Swine Flu: Vaccinating Jeopardy
Monday, November 02, 2009 Read more → Canadian-Muslims, Health, swine flu, Zahra-Shah In the name of God, entirely Compassionate, especially Merciful | Peace be with you

The H1N1 vaccine has been approved for rollout across Canada, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced Wednesday.
I'm happy to say that today Health Canada has authorized the H1N1 flu virus vaccine," Aglukkaq told an Ottawa news conference.
"This is a milestone in our efforts to fight H1N1 flu virus."
She encouraged all Canadians to get the vaccine once it is available in their community, as early as next week.
Source - cbc.ca
With over 350 confirmed cases in my area it has my sister wondering whether or not it’s safe to send my four year old sister, Makki, to school.
Why my 21 year old sister is raising my 4 year old sister is a whole other story but in brief my dad lives with her and my youngest sister's mother, very much like my own, made a lot of questionable decisions and ran off. Understandably I feel my little sister's pain when she asks why she can't call her sister mommy… Every kid wants a mum but Alhamdulillah my sister is doing a wonderful job with the support of my father who works full time and attends Uni.
A lot of people are contracting the H1N1 (swine flu) virus and a few children in the country have died, and now my sister is having the very tough and important decision of whether to send our younger sister to school. She does but constantly voices her worries of Makki getting sick.
With free swine flu vaccines out this coming week yet another tough decision is to vaccinate this little girl with no knowledge of what’s in the vaccine.
Whether you get vaccinated or not I’m sure both options have risks, me personally I will not be getting the vaccine although I am not going to assume I am not at risk, but I do my best to take care of my body, eat well, exercise when I can and get enough rest. InshaAllah the life style I live will be one which keeps my immune system strong and give me the ability to fight off this virus. InshaAllah I won’t have to worry about swine flu, I pray that they can stop this outbreak and no one else will have to become ill from this virus.
As an adult it’s easy to make a decision for myself and am able to deal with the pros and cons of what ever I decide. For people with children I can only imagine the amount of sleep lost over this issue. To be quite honest I am not in the least jealous that my younger sister will be making this decision for the youngest member in my immediate family member.
Do you vaccinate when you know little or nothing about what’s being injected in to the body of this child, or do you risk it? I’m sure it’s a risk both ways but am glad I am not left to make this decision.
At this exact moment she says she’s unsure but is considering it, and is worried about the risks on both sides. Well she has a few days left to decide until they give the vaccines to the general public in our area.
It was flu season in New Zealand when I was there and I've arrived to another flu season in Canada… 3 winters in a row… so far, so good.
Is anyone else deciding whether or not to get the H1N1 Vaccine? I know not a lot of countries are giving this vaccine.
If you had to make the decision of whether or not to be vaccinated what would you do?
Anyways like always, I’ll keep you posted. May Allah be with you…
Asalaam alaikum.
Picture By: The Immigrant, Zahra