SUMMARY: As swine flu vaccinations are rapidly being developed, health authorities have established a tracking system to quickly detect possible side effects. No major side effects are expected based on trials of the vaccine because of its similarity to the seasonal flu vaccine. Health authorities hope to eventually vaccinate more than half the population.

STORY LINK: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33045346/ns/health-swine_flu/

ANALYSIS: The isolated and unusual event almost universally receives inordinate attention and coverage in the media.  In airline travel and sports at all levels, millions of people travel or participate safely; it is only the rare injury or death that is scrutinized.  So it is with immunizations.  The unfortunate reality is that no vaccine is 100 percent safe.  There is always an extremely small chance that the recipient will develop an adverse reaction.  Conversely, millions upon millions of individuals have been vaccinated against diseases ranging from influenza to traditional childhood diseases.  There is no questioning that the individual and public health benefit far outweighs the risk.  Those statistics are small comfort, however, to that rare person who is made ill by the vaccine itself.  The bottom line here is that the odds are overwhelmingly for protecting yourself by getting immunized, the flu-related conditions that kill in excess of 36,000 annually clearly warrant that prevention.  Any adverse reaction to the flu shot should be reported immediately to your physician or the place that administered the vaccination.  Accurate and timely reporting supports both rapid treatment and the sustainment of the tremendously safe and effective vaccination policies across the nation.