Conference in Reston Focuses on Vaccine Concerns

State and local health directors are urging just about everyone to get the H1N1 Flu vaccine but convincing attendees at a vaccine safety conference in Reston, Virginia may be its own challenge.

Barbara Loe Fisher is the President of the National Vaccine Information Center, a nonprofit, consumer advocacy group. She says people need to be better informed before getting vaccines.

"Understand your personal medical history, get the information about the infectious disease, about the vaccine, and make the best decision you can with the information you've gotten," Fisher says.

Many among the 600 registered for the Centers 4th annual conference have serious qualms about the H1N1 vaccination.

Jennifer Hutchinson of Winchester, Virginia is writing a book about brain damage she says her grandson suffered after a rabies shot. She says the swine flu vaccine is more hype than necessity.

"I think it's trying to scare people into shots that most people don't need," she says.

Bill Price of Vienna, Virginia agrees.

"I'm not going to get it," Price says. "I have a good diet, and I take care of myself. So it should be a problem and even if it is, the worst thing that happens is I'm sick for a few days."

But Dr. Karen Remley, state health commissioner for Virginia, says while the H1N1 flu has been a moderate flu strain so far 50 children across the country have died from related symptoms. She urges everyone to get the vaccine.

Jonathan Wilson reports...