With free soap in Ho Plaza and newly installed hand-sanitizer dispensers all over campus, swine flu prevention is in style at Cornell. But, despite the fact that clean-hand vigilance goes a long way in keeping us healthy, it won’t actually prevent us from getting sick if – God forbid – we contract H1N1.

Immunization will. And it could be the rage on campus in the foreseeable future.

The FDA approved four swine flu vaccines last Tuesday after clinical trials indicated the vaccine to be well-tolerated with side effects similar to those associated with the seasonal flu vaccine. The results also indicated that one dose was sufficient to establish H1N1 immunity in adults, a nice surprise from the expected two dose minimum, which would have greatly damped the available supply of vaccines. An FDA scientist reassured the public that the vaccines underwent the same rigorous manufacturing oversight and quality testing as the seasonal flu vaccines made by the companies that will produce the H1N1 vaccine.

CDC officials announced on Friday that vaccines will be shipped in the next two weeks. The majority of the first 3.4 million doses will be in the form of the FluMist spray vaccine, although federal officials speculated that a limited number of injectable vaccines may be available early. The Associated Press reported that according to the World Health Organization (WHO), if seasonal flu vaccine manufacturers were to switch to producing H1N1 vaccine, production capacity could allow for all 6.3 billion doses: enough for everyone in the world (literally) to get vaccinated.

For now, the vaccine will be distributed based on population and the number of doses requested to each state. In a letter to health care providers, the New York State Health Department demanded that providers registering to obtain H1N1 vaccine must agree to provide vaccine only to groups targeted for vaccination by the CDC, including all people from 6 months to 24 years old (that’s you, Big Red), among other groups. People with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease which may put them at risk for complications associated with H1N1 are a priority group.

However, despite the sense of security offered by the swine flu vaccine, it is important to remember that the benefits from vaccination always come with risks. A classic case: in 1976 during the last H1N1 outbreak, the government aimed to vaccinate 43 million people against a swine flu strain that never actually spread beyond 240 soldiers in a New Jersey. Long story short, 500 people who were vaccinated developed

Guillain-Barre syndrome, a neurodegenerative disease that is understood to have been a rare side effect of the 1976 H1N1 vaccination. Public health officials ultimately suspended their vaccination efforts after 10 short weeks, and the Director of the CDC lost his job.

So, when H1N1 vaccine comes to campus, protect yourself the way that makes the best sense for you. Whether that means getting the H1N1 vaccine or simply foregoing solo cups and nights at Collegetown bars, please approach swine flu prevention responsibly!