The AP is reporting that the Obama administration may recommend everyone get three flu shots this fall (one for the regular flu and two for the new swine flu). Though this may sound simple, it isn't. First, it will cost billions of dollars to not only make and distribute it but also to convince people to take it. By the time the late summer/fall rolls around no one may care as much about the H1N1 flu (swine flu). That will lead to a massive advertising campaign to mobilize (aka scare) the public into gettting the shots. The other issue is that the previousswine flu vaccines had some serious side effects in the 70's. Hundreds of Americans developed neurological disorders after getting it. My buddy was in the army at that time and he remembers that when he and his unit got the shots they were sick as dogs for a few days. That won't fly well with Americans today. The big issue then becomes do we hold tight and not make this vaccine for a virus that has yet to prove its devastation or do we make one that could have sides effects (the biggest being that it will fuel the anti-vaccine movement even more)?
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