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Letter mischaracterized candidate’s flu concerns

Monday, November 2, 2009

(Updated 2:00 am)

In an Oct. 26 letter, Richard Beard incorrectly stated that I wrote about “how the H1N1 vaccine may cause an outbreak of swine flu.” In fact, the title of the Sept. 26 questionsforgreensboro.com post was “Seasonal flu shot may increase H1N1 risk,” which cited four preliminary studies suggesting “people who had received the seasonal flu vaccine in the past were more likely to get sick with the H1N1 virus.”

The CBC News story quoted Dr. Michael Gardam, director of infectious diseases prevention and control at the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion, as saying, “We don’t know with this year’s flu shot how it interacts with the pandemic flu shot, so it’s a worry.”

Since April 2009, I have posted 17 stories on influenza and swine flu, a subject I consider to be a great concern for my family and our community.

Considering the severity of how publicly disseminated inaccuracies have negatively affected geo-political and economic outcomes in recent history, let’s strive to truthfully reflect reality in Greensboro.

George Hartzman
Greensboro

The writer is a City Council candidate.

What do you think?

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rightwingnemesis

November 2, 2009 - 9:38 am EST

Sorry Mr. Hartzman, but you and Mr. Matheny are not good candidates period. I wish voters had better candidates, but I will vote for you in protest of the Matheney candidate.

Panacea

November 2, 2009 - 9:50 am EST

Mr. Hartzman, you are talking about unpublished studies that have not been peer reviewed.

It is premature to take this study as gospel until it has been published in a peer reviewed journal, and other scientists have either attempted to duplicate the results or refuted/confirmed the findings by other means.

Getting any vaccine is an issue of risks vs benefits. The risks of the seasonal flu vaccine are well known: it should be avoided by those allergic to eggs or with a history of Guillain Barre Syndrome. It may make you achy. If you get the flu, it is because you already had it when you got vaccinated, and symtoms of the flu in those who did get vaccinated are generally much milder. The benefit of the flu vaccine far outweighs the risks.

The risks for H1N1 are not completely understood since it is a new vaccine. Given the effects on the respiratory system in certain vulnerable groups, the benefits still out weigh the risks.

Either way, this is a decision that should be made by patients in consultation with their physicians, not based off unsubstantiated news rumors.

I get the flu shot every year, and will get the H1n1 vaccine as soon as it becomes available.

troubleshooter

November 2, 2009 - 2:29 pm EST

He and I chatted briefly uptown at the July 4th celebration when he was handing out his campaign material. I think it is commendable that we have people who are willing to subject themselves to public scrutiny and sometimes ridicule to serve us. I don't think it is for the money. There may have been others up there but he's the only one I met.