Safety Concerns Linger for H1N1 Vaccine
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that more than 22 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine are currently available. But, despite the high demand and long lines for these vaccines, some doctors are still on the fence about recommending it.
The current death toll from H1N1 is more than 1,000 deaths - which includes 100 pediatric swine flu deaths.
However, despite the high numbers of deaths, some parents and doctors are still uneasy about the new vaccine. "The Early Show" staff conducted an unscientific poll in which we called 100 anonymous doctors from around the country. Among those surveyed, 91 doctors said they would recommend the vaccine, while nine doctors said they would not.
CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton said on "The Early Show" about 35 percent of the U.S. Population on any given year normally receives a seasonal flu shot. However, a recent CBS poll revealed about 50 percent of Americans want to get the H1N1 flu vaccine.
But is the vaccine safe?
"In medicine...we can never say with 100 percent certainty that anything is safe," Ashton said. "There are always risks. ... You have to balance proposed risks versus proposed benefits, and the risk of this virus, we know is particularly high for younger people, including children. The risks of the vaccine, which you can never say are zero as all government health officials and scientists have told us are so low, they are (immeasurable)."