Safety of Influenza Vaccine
Dear editor,
With regard to an editorial titled ``Influenza Inoculation'' dated Oct. 23, I absolutely agree with your opinion that we should keep monitoring the side effects of the vaccine prior to the rush to be vaccinated.
Currently, swine flu is spreading rapidly in Korea and this situation will not stop for a while. As a mom of two kids, I am very concerned as to whether I should keep sending them to school or not, and how soon the inoculation will be available for all the family.
Due to the government's failure to secure enough vaccine, we have to follow the government policy that the top priority should be vulnerable groups that have a weak immune system.
The domestic supply from November to January covers only 35 percent of the total population, whereas Germany and the Netherlands have already gotten vaccine for 100 percent, and the U.K. for 80 percent.
The most important prevention is to get a shot as soon as possible, but although the health authorities assure the safety of the vaccine, lots of people have doubts about the safety of pregnant women and children.
As you mentioned, five people recently died from the seasonal flu shot, so, we cannot be too careful about minimizing the side effects from vaccines. Doctors are required to check the health condition of those who wish to be immunized to confirm if they are fit for vaccination.
Also, it is a risky idea that children who are six months to eight years old might be vaccinated twice, in that the efficacy is not clearly guaranteed.
Therefore, those clinical experiments should be done soon to check whether the single shot is sufficient or not. The government must not neglect their duty to protect the people's health, so they should take all possible action to contain the virus.
Kay Park
High school teacher