It's late August in North America and in few weeks one of the most controversial vaccination programs in world history will be kicking off in the United States.
The untested H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine will be offered to pregnant women, children, the elderly, and people with underlying respiratory diseases.
People, parents, children that care for parents, and those already at risk will be asked to make a difficult choice about the "best treatment for swine flu", face the possible H1N1 pandemic undefended that the government is gearing up for or face up to the ugly "rumors" that surround the vaccine.
Here is some information to help you reach a decision.
Brace yourself, it's all scary.

• Symptoms of swine flu: Fever, headache, massive congestion in the lungs and nasal passages, muscle soreness, shortness of breath, and weakness.
  
• How long does it last? In most cases symptoms go on for one to three weeks with cases leading to gradual improvement in the final stage or unfortunately in some cases death.
  The latest version of the virus has killed over 500 people in the United States alone thus far and some of those victims were in great shape before the infection took hold.
  
• What is the likelihood of infection? That's the million dollar question.
  The answer is completely unknown but consider this; The virus is extremely contagious, it is a confirmed killer, and even if only one person in the united states is infected, imagine its you.
  

Now let's consider the vaccination.

• Will vaccination prevent H1N1? We hope so.
  No one knows for sure.
  The vaccination has been used in tests on people but the results are inconclusive.
  If we look to the success of other flu vaccines for confirmation it should "in theory" work but in reality as it stands right now its an act of faith.
  
• What does the treatment entail? The updated inoculation will be administered in 2 doses.
  The last time a swine flu vaccine was rushed into circulation in 1976 22,000 people suffered serious side effects including Guillain-Barre syndrome, a condition leading to paralysis and in some cases death.
  
• What makes the vaccine sketchy? Thermisol.
  This ingredient is the epicenter of all the controversy.
  The United States is one of the few remaining countries to even allow Thermisol in vaccine formulas.
  It is the ingredient believed to cause Autism in vaccinated children as well as a host of other terrible side effects.
  

This is the choice we face.
To brave the terrible wrath of an H1N1 epidemic or risk the uncertain but equally horrifying possible side effect of placing our faith in science.
It will be up to each of us alone to make the best "choice" we can about the best treatment for swine flu while a choice remains.
As we speak the government is debating regulation that will force the vaccine on you.
For better or worse the thing to do now is gather as much information as possible.