As we enter the traditional flu season, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare continues to closely monitor the progress of the H1N1 strain that has garnered so much media attention. We are coordinating our efforts with the appropriate local, state and national authorities and continue to refine our internal preparedness plan to allow us to respond as quickly and effectively as possible.

Just like other local organizations, we are expecting our initial shipment of H1N1 vaccine in the coming days and, in addition to our own staff, we are encouraging all those groups recommended to get the vaccine do so when it becomes available. The CDC identifies those groups as 

• Pregnant women
• Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age
• All people from 6 months through 24 years of age
• Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

There is quite a bit of misinformation floating around about the H1N1 flu vaccination. We wanted to take a minute and "bust" some of those myths.

MYTH: The swine flu vaccine has been rushed through without the normal tests.

FACT: The vaccine took just as long to prepare as the usual seasonal flu vaccine, and, after careful testing, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. With the media coverage given to H1N1, this vaccine has likely been subjected to even greater scrutiny than the usual flu vaccine.

MYTH: Swine flu is so mild that I might as well just catch it and not bother with the vaccine.

FACT: H1N1 is a difficult virus to predict because it is a new strain and people have not built up an immunity to it yet. It should be watched closely, particularly because it might intensify other underlying diseases, especially in young people and pregnant women.

MYTH: The vaccine is unsafe for pregnant women to use.

FACT: There is no reason to believe there would be unusual risks for pregnant women. We believe that because the flu is most dangerous to pregnant women, they should be among the first to be vaccinated. See the CDC Web site for more information about how the H1N1 may affect your pregnancy. 

MYTH: This vaccine causes Guillian-Barre Syndrome.

FACT: There is no reason to expect an increased number of cases of GBS in recipients of the H1N1 vaccine (or the seasonal flu vaccine) than in individuals who do not get the vaccine.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention only one study has shown any association between flu vaccines and GBS, and that study suggested that only one person out of 1 million vaccinated persons may be at risk of GBS associated with the vaccine.

MYTH: The vaccine contains dangerous amounts of mercury.

FACT: We are using pre-filled syringes which do not contain a mercury-based preservative.

Even the multi-dose vials contain only trace amounts of thiomersal, similar to the amount of mercury in some foods. The CDC says there's no scientific evidence the preservative thiomersal is harmful. 

MYTH: The vaccine is not safe for children.

FACT: The H1N1 vaccine is similar to a seasonal flu vaccine. Because the H1N1 flu is particularly dangerous to children, parents who choose not to vaccinate their children are taking an unnecessary risk.

MYTH: I can't get more information about the flu anywhere in Memphis.

FACT: The Tennessee Department of Health is partnering with the Tennessee Poison Center to provide a flu information line for Tennessee residents: 877.252.3432 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. 

The Memphis & Shelby County Health Department has a H1N1 hotline: 901.379.H1N1 that's available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

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