| Well, the major threat from any pandemic is how easily it would spread throughout the globe. A single person can lead to the infection of an entire continent - the seriousness of that really can't be overestimated. You get on a plane and the air keeps circulating, ensuring every passenger gets infected. Some of them can infect other people at the airport, others will have connecting flights where even more will get infected.
Now combine this with the fact that we have absolutely no way of killing a virus and it gets even scarier. (and even if we could re-code a virus, it'd be irresponsible to take the chance of a further mutation that made it even deadlier.) At best we can get a vaccine, which doesn't do anyone who's already been infected any good - nor does it help people who can't get the vaccine. Leaving aside the issue of cost and distribution, work on a vaccine could only begin once the strain has been isolated - and it'd take time to get a meaningful quantity produced.
There's no doubt also a lot of misinformation. Most masks that you can buy at pharmacies are absolutely useless, because they can't filter the tiniest of particles. The ones that can cost quite a lot and you'll need a new one every time you step out the door. Most people can't afford a proper reserve of them, so they buy cheaper ones thinking it'll offer at least some protection, wasting money. (They do actually protect others though, spit gets stuck on it and that reduces the chance to infect someone else - doesn't do you much good though if others aren't wearing them) You'd need proper surgical gloves and eye protection as well to make leaving your home safe.
Likewise a single pack of Tamiflu is going to get you through maybe 2-3 days. You'd need about 3 weeks of reserves (per person) which runs a few thousand dollars easily for a small family. In case of an actual pandemic, you'll have a hell of a time getting it... everyone else will want it as well, everyone will THINK they have symptoms and run to a hospital (where they'll be surrounded by sick people, ensuring they get infected if they hadn't already been) and they won't be able to deal with the demand. Until support lines are set up, it'll be too late for many. (you should take it within 12hrs of the first symptoms, but the sooner the better)
Considering the speed of spreading, you'd be best of taking a vacation off work the second a human-to-human infection is as much as suspected. Chances are, someone made it out of that country, infected others and it's begun. I think pandemic threats are estimated to last about 3 months, until you can get your vaccine and continue life as normal.
You can definitely overprotect yourself and that's just a waste of money - but some degree of preparation is probably a good idea, too. (ie a pack of Tamiflu to bridge the initial shortage isn't the worst idea)
As for influenza vaccines: If you're around people at all, you should get them regardless of the avian flu. It's cheap enough and not being sick with the flu is useful on its own. You can get them at any pharmacy (I'm sure that's the same in the US) and it takes like 2 minutes to do. As for the mercury thing: there has, to my knowledge, never been any peer-reviewed study that claimed a link to autism... certainly not in a credible publication. Besides, even the "concerned" people only suspected it in children and never in adults - so unless you're 6 this isn't an issue.
Btw:
I just noticed that Tamiflu contains Cyclohexene - not Cyclohexane as the quoted part claims. I should have read that more closely heh... that's a different structure and at worst causes skin irritations, but is otherwise harmless. It's in the details... | 