It seems like anytime you turn on any news channel whether local or national news itseems as if all you hear about is the swine flu. Everyone is acting as if this is some brand new virus, but guess it has what around for years.

In 1976 there was a swine flu vaccine that came out, and according to http://articles.latimes.com/2009/apr/27/science/sci-swine-history27?pg=3 the result was more than 500 individuals suffering from Guillan Barre Sydrome as a result of receiving the vaccine. In addition, at least 25 people died after receiving the swine flu vaccine.

What I would like to know is where are the statistics of how many people die from swine flu yearly, even before this so called “outbreak”. In the same article listed above they discuss how in 1976 the government had predicted that the outbreak could effect anywhere from 50 to 60 million people when in reality it only effected roughly 200 people with one confirmed death; however, hundreds of people that received the vaccine suffered because the government scared them into getting a vaccine they probably did not even need.

Also, what I would like to know is why is this all of the sudden considered an outbreak. To mean an outbreak or a pandemic of something is when a disease or virus is reaching the point of being uncontrollable.

I think the vaccine is a bit ridiculous. I think it is underdeveloped and not completely tested. I think it is unfair that certain states are making it mandatory for health care professionals to get the vaccine.

I myself am in health care as a Physical Therapist Assistant and I am sorry but I am not going to be forced into receiving a vaccine I do not believe is safe for me. When I went for my annual flu vaccine and check up with my own general physician I asked him about the swine flu vaccine, his response, NO!

It was his opinion that the vaccine is still too new and still too untested to consider it safe. He said he would not recommend it to me or any other patient as he himself would not take it or ask his family to take it.

I think it is sad that we cannot trust our government to tell us the truth. Due to past experiences such as the 1976 episode, which documents that, we cannot trust our government officials to be clear and honest with us. This is supported by a video I found on youtube.com where it shows clips from interviews with personnel from the CDC saying that they even knew that the vaccine had possible neurological and mental side effects such as Guillan Barre but that they saw no need to inform the public of this information but instead push for people to get the vaccine.

The government is encouraging that children, adults, senior citizens and even pregnant women get the latest, updated version of the vaccine. I am strongly against the vaccine as I feel it is untested and unsafe for anyone but I am even more so against it for pregnant women.

The effects of the vaccine on unborn children are still unknown. Also, some batches of the vaccine contain mercury, which has been suspected to be linked with the occurrence of autism in children.

To back up my opinion in 1962 thousands of American mothers were encouraged to take the drug thalidomide. This drug while not approved for the United States market was still given to patients by hundreds of American doctors. As a result of this drug, thousands of children were born malformed, many with missing or deformed limbs.

It seems as if we have been down this road before, we are told drugs and vaccines are safe when in reality only to discover years later, the government made a mistake. They some how managed to feel the possible side effects were so insignificant that it was not important for the individuals receiving these drugs and vaccines to consider before making their choice to take the drug or be vaccinated.

In the video, I referenced earlier at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMqYlnAiIUU&feature=related#watch-main-area there is a mother interviewed about having her children vaccinated against the swine flu. When she states the she does not feel as if the vaccination is safe for her children the man that is asking her the questions ask her if she would not feel guilty if her children were sick with the swine flu and in the hospital, close to death because she did not get them vaccinated. Her response was that she felt that the vaccine was still too untested.

Personally I completely agree with her. The vaccine is too new and there is still too much information unknown about the vaccine. If my doctor, whom I completely trust would not take it himself then why in the world would I trust government officials who have been known to lie and with hold the truth.