Online misinformation about H1N1 'frustrates' Nova Scotia's chief public health officer

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Published: December 03, 2009 10:47 a.m.

Last modified: December 03, 2009 10:49 a.m.

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Nova Scotia's chief public health officer is frustrated by misinformation on the Internet about H1N1.

Dr. Robert Strang said today that websites such as YouTube allow anyone to pose as an expert and it can be confusing when you're simply looking for answers to questions.

“While it's good for people to have questions about H1N1 so they can make informed decisions, it's also important to be careful about what you deem as credible sources of information,” he said in a release.

“Are you going to trust information from an anonymous source on the Internet, or well-documented scientific information backed by research?”

Strang said he's been hearing concerns from people about the possibility of getting Guillain-Barre syndrome - a neurological condition that causes numbness in toes and fingers - from the swine flu vaccine.

He said a link between the disorder and influenza immunization hasn't been fully proven.

“Even if there is a link, the risk of contracting GBS after getting the influenza vaccine is, at most, one additional GBS case for every one million doses administered,” he said.

“The fact is, people are at far greater risk of developing GBS after getting the flu than after getting the vaccine.”

Strang said people are also concerned about having anaphylaxis, or an acute allergic reaction, to the shot.

“It's not unique to vaccines,” he said.

He said allergic reactions to the vaccine happen rapidly and can be treated successfully at the clinic, which is why people receiving the shot are asked to stay for 15 minutes after immunization.

“The HINI vaccine is safe. It works,” said Strang. “The risks of getting severely ill or dying from HINI are greater than any potential risks from the HINI vaccine.”

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