Basically, some people are trying to get this new variety of influenza, hoping to "vaccinate" themselves against it in case it comes back later in a more severe form (like the 1918 influenza did -- it first struck in mild form, then reappeared later in deadly form).
The article mentions similar methods used with respect to chicken pox by those who distrust vaccines. It also mentions that in earlier times, this method was also used for smallpox (before the cowpox-based vaccine was discovered), a much more dangerous virus.
The article mentions similar methods used with respect to chicken pox by those who distrust vaccines. It also mentions that in earlier times, this method was also used for smallpox (before the cowpox-based vaccine was discovered), a much more dangerous virus.