I just recieved the H1N1 flu vaccine ....and it hurts but not much ....It is gevine intramuscular (no wonder it hurt)in the deltoid muscle...many of my collegues who took it did not get any Gillian Barry syndrome (nerves inflammations and muscle weakness )  as one of the most told side effects in the rumor  but they experienced muscle aches,chills and even low grade fever ,but that is OK as these are very mild and temporary .I wish I do not get any side effects as I'm on call tonight !!!!  Any how I will tell you if I develpe any side effects


There was lots of rumors about this vaccination. Actually the talk about it became a hotter issue in Saudi Arabia than the H1N1 and many people still skeptical about it and they refuse to take it  that why Saudi Arabia's health minister received the H1N1 vaccination few Weaks ago in a televised campaign to calm the fears about the safety of the vaccine.. The government strongly recommend the vaccine to people coming to the kindome for the Hajj, a pilgrimage required of Muslims at least once in their lives if they are capable mentally physically and financially.

However , I really noticed that flu scare has not affected Haj as loads and loads of them are coming . Also on daily bases I see many elderly week pilgrims walking through the pilgrims crowds in Holy Mecca

It is expected that the virus is mutating to more virulent form and the statistics is showing that up to 80% of those who need critical care unit will die. Moreover ,according to the reports coming now ,the H1N1 virus is now able to multiply in lung by 1000 times more that the rest of the organs and it gain the ability to cause pnemonitis as it was thought before that the lung infection associated with this virus is due to secondary bacterial pneumonia but this is not the case any more....

The vaccine is the single most important tool that we have against influenza, and as a physician i really believes it vital for health care workers, pregnant ladies,pilgrims,and children.  safety of the H1N1 vaccines have been already  approved, as it contain the same biochemical ingredients  used for years and years and years in the seasonal vaccine formulation and have been shown to be among the safest vaccines that exist. The government is providing it for free to everyone. 

Finally ,winter is coming and it will be about the sometime when H1N1 virus pandemic went wild in 1918 so I encourage all of you to take the vaccine especially that our government,that's doctor order.

I wish every one a healthy life and for pilgrims safe and wonderful haj