Educating the Public About H1N1
Article Outline
A recent Associated Press–GfK poll (Associated Press, 2009) showed that a sizable percentage of parents, amounting to 38% of those surveyed, indicated that they would not permit their children to receive the H1N1 vaccination at school. Reasons offered by parents opposed or hesitant to allow their children to be vaccinated were fears associated with untoward side effects. Prominent among concerns was the fact that thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative is one of the ingredients of the injectable form of the vaccination; it is not in the FluMist spray (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2009a).
Parental anxiety about vaccines and thimerosal originated with claims made that these were contributing factors to autism spectrum disorder in children (Bernard, Enayati, Redwood, Roger, & Binstock, 2001). The publication regarding the association between measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, which appeared in Lancet more than a decade ago, has since been discredited and withdrawn by the journal (Wakefield et al., 1998). An article, published in 2001, asserted a link between autism and thimerosal, a preservative used in vaccines containing mercury. These assertions have not been supported in subsequent reports issued by the medical and scientific community (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009a, Institute of Medicine, 2004, United States Food and Drug Administration).
Since then, the frenzy about the claims of vaccinations as causative agents of autism have continued despite the scientific evidence to the contrary. Television appearances by public figures and personalities suggest, if not insist the dire consequences associated with vaccinations. This misinformation propaganda has reached the highest levels of authority, including both President Barak Obama and Robert Kennedy, Jr. In 2008, during his presidential campaign, President Obama stated, “We've seen just a skyrocketing autism rate. Some people are suspicious that it's connected to the vaccines. The science right now is inconclusive, but we have to research it.” Robert Kennedy Jr. has gone so far as to suggest a government conspiracy and cover-up pertaining to thimerosal.
With the appearance of the H1N1 flu, numerous professional organizations and governmental agencies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, 2009, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009b, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, 2009, and National Association of School Nurses (2009), have disseminated information to the public to allay fears and provide reassurance that the H1N1 vaccine is safe and necessary to prevent the spread of H1N1 flu.
Pediatric nurses have an important role in correcting the misinformation that the public, particularly parents, have concerning vaccines. It is necessary that we continue to provide the scientific evidence to the public as to the safety and need to vaccinate children with H1N1 vaccine while dispelling the inaccuracies fueling widespread public concern.
References
- . H1N1 (swine flu) information. Retrieved on October 8, 2009 from http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/swineflu.htm2009;http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub.htm
- . AP poll: Only half of people want swine flu shots. Retrieved on October 8, 2009 from http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_AP_POLL_SWINE_FLU?SITE=KTVK&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT2009;
- . Autism: A novel form of mercury poisoning. Medical Hypotheses. 2001;56:462–471
- . General questions and answers on thimerosal. Retrieved on October 8, 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/thimerosal_qa.htm2009;
- . 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccination. Retrieved on October 8, 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub.htm2009;
- . Immunizations and autism. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press; 2004;
- . 2009–2010 flu season. Novel H1N1 and seasonal flu. Retrieved on October 8, 2009 from http://www.nasn.org/default.aspx?tabid=4592009;
- . NAPNAP encourages timely vaccinations. Retrieved on October 8, 2009 from http://www.napnap.org/NewsArticle/09-09-04/NAPNAP_Encourages_Timely_Vaccinations.aspx2009;
- . Thimerosal in vaccines. Retrieved on October 8, 2009 from http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/SafetyAvailability/VaccineSafety/UCM096228
- . Ileal–lymphoid–nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children. Lancet. 1998;351:637–641
PII: S0882-5963(09)00265-6
doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2009.10.002
© 2009 Published by Elsevier Inc.
