In tonight's cover story -- a shot at keeping kids safe as they head back to school. Should that include the H1N1 vaccine? The debate rages on as each side tries to get their point across.
Federal health experts say protect against a looming epidemic, while a local vaccine researcher warns people to protect themselves against the most horrendous non-tested vaccine of all time.
Dr. Stanford Shulman, Chief of Infectious Disease, Children's Memorial Hospital, "Vaccinations have saved 100 of millions of lives."
Dr. Andrew Maniotis, UIC Adjunct Assistant Professor, "There is no evidence that vaccines do anything but nothing or do damage."
Dr. Stanford Shulman, Chief of Infectious Disease, Children's Memorial Hospital, "Vaccines are much better than acquiring the infection that they are designed to prevent."
Dr. Andrew Maniotis, UIC Adjunct Assistant Professor, "I'm worried about our schools, our children about our seniors, pregnant women."
Dr. Susan Shoshana Weisberg, pediatrician, "Influenza has the potential to be an extremely deadly disease."
How do parents make up their minds when the information is both scarce and scary.
Armed with markers, notebooks, pencils, hand sanitizer and immunity? Parents have an added choice for their children. Two more needles to ward off two virus strains, seasonal flu and H1N1. Packing on protection is not as easy as packing the backpack.
Meredith Conn, a mother of 4 children says, " Deciding whetere we are going to have a vaccine I may not be one who chooses the first."
Meredith Conn, mother of four and a dietician says she'd rather teach smart habits to stay healthy first.
Meredith Conn, "I like to think of myself as being a leader but I would rather lead thru the other preventive modalities, good health, nutrition, exercise and sleep as opposed to being first in line for the vaccination."
Maggie Mason, grade school student, "Because it hurts!"
Tyler Baumgart, grade school student, "It makes you healthier."
Even kids can't decide. Here's the lesson the centers for disease control wants everyone to learn : -Scientists have isolated the H1N1 virus to use for hundreds of millions of vaccine doses. -The vaccine is expected this fall and will likely require two shots. -The seasonal flu vaccine will not protect against H1N1. -Anti-viral medications like tamiflu will reduce severity of H1N1. As for preventing the spread of flu: hand washing will reduce the virus spread, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, cover your nose and mouth when you cough, and stay home when you get sick. The H1N1 outbreak before was nothing compared to what experts expect.
Dr. Stanford Shulman, Chief of Infectious Disease, Children's Memorial Hospital, "This fall will be different from the spring. Because in the spring at least, the seasonal kinds of influenza were pretty much gone when the H1N1 came around."
This time a double whammy. Children's Memorial Hospital's Chief of Infectious Disease says his family will be vaccinated and yours should be as well.
Dr. Stanford Shulman, Chief of Infectious Disease, Children's Memorial Hospital," If the vaccine becomes available it is now recommended for children from 6 months all the way up to 24 years of age and it should be given. My grandchild will be vaccinated for both the seasonal influenza and the H1N1 influenza."
But critics worry the vaccine's side effects will continue to impact people long after the flu threat. Citing various studies, UIC Adjunct Professor Andy Maniotis stood before the state immuization advisory board urging caution.
Dr. Andrew Maniotis, UIC Adjunct Assistant Professor, "It is lunacy at this point in time to inject foreign proteins into the bodies of children."
Dr. Susan Shoshana Weisberg, pediatrician and author of Factcines. The facts about vaccines says 40 percent of school age children get the flu and they aren't the only ones who need protection.
Dr. Susan Shoshana Weisberg, pediatrician, "They are very effective vectors to spread infection, so I don't think we have to just think about our children we have to think of the population as a whole."
Dina Bair, WGN medical anchor and reporter, "So by vaccinating our kids you say we are protecting everyone?"
Dr. Susan Shoshana Weisberg, pediatrician, "Correct."
While anti-viral medications may reduce the severity of H1N1, antibiotics won't work at all. Dr. Weisberg says vaccines are the one shot at beating this virus.
Dr. Susan Shoshana Weisberg, pediatrician, "We conquered smallpox, we conquered polio, we controlled pneumoccocus, we controlled influenza b, we controlled measles in America with immunizations, not with medicines, with immunization."
The H1N1 vaccine is not mandatory. It is expected to ship out in mid-October. But already there is talk of vaccine shortages from original expectations. Pregnant women and children appear to be most at risk of getting sicker from the H1N1 virus.
For the latest and most up to date information regarding the H1N1 virus and vaccination visit : www.childrensmemorial.org and http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu
Dr. Stanford Shulman, Chief of Infectious Disease, Children's Memorial Hospital, "Vaccinations have saved 100 of millions of lives."
Dr. Andrew Maniotis, UIC Adjunct Assistant Professor, "There is no evidence that vaccines do anything but nothing or do damage."
Dr. Stanford Shulman, Chief of Infectious Disease, Children's Memorial Hospital, "Vaccines are much better than acquiring the infection that they are designed to prevent."
Dr. Andrew Maniotis, UIC Adjunct Assistant Professor, "I'm worried about our schools, our children about our seniors, pregnant women."
Dr. Susan Shoshana Weisberg, pediatrician, "Influenza has the potential to be an extremely deadly disease."
How do parents make up their minds when the information is both scarce and scary.
Armed with markers, notebooks, pencils, hand sanitizer and immunity? Parents have an added choice for their children. Two more needles to ward off two virus strains, seasonal flu and H1N1. Packing on protection is not as easy as packing the backpack.
Meredith Conn, a mother of 4 children says, " Deciding whetere we are going to have a vaccine I may not be one who chooses the first."
Meredith Conn, mother of four and a dietician says she'd rather teach smart habits to stay healthy first.
Meredith Conn, "I like to think of myself as being a leader but I would rather lead thru the other preventive modalities, good health, nutrition, exercise and sleep as opposed to being first in line for the vaccination."
Maggie Mason, grade school student, "Because it hurts!"
Tyler Baumgart, grade school student, "It makes you healthier."
Even kids can't decide. Here's the lesson the centers for disease control wants everyone to learn : -Scientists have isolated the H1N1 virus to use for hundreds of millions of vaccine doses. -The vaccine is expected this fall and will likely require two shots. -The seasonal flu vaccine will not protect against H1N1. -Anti-viral medications like tamiflu will reduce severity of H1N1. As for preventing the spread of flu: hand washing will reduce the virus spread, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, cover your nose and mouth when you cough, and stay home when you get sick. The H1N1 outbreak before was nothing compared to what experts expect.
Dr. Stanford Shulman, Chief of Infectious Disease, Children's Memorial Hospital, "This fall will be different from the spring. Because in the spring at least, the seasonal kinds of influenza were pretty much gone when the H1N1 came around."
This time a double whammy. Children's Memorial Hospital's Chief of Infectious Disease says his family will be vaccinated and yours should be as well.
Dr. Stanford Shulman, Chief of Infectious Disease, Children's Memorial Hospital," If the vaccine becomes available it is now recommended for children from 6 months all the way up to 24 years of age and it should be given. My grandchild will be vaccinated for both the seasonal influenza and the H1N1 influenza."
But critics worry the vaccine's side effects will continue to impact people long after the flu threat. Citing various studies, UIC Adjunct Professor Andy Maniotis stood before the state immuization advisory board urging caution.
Dr. Andrew Maniotis, UIC Adjunct Assistant Professor, "It is lunacy at this point in time to inject foreign proteins into the bodies of children."
Dr. Susan Shoshana Weisberg, pediatrician and author of Factcines. The facts about vaccines says 40 percent of school age children get the flu and they aren't the only ones who need protection.
Dr. Susan Shoshana Weisberg, pediatrician, "They are very effective vectors to spread infection, so I don't think we have to just think about our children we have to think of the population as a whole."
Dina Bair, WGN medical anchor and reporter, "So by vaccinating our kids you say we are protecting everyone?"
Dr. Susan Shoshana Weisberg, pediatrician, "Correct."
While anti-viral medications may reduce the severity of H1N1, antibiotics won't work at all. Dr. Weisberg says vaccines are the one shot at beating this virus.
Dr. Susan Shoshana Weisberg, pediatrician, "We conquered smallpox, we conquered polio, we controlled pneumoccocus, we controlled influenza b, we controlled measles in America with immunizations, not with medicines, with immunization."
The H1N1 vaccine is not mandatory. It is expected to ship out in mid-October. But already there is talk of vaccine shortages from original expectations. Pregnant women and children appear to be most at risk of getting sicker from the H1N1 virus.
For the latest and most up to date information regarding the H1N1 virus and vaccination visit : www.childrensmemorial.org and http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu
