The Malibu Times asked Malibu residents whether they were going to get the H1N1 vaccine, and why or why not.
By Melonie Magruder / Special to The Malibu Times
As the regular flu season gears up, according to the Center for Disease Control, 48 states already have widespread reports of infections from the H1N1 virus that seems to predominantly affect younger people. More than half of hospitalizations are for people under the age of 25.
While some 38 million doses of H1N1 antiviral treatment have been made available, the vaccine (deliverable through inoculation or nasal spray) has been slow in development and slower in distribution.
Dr. David Baron of Primary Caring in Malibu said he ordered plenty of vaccine in “a timely fashion” for his patients anxious to get inoculated, but that he simply hasn’t received anything yet.
“Some dosages have shown up in a couple of West side clinics,” Baron said. “But even UCLA only received about 900 dosages out of the 25,000 they requested. Some of my patients aren’t interested in getting it, but a lot are beating down my door.”
Malibu residents, even within some families, are sharply divided over the safety and efficacy of the H1N1 vaccine. In a street survey done last week by The Malibu Times, some respondents said they couldn’t wait to get vaccinated and some were alarmed at what they perceived to be the speed with which the vaccine was approved and brought to market.
Bob Lichtenstein is a retired businessman who said he normally gets a flu shot every year.
“Unless it comes out that it actually makes you sick, I’ll get the swine flu vaccine as soon as it’s available,” he said.
Local activist Ozzie Silna said he would let his doctor decide what he should do.
“I usually go with the expert advice,” Silna said.
Charles Newsome is a Vietnam veteran and already had received his “regular” flu shot and plans to get the H1N1 vaccine when the Veterans Administration has some available.
“At first I thought I’d wait and see if people grew curly tails from the vaccine,” Newsome said. “I have reservations about its safety but I’m not a radical. If I had a child, I might feel differently, but I’ll probably go get one.”
Duross O’Bryan, who was enjoying a midmorning coffee with his three-year-old son Declan, was conflicted about the issue.
“I trust Western medicine and think the vaccine is a good thing, especially for those at high risk,” O’Bryan said. “But my wife feels that it hasn’t been appropriately tested and was approved too fast. She doesn’t want it for our son. Needless to say, we’ll be doing what my wife wants.”
Kendra Lounsberry was working with some fellow Pepperdine University law students near a local coffee shop. She said she has asthma and has already been vaccinated on campus and had no adverse reaction at all.
“It wouldn’t be a good thing to get swine flu during finals,” Lounsberry said.
Her classmate Nicole Rippy also suffers from asthma and has been inoculated. “The whole Career and Development Office shut down because of the flu,” Rippy said.
However, their law student colleague Charles Esposito said he has no plans to get vaccinated, claiming he “never gets sick.”
At a local playground, residents Dave and Marnie Sugden vaccinated their two daughters, age four, despite some qualms.
“Our concern about its safety is nothing compared to our concern about them getting the virus,” Marnie Sugden said. “But we did have to call around and look for it.”
However, another mother who works in Malibu, who would only give her first name as Bany, said, “I won’t be getting it for myself or my kids. It’s too new. It’s not tested.”
Jessamyn Ferus is the mother of four-month-old twins and said she is deliberately keeping them out of daycare for fear of the virus.
“They’re too young for the vaccine, otherwise I would,” Ferus said.
Carol Erickson, a member of the Malibu Art Association, flatly rejected the idea of vaccination.
“The last time I got a flu shot, I developed pleurisy, bronchitis and walking pneumonia,” she said. “I won’t risk that again.”
Erickson’s artist friend, Maria Del Barrio, agreed. “Vaccines negatively affect the brain,” she said.
Some mothers appear to agonize over a decision.
A Malibu woman named Cindyana, who declined to give her last name, said she had been researching online information on both Eastern and Western medicine in considering vaccination for her two children.
“I’m so conflicted, I feel like crying,” Cindyana said. “My older son has asthma and I know that’s an underlying concern. But I don’t want to find out 10 years down the road that this vaccination puts him at risk for cancer or autism.”
At least 12 epidemiological studies have found no link between childhood vaccinations and autism. Dr. Baron believes most children should be vaccinated, particularly those with underlying health risks, like asthma.
“I’m concerned that this virus will develop a resistance to Tamiflu, our best treatment for influenza,” Baron said. “Tamiflu should only be given if you see your child having difficulty breathing. But, hopefully, we’ll have plenty of vaccine available soon so they won’t get the disease in the first place.”
More information on H1N1 vaccine may be found by visiting the Web site www.calpanflu.org