Four people have apparently died of the H1N1 vaccine in Sweden. Two elderly patients who had preexisting health conditions died just days after receiving the swine flu vaccine and two others who also suffered from health conditions. It has not been proven that the swine flu vaccine caused their deaths.
CBS medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton said, “In medicine we can never say with 100 percent certainty that anything is safe. There are always risks. You have to balance proposed risks versus proposed benefits, and the risk of this virus, we know is particularly high for younger people, including children. The risks of the vaccine, which you can never say are zero as all government health officials and scientists have told us are so low, they are (immeasurable).”
| Symptom | Cold | H1N1 Flu |
| Fever | Fever is rare with a cold. | Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the H1N1 flu. |
| Coughing | A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold. | A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the H1N1 flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough). |
| Aches | Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold. | Severe aches and pains are common with the H1N1 flu. |
| Stuffy Nose | Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week. | Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the H1N1 flu. |
| Chills | Chills are uncommon with a cold. | 60% of people who have the H1N1 flu experience chills. |
| Tiredness | Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold. | Tiredness is moderate to severe with the H1N1 flu. |
| Sneezing | Sneezing is commonly present with a cold. | Sneezing is not common with the H1N1 flu. |
| Sudden Symptoms | Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days. | The H1N1 flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains. |
| Headache | A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold. | A headache is very common with the H1N1 flu, present in 80% of flu cases. |
| Sore Throat | Sore throat is commonly present with a cold. | Sore throat is not commonly present with the H1N1 flu. |
| Chest Discomfort | Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold. | Chest discomfort is often severe with the H1N1 flu. |
