There were roughly 30 deaths in the U.S. from Guillain-Barre syndrome in 1976. GBS can be caused by a variety of things (typically infection), which stimulate the body to produce antibodies not just against the infection, but which also attack the nerves, producing (usually) temporary weakness and paralysis. It's thought that many of the GBS cases that year were linked to the swine flu vaccine. Nobody knows exactly why, since the flu vaccines used in the decades since 1976 have not caused the problem. I made an incorrect statement earlier in this thread about the incidence of GBS during the 1976 swine flu - it was much less common than the figure I gave: "In all, the vaccination resulted in nearly one extra case of Guillain-Barré for every 100,000 people immunized, which would translate into roughly 450 cases for the 45 million people who got the shot." Obviously, even those numbers were unacceptable (particularly when the flu strain in '76 did not turn out to be an especially dangerous one). Given the continued advancements in vaccine science and the good health record since 1976, I'd expect far fewer side effects from a 2009 vaccine, and given the choice between the vaccine and taking my chances with a full-blown deadly flu outbreak, I'd go for the vaccine, no question. apollog is dead on target, by the way, when he contrasts the risks of getting an immunization with a small quantity of killed virus, with the far, far greater hazard of having large amounts of virulent virus coursing through your system. Many of us have forgotten or never known what it's like to actually face a deadly epidemic of infectious disease in our community. When such a thing happens (and I hope it doesn't in this case), the current climate of alarmism about vaccines will change rapidly.

Sammy, you know this is not personal. But swine is such a horribly ugly word. The term is H1N1. I had to take my daughter to ER this week as all the urgent cares were closed. They diagnosed her with H1N1. This diagnosis because this is not the typical flu season they said. Starts off with very bad cough, chills, aches. They gave her tamiflu. Also some other tests but did take chest xray. Thurs. I start the same symptoms and take some of her Tamiflu. Fri. I go to dr. Dr. tells me I have bronchitis. She has report from my daughter's xray too, saying it looks like bronchitis. She gives me antibiotics and cough syrup. Came home and called Hosp. to find out their response to the results of daughter's xray. They tell me it looks viral. Daughter goes to same doc as me later Fri. afternoon. Dr. now has full report from hospital saying flu. Now wonder if I had gone after daughter's report would the doc have given me tamiflu to prevent? Who knows. Sat. I go to urgent care for flu test. Flu test negative but gives me Relenza, a drug that has been off the market but is good for type A and B flu. Also gives me more antibiotics and Tessalon perle, coughing pill. I am taking the first antibiotic because I don't want to get pnuemonia. You must stay on top of your own healthcare. Healthcare workers are only human. Terry, you should be worried. Whatever we've had, it kicks your but. But it doesn't last very long. Doctors should tell everyone to cough into their arms at elbow and wash hands! Everyone stay well, it's so early for so much flu. Carla

When I was taking care of my Mom and she got ill, instead of getting something like Gatorade to replace electrolytes I went to the pharmacy's baby care section and got the stuff you can give infants - some pediatric water type stuff for sick babies. I can't think of the name. If the taste puts you off, dilute it further in water. Come to think of it, I should pick up another bottle for the winter as well. I can't stand Gatorade. Do take care, Peggy

A little girl age 6 just died here in San Diego from swine flu. That being said, I will not get the vaccine, nor will I get it for my 7 year old. She's had the regular flu many times, and just as my parents did when I was a kid, you treat it with common sense. When she got the flu three weeks ago and missed three days of school I called her doctor to see what he thought. He said to let it run its course as long as she did not exhibit symptoms like shortness of breath, inability to drink/eat/go to the bathroom, etc. She recovered just fine. I've never had the flu shot, and neither has my daughter, and unless something drastically changes, we will never get the shots. She is fully immunized, btw. I just never saw the benefit to the shot since everyone I know who got it always got sick after, sometimes really really really sick! And I get it once a year, or once every other year, or sometimes twice a year, but I figure that's normal. Wash hands. Practice good hygiene. Cover your sneeze. Don't panic.