Why are people scared of the Swine Flu vaccine?

Answer 1

There are very many rumors, myths, and a lot of misinformation being passed around about the vaccines for the H1N1/09 flu, and people who listen to this non-scientific and incorrect information become afraid and don't want to get the shot. The risks of having the flu and getting very ill or even dying are low but they are still greater than any risks that might be associated with the vaccination. The vaccination is being made the exact same way and with the exact ingredients as the seasonal flu shots that have a very good safety record over a period of decades now. The only thing different are the pieces of the dead or weak viruses that are used to make it work for Swine Flu, instead of the same kinds of dead or weak viruses that can't make you sick that are put in the seasonal flu shots to protect from them. People who listen to the misinformation and don't get the shots are putting themselves and others unnecessarily at risk.

Answer 2

Many people fear what they don't know. The H1N1/09 flu and vaccines were new in 2009, so that helped add to people's fears of vaccines, shots, and medicines that had been long held fears for them.

Also, there was (appropriately) a lot of news and focus on the swine flu in 2009 since it was a never before seen strain of flu, spreading rapidly and had potential for widespread and severe infections and deaths since humans had no resistance from prior exposure. Luckily, it didn't turn out to be as bad as it could have been, but the media focus brought it to more people's attention and added more people to worry about the unknown.

To top it off, there had been a different flu in 1976 that was also called "Swine Flu" and back then the flu vaccines were made very differently. There was a big problem with that vaccine that was not well understood, but many people were having severe neurological side effects (Guillain-Barre Syndrome, GBS) that were believed to have been related to the vaccinations. Memory of that made people worry that the new flu vaccine might do the same. (It has not).

The adverse side effects of the 2009 H1N1/09 vaccine have been very low and very much like those of the "regular" seasonal flu vaccines which have been monitored closely and proven over decades of use to be very safe with low incidents of reactions or untoward effects.

See the related questions and links below for more information.

Answer 3

It is grown in eggs. So people who are allergic to eggs may not respond well to the shot.