swine flu shot

[peggy5]

I know this is not the place to post about this subject but figured with parents of young kids it might be good place to get advice & get different view points but I do apologize for bringing up this non happy subject & I appreciate any input from you.

Like many parents, I'm debating whether or not to give DD(3 yrs old) the swine flu shot she's had the regular flu shot already. Also whether give mist or vaccine is another point of confusion.

There are way too many conflicting reports out there & dr's are giving straight answers?? Our cruise on the Wonder is coming up Nov & I just don't know what to do whether to get her the shot prior to the trip or not wait? Well actually for now, the shot isn't even available so I guess I can't do anything but if it is available 1st or 2nd week of Nov I just don't know which way to go about it.

[trimix]

Thanks for asking, and thanks for having an open mind - you are in a much better position than idiots who want to believe bad things and have convinced themselves the swine flu vaccine is a conspiracy to kill off minorities...

Here's my advice:
Plan to get the vaccine after your cruise.
Here's why:
First, the swine flu vaccine probably won't be widely available until mid December at the earliest. Supposedly around 50 million doses will be available by mid November, but with over 304 million people in the US that is less than one dose for every six people.
Second, although I doubt there is any real issue, I know concerns and fears are perfectly understandable. Especially when you consider that more people died from the vaccine than from the flu during the 1976 outbreak. But when we see no bad side effects a month after 50 million people get the shot, and when more than 100 million people have been vaccinated, you'll see there is nothing to worry about.

Like you, I have seen a lot of negative reports about the swine flu vaccine. But not one report I have come across has had any scientific validity. I regularly see similar negative reports about other childhood vaccines, such as the whooping cough vaccine. Then I roll my eyes when I see news reports about whooping cough outbreaks.

[DrD]

It is recommended for kids to get it. If not they are at risk of DEATH from H1N1. I am a doc and my kids are getting it, and I got it last week.

[SharonLowe]

If you can get it, I would. Both my DD (11) and I got H1N1 and we were MISERABLE for over a week. I've been through a lot of stuff, including breast cancer, and that was the worst I have ever felt!

[babycakes01]

Well, I just found out today that my 8 yo has the swine flu- my 5 yo will be getting the shot on Sat.
It has been pretty rough going for a week now; and I am just saying my prayers for him- and watching him like a hawk!
My 5 yo is exhibiting some symptoms and the MD will check him out prior to the shot on Sat- sorry for being long winded but I guess my point is I wish the darn shot had been available prior to this week here-so my poor baby wouldn't have to have gone thru this-
all parents- If you have the chance take the shot for your child-it's kind of like playing russian roulette

[ciao_gina]

Originally Posted by babycakes01

Well, I just found out today that my 8 yo has the swine flu- my 5 yo will be getting the shot on Sat.
It has been pretty rough going for a week now; and I am just saying my prayers for him- and watching him like a hawk!
My 5 yo is exhibiting some symptoms and the MD will check him out prior to the shot on Sat- sorry for being long winded but I guess my point is I wish the darn shot had been available prior to this week here-so my poor baby wouldn't have to have gone thru this-
all parents- If you have the chance take the shot for your child-it's kind of like playing russian roulette

Actually it depends where you live as far as the availability of the vaccine. I went last week and was able to choose between the seasonal flu mist and the H1N1 mist. Because he is under 8 he could not have the shot and they are both live viruses so he couldn't have both. I chose the seasonal flu mist.

[babycakes01]

They have both already had the seasonal flu shot- I was writing specifically about the H1N1 vaccine.

[platamama]

As you point out, getting access to the H1N1 vaccine is problematic at this time. Even getting the regular seasonal flu vaccine is hard because every place I've called is out of it. My pediatrician's office cancelled their regular flu vaccine clinic due to lack of supply. Manufacturers are trying to produce two separate flu vaccines rather than just the regular flu like in the past and running into delays in the manufacturing process, which though understandable makes it difficult to plan around.

PP who got the H1N1 vaccine for self and kids probably had first shot (ha ha) at it when it became available since s/he is in the healthcare field, and that's not a position most of us find ourselves in. I know my county in Colorado had to cancel H1N1 vaccine clinics in the schools due to lack of supply. (P.S. PP I think most of us are aware of the serious nature of H1N1, the scare tactic of DEATH is a little unnecessary)

I too am leaving for our Nov. cruise pretty soon and feel nervous about the fact that we're not vaccinated for either flu right now, but if it's not available there's nothing I can do about that, and both DD due to age and me due to preexisting conditions should be. I've read that H1N1 shot should be given 4 weeks after the seasonal flu shot (if it's not given at the same time - I think due to the body's immunological process in responding to a vaccine), and children under 10 need to have a 2nd H1N1 3-4 weeks after the 1st.

I read an article today about how the government was expecting 120 Million doses to be ready by now - but there's only 13 Million ready. As was worried about earlier in the year, it may be that most people come down with H1N1 before the vaccine ever becomes widely available.

I bought trip insurance so at least if we get hit, there won't be the financial hit as well. Although I'd much rather not need to use it.

Wash hands, wash hands, wash hands, and good luck!

[asreitzel]

We leave in 2 weeks and I was really hoping to get the vaccine before we leave. Right now it isn't looking good, but that is another issue!

The reason I want to get it prior to leaving is that if anyone boards the ship with the virus, I would imagine that it will spread throughout the ship very quickly. Since you are contageous before you are symptomatic, no amount of screening could prevent it 100%. With an incubation that the CDC estimates at 1-4 days, we could be wiped out starting on day 2 and stay sick for the rest of our 7 night cruise ! While I know trip insurance will reimburse me for part of the trip (Access America made an exception for H1N1 - normally they do not cover any illness declared a pandemic)...I have been planning this for so long that I want to do anything possible to stay healthy for the duration. I'm already thinking about alternatives if we are denied boarding or can't even fly to MCO because we are already sick. Several from DDs class are out (including the teacher), so I feel like it is only a matter of time.

[JohnO]

Put me in the catagory of people who don't like the idea of intentionally exposing my children to the foreign RNA of viruses.

[ciao_gina]

Originally Posted by babycakes01

They have both already had the seasonal flu shot- I was writing specifically about the H1N1 vaccine.

Then go for it. Get the H1N1. My point was that I would have gotten both had I had the option.

[peggy5]

Well the mist is available in our area(today), I found about it today & so DH & I just weren't ready to make such a fast decision about DD(3) getting it. With that said we also just found out, most likely, she can't get the mist regardless as she has sports(exercise) induced asthma so waiting for the shot to be available & more info on the mist & then decide whether to go for one or the other or none at all.

I'd love to hear those deciding against the vaccine/& or the mist & reason(s) why? Also thanks very much to all of you. Your view points are greatly, greatly appreciated. Wishing the very best of health to all of us.

[Griffith6]

My 4 kids (3, 4, 7 and 8) got the H1N1 mist almost 2 weeks ago - no issues at all (knock on wood). We leave on are the Magic Nov 27-Dec 5 and want to keep healthy. We just lucked out with timing at pediatricians office with my oldest as they just received 1st shipment and then they let me bring my other 3 kids in next day. We know a lot of people & kids with the virus now - so far so good!

[DrD]

Originally Posted by JohnO

Put me in the catagory of people who don't like the idea of intentionally exposing my children to the foreign RNA of viruses.

And your reason for this is???

and will you be able to live with yourself if your child dies of a preventable disease?

what about mumps, rubella, etc?

So I guess your kids will just ride the herd immunity and let my kids take the shot?

astonishing. you don't even seem embarassed about it.



To clarify my earlier post my kids have NOT got the H1N1 yet as it's not available, I got mine because I work in a high-risk field. My kids will get it ASAP. I've seen too much to not get the shot for them.

[pixiedustaholic]

Both my kids have had their seasonal flu shot and I was not planning on getting the H1N1 b/c I didn't really have enough info. but now I don't have to worry about it.

BOTH my kids DD12 and DS8 came down with it this week. It was pretty mild for DS. DD just woke up with the fever this morning. So far, it hasn't been nearly what we had expected. Their dr. said it's been pretty mild around here.

Whatever you do, make sure you have trip insurance. I didn't get it and two weeks before the cruise, there was a chicken pox outbreak at DD's school and I was freaking out. I went to insuremytrip.com and for $89, I had peace of mind. Didn't end up needing it but it was there in case. I will always buy trip insurance from now on. (Just not Disney's crazy priced insurance!)