The H1N1 vaccine is slowly becoming available and, depending on where you live, you and your family might be getting it at your doctors office, local hospital or neighborhood school. Cities and towns are implementing various procedures involving who, when and where people can get vaccinated to cover the most at-risk groupschildren and pregnant womenfirst. Here in New York City, many parents are being asked to sign a form giving permission to vaccinate their kids at school.
If you opt out, are you putting someone else at higher risk for H1N1? Potentially, yes. If enough people get vaccinated, a certain threshold is reached so that the virus doesnt spread as easily, explains Lawrence Stanberry, MD, PhD, Director of Pediatrics at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and chief pediatrician at New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Childrens Hospital. This helps protect people who cant get vaccinated for medical reasons. Thats why we encourage as many healthy people as possible to get vaccinated: not only to protect themselves but to protect the community and build what we call community, or herd, immunity.
This is one reason why the vaccine is being offered in schoolsbecause thats where its spreading fastest. Check with your doctor and/or your local health department about when and where to get the H1N1 vaccine. Consider it your civic duty!