H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccinations are free in many cases, but what are the real costs?

The seasonal flu shot has been available since September. The H1N1 nasal spray since October 7^th. The H1N1 shot was available for the first time in Southwest Georgia Wednesday.

“Is it safe? Is it gonna cause me to have a stroke or whatever?” asked Sylvester’s William Crawley.

William Crawley is not alone in his sentiments. There are scores of websites dedicated to flu shot side effects, seasonal and H1N1– and it’s got people like Crawley and Albany’s Mary Langston scared to take it.

“I’ve heard of people that went into a coma, actually,” said Crawley.

Langston added, “My husband had taken it one year and he got real sick off it so I’ve just never gotten one.

Doctors say one of the most common side effect claims is getting the flu from the flu shot. Southwest Georgia Public Health Director Dr. Jacquelyn Grant says most of the time it’s coincidence.

“Takes about 10 to 14 days depending on which type of flu vaccination you receive for a person to develop immunity – so it may just be coincidentally that they were exposed to someone with the flu before they had a chance to develop immunity,” said Grant.

Grant adds that because the shot contains a dead virus, it’s impossible to catch the flu from it.

“Now with the live virus, the nasal spray, it is a weakened live virus so someone who is severly immuno-compromised, could potentially get the flu from that and that’s why we don’t give it to persons that have chronic medical conditions.”

But what about those more serious side effects? Many believe vaccines cause Autism and Gillian Barre syndrome. Grant says those theories come from a flu shot preservative called Thimerosal which contains mercury.

“That has never actually been proven,” said Grant, “there has been a move towards removing that from the vaccines and in 2001, thermersol was removed from all vaccines, except for influenza vaccine.”

Grant says Thimerosal is not in the seasonal or H1N1 nasal mist or one-time shot – it’s only in multi-dose flu vaccines.

“The amount that’s in it is very, very small.”

So what is normal? Grant says there are side effects to flu vaccines, but anything serious is out of the ordinary.

“Some people will have some pain or redness at the injection site, some people will run a low grade fever after vaccinations, some people will just feel bad after a flu or any type of vaccine.”

Even with little proof of serious flu-shot side effects, a new independent group of health care officials will monitor H1N1 vaccine side effects, and track the seasonal flu, too – showing that skepticism, however unfounded, remains.

“I don’t wanna take a chance,” Crawley said.

But are you taking a chance by not getting vaccinated? We want your feedback. Comment below!