H1N1 vaccine - has your child gotten it yet?

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Just want to clarify that the vaccine does not contain adjuvants in the U.S. right now.

This is correct! This is just some of the misinformation circulating out there. Some Dr's are not even up on this info!
http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/vaccination/pregnant_qa.htm

Does the 2009 H1N1 flu shot have an adjuvant or squalene in it?

Adjuvants are agents that are sometimes added to a vaccine to make it more effective. There are no adjuvants (such as squalene) in either the 2009 H1N1 or seasonal flu shot used in the United States.

 

[Christine]

I just wanted to chime in that I hope in posting my info about how the vaccine was manufactured was in no way a criticism on vaccinating or not vaccinating. I only wanted to correct the info put out by a previous posted that "everything about this vaccine is new." It's not. I just want correct information posted and that's it. I never get a flu shot for myself because the symptoms of the shot are so bad for me that it's not worth it. My son; however, has asthma and being of school age, his exposure is high. I get it for him but I carefully weight the risk-to-benefit ratio.

 

[monkeybug]

In general, the symptoms of a cold are much milder than flu symptoms, but the only accurate way to tell is with the test. However, if you are at home with a stuffy nose, sneezing and feeling run down, you would most likely not think about going to the doctor unless you are running a high fever or you have had these symptoms for a long period of time. Statistically, the chance of you dropping over dead from these mild symptoms are very slim even if you have a preexisting condition. If you have the more severe symptoms, your chance of death rises - especially with a preexisting condition.

With H1N1, people with cold like symptoms are dying. People with serious symptoms are dying. People with and without preexisting conditions are dying. And of course, MOST people with all of those same things mentioned above are recovering just fine, without hospitalization or prescription medication.

I understand that this is scary enough to make people want a vaccine. Heck, I am scared out of my mind that my kids will get this. However, it does not change the fact that they do not have a handle on this virus. I have listened to/watched/read report after report from scientists that are truly baffled by this virus. They all wish they had a better handle on it. There isn't any proof yet that those vaccinated will be immune from the virus. None. It hasn't been tested. It has absolutely been rushed to the market.

There can't be a single person out there that would disagree with the statement that the "facts" regarding H1N1 have been confusing. I expect that with something new. But the fact that there was confusion yesterday and now the vaccine is available, doesn't make the confusion go away. There are unanswered questions and time will tell if they got it right with this vaccine. I truly hope they did but I won't allow my family to be guinea pigs.

I live in the town (or a town, I don't know how many there were) where they conducted the dosage trial. They did the testing to see how much vaccine will give immunity. That's how they know that kids need two doses to get the necessary immune response, while adults only need one. In our town they tested the dual dose. I know two families who were a part of that trial. Neither has had any problems.
My son and I are also fine. I guess it just comes down to which scares you more the disease or the vaccine, and I don't fault anyone for which side they fall on. I also don't feel much like a guinea pig though.

 

[momw/2princesses]

We will not be getting the swine flu vaccine as my girls had the swine flu about 2 weeks ago. Fortunately for us, it was not a huge ordeal overall. Yes, we had fever for several days, body aches, very low appetite, but it was very mild compared to the stories that are on the news every day. It appears that different parts of the country are experiencing a difference in the severity of this flu. Had we not had the swine flu already, I don't know if I would vaccinate them for it. We've had issues in the past with vaccines, and I was leaning against it from the beginning. Now I don't have to make that decision.

 

[LisaR]

I live in the town (or a town, I don't know how many there were) where they conducted the dosage trial. They did the testing to see how much vaccine will give immunity. That's how they know that kids need two doses to get the necessary immune response, while adults only need one. In our town they tested the dual dose. I know two families who were a part of that trial. Neither has had any problems.
My son and I are also fine. I guess it just comes down to which scares you more the disease or the vaccine, and I don't fault anyone for which side they fall on. I also don't feel much like a guinea pig though.

I agree 100% with it coming down to what scares people the most - the vaccine or the virus. I appreciate the information you provided and the non-judgmental way you approached the topic. I was just annoyed with the poster that basically insists that you must not care about your kids if you don't get this vaccination.

 

[Irish9697]

We will not be getting the swine flu vaccine as my girls had the swine flu about 2 weeks ago. Fortunately for us, it was not a huge ordeal overall. Yes, we had fever for several days, body aches, very low appetite, but it was very mild compared to the stories that are on the news every day. It appears that different parts of the country are experiencing a difference in the severity of this flu. Had we not had the swine flu already, I don't know if I would vaccinate them for it. We've had issues in the past with vaccines, and I was leaning against it from the beginning. Now I don't have to make that decision.

My kids (ages 9 & 8) have suspected Swine Flu right now. I say suspected because the Influenza A & B test came back positive. They got the seasonal flu mist 3 weeks ago. Our ped said more than likely it's Swine Flu because that is the strain going around. Anyway, they're both on Tamiflu and it appears that their cases are mild (knock on wood and hope it stays that way). Neither have any underlying conditions, but our ped has recommended the Swine Mist when they are well (must be 30+ days after seasonal mist) to guarantee immunity. Otherwise, if they hadn't *had* the illness, he is recommending 2 Swine doses 30 days apart.

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

Yes...DS2 and I got the H1N1 FluMist today. DS8 might be getting it at school, but we aren't sure yet if he is.

I can say for our family...we did what we thought we should do. Everyone hear needs to remember what might be right for one family, may not be for another.

 

[LeslieG]

Yes...DS2 and I got the H1N1 FluMist today. DS8 might be getting it at school, but we aren't sure yet if he is.

I can say for our family...we did what we thought we should do. Everyone hear needs to remember what might be right for one family, may not be for another.

I wonder why some places are getting the vaccine and other areas aren't. We don't have any in our area yet. Where did you physically go to get it? The health department, your doctor?

 

[golfgal]

My children have not received and none of us will. We don't get seasonal flu vaccines either. I do not trust any of the drug companies enough to get them. This H1N1 vaccine isn't new, most of the drug companies making it have applied for the patent at least 4yrs ago and got approval just this past April, right when swine flu was discovered in Mexico. The adjuvant squalene that they add can cause problems. We all have squalene in our bodies, but when you get it injected from a vaccine, the bodies immune system goes into overdrive, attacking all the squalene in your body. Not to mention the aluminum and mercury that accumlates in your brain from vaccines.

Baxter company had sent a batch of seasonal flu vaccine to Europe in April I think it was. Czech researchers then injected it into ferrets, which they always do and ferrets don't die from human seasonal flu. All the ferrets died and when they tested the vaccine it was found to contain live H5N1-bird flu virus. Whoops, that would have been a huge European bird flu pandemic had that not been found!

Everyone has an opinion on why they should get the vaccine and always say how awful we parents are that don't vaccinate. Maybe we think the same way about the parents that do vaccinate. I don't think we should attack anyone, except for the drug companies and the doctors that don't give the whole story.

And you have links to back up all of this misinformation, right??

 

[Jewel1310]

A little 5 year old that is a friend of our family is in ICU with swine flu that turned to pnuemonia and a staff infection. It happened so quickly. A fever and lethergy in the morning and ICU and a vent by evening. This is very different then other flu viruses in children.

 

[Ember]

Comments like this really irritate me. Why would you think that parents that decide not to vaccinate their kids with H1N1 have made "blatant" decisions with "little actual information?" You don't understand why people would "play with their kids health without having a complete understanding" of the issue? How dare you! I could say the same thing about your decision to vaccinate, but I won't. It is a decision that a parent needs to make with the help of their doctor. My doctor gets the seasonal flu vaccine for herself and her child every year and she will not be getting H1N1 for anyone in her family. She must not love her child either.

The process to make the vaccine may be identical to the process used to make the seasonal flu vaccine but the reality is, they do not understand this virus fully yet. They can not understand why one person has a mild fever one day and dies three days later. They don't get why some have horrible coughs but recover just fine and others end up on life support when their symptoms weren't anywhere near as bad as others. They are grasping at straws to figure this thing out. They don't have a handle on the virus itself. Doctors and scientists have been baffled by this.

The seasonal flu has a pattern. The symptoms are very similar in most people and the flu has a season. Unfortunately, those with weakened immune systems don't always recover but there is a very clear cut pattern. There is not a pattern to H1N1. People are getting it in the middle of summer. Some symptoms are no more severe than a cold. Some run incredibly high fevers for days and others don't even have a temperature. Scientists don't have answers as to how this virus is playing out so making a vaccine to combat something that they can't figure out is troublesome.

In addition, there was debate about this vaccine up until the minute it was released and I am certain they are still debating things behind closed doors. Do we add an adjuvants? One dose or two? Can you have it at the same time as the season flu shot? Will it do more harm or good to pregnant women? Do we give it to those with weakened or healthy immune systems first? The answers to those questions changed daily until they released it. It is kind of hard to go back now and say, "oops, just kidding. Turns out pregnant women shouldn't get it." The testing period for this vaccine was shortened. The test period should not end until March but the vaccine is already out. It has been rushed. We would never allow a drug manufacturer to put a new pill for heart disease out on the market 6 months early but we are allowing a vaccine to come out early and we don't even understand the virus itself.

I certainly hope the vaccine works and this virus disappears. But please do not judge me and make assumptions that I have not done any research. Besides being incredibly rude, it also couldn't be further from the truth.

Well, truth be told, comments like yours really irritate me. So we're even. You made assumptions and then ran with them. You deliberately misunderstood me because you disagree with my position and then you constructed a straw-man argument.

I'm glad you research. However, most people don't. Most people wouldn't even know where to look to find scientific medical, peer reviewed articles. They read websites that are nothing but opinion and look no further. I also never said parents who don't vaccinate don't love their child. I said they're playing with their child's health, and it's true. The general public buys into the scare tactic misinformation that is out there and they never bother to look further. When making a decision that impacts a child's health and possibly their life, I would encourage everyone to become an expert.

I work in education, I've heard first hand the reasons people give for not vaccinating, and most of them are complete and utter nonsense. I've also seen first hand a child who medically could not be vaccinated die because of parents who refused to vaccinate their children. Children who can not tolerate vaccines depend on herd immunity, which is compromised when others decide not to get vaccinated.

And my point is still valid, the risks of putting a child in a car are far, far greater than that of ANY vaccine out there. Encouraging people to seek information - actual information, not hearsay and personal opinions - should not be disapproved of.

I agree 100% with it coming down to what scares people the most - the vaccine or the virus. I appreciate the information you provided and the non-judgmental way you approached the topic. I was just annoyed with the poster that basically insists that you must not care about your kids if you don't get this vaccination.

Again, I never said this. What I said is that people are making choices based on little or no factual information and I don't understand that. Acting in ignorance is not the same as acting with malicious intent. People are trying to do what it right, but making choices without doing research really bothers me. However, I never equated this with not caring about or not loving your child.

 

[teacups]

A little 5 year old that is a friend of our family is in ICU with swine flu that turned to pnuemonia and a staff infection. It happened so quickly. A fever and lethergy in the morning and ICU and a vent by evening. This is very different then other flu viruses in children.

How in the world did it turn into staff?????
Poor little guy. I hope he's OK.

 

[luvwinnie]

How in the world did it turn into staff?????
Poor little guy. I hope he's OK.

Have to wonder if the staph infection was hosptial acquired.

 

[C.Ann]

DD and her DH are still trying to decide what to do about my 11 yr. old DGD - as well as themselves (they are in their 30's).. They keep trying to base their decisions on the fact that I live with them during the winter months and it would be deadly if I were to come down with it due to my own health issues..

I have told them time and time again to take me out of the equation - that they need to do what they feel is best for their DD and themselves.. I have led a long and happy life - and while I wouldn't "want" to get sick and die, in my opinion their lives are much more important than mine.. If my doctor agrees that it's safe for me to have the H1N1 vaccine, I will get it.. If not, I won't..

Still, they feel like they are playing Russian roulette - no matter which way they go - and as cases are now appearing in the general vicinity of where they live, it has become a daily discussion.. The clock is ticking..

This is not an easy decsion for anyone to have to make and I don't think that anyone should be arguing over "what I'm doing is right and what you're doing is wrong".. It's a very, very personal decision that each and every one of us is going to have to make - and then just hope and pray that we have made the decsion that is best for "us"..

 

[disney1990]

A little 5 year old that is a friend of our family is in ICU with swine flu that turned to pnuemonia and a staff infection. It happened so quickly. A fever and lethergy in the morning and ICU and a vent by evening. This is very different then other flu viruses in children.

I am so sorry to hear that. I hope he is better soon.

 

[dumboiu]

Comments like this really irritate me. Why would you think that parents that decide not to vaccinate their kids with H1N1 have made "blatant" decisions with "little actual information?" You don't understand why people would "play with their kids health without having a complete understanding" of the issue? How dare you! I could say the same thing about your decision to vaccinate, but I won't. It is a decision that a parent needs to make with the help of their doctor. My doctor gets the seasonal flu vaccine for herself and her child every year and she will not be getting H1N1 for anyone in her family. She must not love her child either.

The process to make the vaccine may be identical to the process used to make the seasonal flu vaccine but the reality is, they do not understand this virus fully yet. They can not understand why one person has a mild fever one day and dies three days later. They don't get why some have horrible coughs but recover just fine and others end up on life support when their symptoms weren't anywhere near as bad as others. They are grasping at straws to figure this thing out. They don't have a handle on the virus itself. Doctors and scientists have been baffled by this.

The seasonal flu has a pattern. The symptoms are very similar in most people and the flu has a season. Unfortunately, those with weakened immune systems don't always recover but there is a very clear cut pattern. There is not a pattern to H1N1. People are getting it in the middle of summer. Some symptoms are no more severe than a cold. Some run incredibly high fevers for days and others don't even have a temperature. Scientists don't have answers as to how this virus is playing out so making a vaccine to combat something that they can't figure out is troublesome.

In addition, there was debate about this vaccine up until the minute it was released and I am certain they are still debating things behind closed doors. Do we add an adjuvants? One dose or two? Can you have it at the same time as the season flu shot? Will it do more harm or good to pregnant women? Do we give it to those with weakened or healthy immune systems first? The answers to those questions changed daily until they released it. It is kind of hard to go back now and say, "oops, just kidding. Turns out pregnant women shouldn't get it." The testing period for this vaccine was shortened. The test period should not end until March but the vaccine is already out. It has been rushed. We would never allow a drug manufacturer to put a new pill for heart disease out on the market 6 months early but we are allowing a vaccine to come out early and we don't even understand the virus itself.

I certainly hope the vaccine works and this virus disappears. But please do not judge me and make assumptions that I have not done any research. Besides being incredibly rude, it also couldn't be further from the truth.

ITA with you.

 

[dumboiu]

DD and her DH are still trying to decide what to do about my 11 yr. old DGD - as well as themselves (they are in their 30's).. They keep trying to base their decisions on the fact that I live with them during the winter months and it would be deadly if I were to come down with it due to my own health issues..

I have told them time and time again to take me out of the equation - that they need to do what they feel is best for their DD and themselves.. I have led a long and happy life - and while I wouldn't "want" to get sick and die, in my opinion their lives are much more important than mine.. If my doctor agrees that it's safe for me to have the H1N1 vaccine, I will get it.. If not, I won't..

Still, they feel like they are playing Russian roulette - no matter which way they go - and as cases are now appearing in the general vicinity of where they live, it has become a daily discussion.. The clock is ticking..

This is not an easy decsion for anyone to have to make and I don't think that anyone should be arguing over "what I'm doing is right and what you're doing is wrong".. It's a very, very personal decision that each and every one of us is going to have to make - and then just hope and pray that we have made the decsion that is best for "us"..

You are probably the one with the lowest risk of your family due to your age (very different than with the regular flu in which you would be the one with the highest risk).

 

[C.Ann]

You are probably the one with the lowest risk of your family due to your age (very different than with the regular flu in which you would be the one with the highest risk).

I wish that were true, but due to other health issues I have either flu could prove deadly for me.. Still not a reason for them to include me in their decision process though.. They need to do what they feel is best for them..

It's really hard watching so many people struggle with this decision..

 

[dumboiu]

I wish that were true, but due to other health issues I have either flu could prove deadly for me.. Still not a reason for them to include me in their decision process though.. They need to do what they feel is best for them..

It's really hard watching so many people struggle with this decision..

Oh, I am so sorry to hear of your other health issues. Then you are right, it does change things. Here's hoping that you stay well (and the rest of us do too).

I agree with you, it is a hard decision to make.

 

[2bearsmom]

Don't most people have the staph bacteria on their skin and/or in their nose? My ds had eczema and I've read that those with eczema have a higher amount of staph bacteria on their skin than those who don't have eczema.

All that "misinformation" is out there (there is no way I could make that stuff up from the top of my little blonde head!) just look it up and read for yourselves. You can believe it or not.