flu
October 21, 2009 | 15,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Susanne Plotz
So far, I have not been a fan of vaccinations and have never been vaccinated against "normal flu".
Now I am wondering if I should reconsider when it comes to getting vaccinated against swine flu.
Is it advisable to get vaccinated in any case, or is it more relevant for at-risk groups such as older people or those with chronic illnesses.
Dear inquirer,
this question is indeed very difficult to answer and you hit the nail on the head of the current discussions. There is also no agreement among doctors and experts. There are scientists who argue that the swine flu is milder than the "normal" flu and that therefore a vaccination is unnecessary. At least the benefits of a vaccination would not outweigh the risks. The background: a vaccination is also an intervention in the body's balance and perhaps you have been following the current discussions about the two different vaccines (one for the general population, the other for government and soldiers). The vaccine for the general population contains so-called adjuvants, which can also worsen any potential reaction to the vaccine. Experts therefore ask themselves: should one take the "risk" of vaccination if swine flu is not so severe after all?
Then there are other experts who argue that the virus may become more aggressive and therefore vaccination is definitely advisable, not only for high-risk groups (here there is no doubt, they definitely need the vaccine).
Unfortunately, I cannot make the decision for or against vaccination for you and I cannot give you advice in this way. But I hope I could be of some help to you in making your decision.
Warm regards and all the best,
Your Susanne Plotz
