those NOT vaccinating against H1N1 - tell me why

[surfergirl602]

I have three children, ages 9, 7, and 2 and a half. I'm also 6 weeks pregnant. I am very VERY hesitant to give my family such a new vaccine for something that Dr's have told me your body can fight off anyway. We are all healthy, with no allergies, health problems, etc. If you've chosen NOT to give your family the vaccine, please let me know your reasons.
Thank you!

(I don't want to know why you did, just those that aren't, thank you!)

[DWGal210]

I've decided not to get the vaccine; here are my personal reasons.

- I am not in the "at risk" categories (very young children or senior citizens).

- I'm also a bit nervous about the speed at which the vaccine was made available.

- I do not have any other serious health issues (bad asthma, lung problems, etc) that could turn into something worse if I do get the flu.

- Since the "cure" for the swine flu is the same as any other flu (stay home, get rest, plenty of fluids, etc), and since the precautions for not getting the flu are also the same (wash your hands, don't share drinks with people, etc), it doesn't seem a dire situation to me to get the vaccine.

Just me 2 cents.

[Deb in IA]

Although you asked only for people who are not vaccinating, I HAVE to correct a your misstatement.

This is NOT a new vaccine. This vaccine is produced in the exact same method that has been used for over 20 years now for the seasonal flu, and is litterally indentical to it.

And since you are pregnant, please reconsider your decision. Pregnant women, even if they are healthy, are much more likely than the general population to develop severe disease. They are four times more likely to be hospitalized, and have a unusually high death rate.

[LindaR]

Because its MY body and *I* make decisions based upon what I feel is best for ME. And it MY business only.

I despise the "herd" mentality and the idea that some all-knowing group wants to tell me what I should and should not do!

[Darsa]

LOL, I had to giggle there a little.

I'm not getting the vaccine because I'm at the very bottom of the risk group, apparently. I'm leaving it for those who are more high risk than myself.

Though if there was plenty to be had for all, I would probably get it. Not because I'm the member of a herd (giggle) but because it seems to be a reasonable and logical thing to do.

JMHO, of course

[LindaR]

Here's a little background.......I spent 8 years in the military....hence my statement about "herd" mentality! Uncle Sam owned me and made all my decisions.

Now *I* run my life and make my own decisions!

[daughtersrus]

I don't plan on getting it for myself or my two oldest children because we are not in the high risk group.

I did plan to get it for my youngest DD. She is in the risk group as she has many medical problems because of the genetic disease that she has. Right now the only thing that we have here locally is the nasal vaccine and she can't have that. So, we have to hold off until the injection becomes available. I called the county health dept today and they are expecting anytime. There's a clinic at one of our local schools on Friday so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the injections come in by then.

[disney1990]

The pregnant female body is designed to not fight off illnesses or foreign bodies because otherwise it would be fighting to get rid of the fetus. Therefore, it will not fight off the flu (or H1N1) making it even more dangerous to a person that is pregnant. In addition, the fetus pushes up against the lungs making it difficult for a pregnant female to take in full deep breathes. (After surgery, they give you something to regularly blow in to help you to fully breathe and take in deep breathes). Without the ability to take in deep breathes you cannot properly fight off the flu after it lands in your lungs and H1N1 is more deeply inbedded in your lungs than the regular flu - this is what leads to pneumonia. There are stories on the news and here on the DIS board about people dying from the flu. It is a risk tht you take if you don't take the shot -- but, you are right, it is YOUR risk to take and nobody has a right to make you take a vaccine that you do not want to take.

[DWGal210]

Originally Posted by Deb in IA

Although you asked only for people who are not vaccinating, I HAVE to correct a your misstatement.

This is NOT a new vaccine. This vaccine is produced in the exact same method that has been used for over 20 years now for the seasonal flu, and is litterally indentical to it.

And since you are pregnant, please reconsider your decision. Pregnant women, even if they are healthy, are much more likely than the general population to develop severe disease. They are four times more likely to be hospitalized, and have a unusually high death rate.

Thank you for the info, Deb...I didn't know that.

Now I guess a question for me; if this new vaccine is identical to the old one, then why the hype over it? I'm not a huge fan of the general flu vaccine either, but it just seems like there is a lot out there about this vaccine being "new".

[tar heel]

If I were pregnant, I would get it. I'm sure Deb can tell us, but hasn't that been one of the biggest groups for fatalities? I know there have been two in may area.

Because of the limited supply, I'm not in a group that can get it right now. I'm too young (or old), depending on your perspective, and generally healthy. I had the regular flu shot, though.

[eeyoremum]

If you had asked me a week ago I would have told you:

I don't do flu shot so I would not get this.

It is too new.

Mercury and other hamful chemicals.

My family is health and well.

Why is it that young children and pregnant women should not be vacinated but NOW they should be. Oh and I don't have young child and I am not pregnant. My boys are 10 and 15

THEN:

This weekend two seemingly health children age 10 and 13 with NO underlining health issues took ill with H1N1 and died within 48 hours of the first symptom.



SO:

We are now on the fence. I am still totally 100% opposed to the vacine in my heart I don't want to give it to them.

I also don't want to be the parent that said no and something happens.

That said I don't think my 15 year old would go quietly. He is a major conspiracy theory nut and see this vacine as some kind of world population decreaser. He truely thinks that those that get the vacine will get sicker and die.

so as of today my DH and I are going to discuss it again. We are not in a high risk group so can't even get it until next week or the week after.

[Darsa]

Not to derail, but what exactly is the connection between the flu vaccine and mercury? My DSister has had issues with mercury in the past, and I don't want her to end up with problems, if she gets the shot, because of this!

[KristinBelle]

It's too late for us, my son already has H1N1 now. He's on day 3 and feeling much better!

[Deb in IA]

Originally Posted by DWGal210

Thank you for the info, Deb...I didn't know that.

Now I guess a question for me; if this new vaccine is identical to the old one, then why the hype over it? I'm not a huge fan of the general flu vaccine either, but it just seems like there is a lot out there about this vaccine being "new".

You are totally welcome. I just want people to have the right information.

As for why it is being called "new" - I think this is because the H1N1 virus itself is "new" - in other words, a newer strain of Influenza A that first appeared around February, 2009 and has been spreading ever since.

And another misconception about thimerosol - it is ONLY contained in the multi-dose vials. If you get either the nasal or injection as a single dose syringe, there is no thimerosol and no mercury.

[clutter]

Not vaccinating dd12. Why? She was diagnosed (but not tested) with swine in June. In October, she was at a sleepover bd party where many of the guests took home swine flu (confirmed) as their goody bag. She didn't get even a symptom (one confirmed case was the little brother who had no other exposure to the girls that brought it). So, it seems that she has immunity from June. Since I didn't get it, or if I did, it was so mild as to not be noticable, I think I'm likely immune too.

FWIW, the last time I got the seasonal flu was in 1989. In all that time, I've only gotten the vaccine twice.