Reassurance About Swine Flu Vaccine

Hospital workers are expressing concerns about the safety of the H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine, a poll finds. But public health officials emphasize that it is safe and made the same way as normal seasonal flu vaccine. The poll was done by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Pharmacy directors said staff members are asking them if the vaccine is safe. The poll was released October 13. It follows two similar polls last week. They found parents and members of the general public are nervous about the vaccine. Some cite the quick timetable for development. But public health experts said the timetable is not faster; it only started two months later. The vaccine would have been part of the seasonal vaccine if the virus had appeared sooner, they said. HealthDay News wrote about the new poll October 13.