With all the noise surrounding swine flu, do you want to take a preventative vaccine before you travel.
American doctors just began administering swine flu (H1N1) vaccines to health care officials to help curb the spread of a the virus. While the effects of the virus have been comparable to the normal flu in the US, it has been devastating to populations in areas with less access to health care, specifically Mexico. While most westerners needn't be too worried about the virus, it presents unique concerns to backpackers. You could either contract the virus in the US and not have it manifest until you are out of a first world setting or carry the virus and have it spread to communities that are not currently effected. If a vaccine became available to you, would you want to take it? Do you feel that travelers have a duty to protect the communities they visit from such a virus by being immunized? Do you think the vaccine should be governmentally required for travelers a la yellow fever vaccines? As a traveler who has to worry about malaria, dengue fever and AIDS, is swine flu even on your radar?
Reply to this I think your last question summed it up for me... the fatality rates are proving low (except for people who have underlying respiratory conditions) - that while I will avoid being coughed and sneezed on - I'm not really worried about contracting it - other than the possibility of being quarantined by cautious authorities.
I think the hype surrounding the swine flu about 9 months back - was in some ways justified - throughout human history there have been plagues and pandemics - are we in a lull before the next one? - or are we really arrogant enough to think that we have conquered this threat with the current state of our scientific knowledge?
But - with other lovelies like dengue and malaria and yellow fever and gastro parasites etc etc - that are genuine risks for adventurous travellers - and to populations in poorer countries - it's lower on my list of personal concerns.
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