Swine Flu News

[sbell111]

That article about people being reinfected is certainly interesting. I wonder if the mainstream media is reporting it anywhere. I'll have to look. They keep saying if you had it, you can't get it again. Surprise!

The anecdotal 'evidence' given in that article is far from compelling.

 

[AustinTink]

It said 26% were obese, but isn't that the percentage of the general population that is obese? To flip it around, 74% of the patients were NOT obese. So is obesity really that big of a risk factor? If they are represented in the H1N1 severly ill patients at the same percentage that they are present in the general population, isn't that saying their risk is the same as everyone else's?

Two sisters died here recently from H1N1. Both were obese. We also had a 5 year old die last week, who had no underlying health problems.

 

[Poohs Pal]

I've been reading the topics outlined in the WSJ for a little while now, just not all in one place. Yet the first vaccines available, Flu Mist, are made from live yet weakened virus and are therefore (like any other live vaccine) NOT recommended for the most vulnerable members of our population like my kids, young Asthmatics under the age of 18. The idiocy of this is just staggering. Yes I understand that possibly this Flu Mist just happens to be the first kind available but desperate parents of high risk kids might make an error in judgment and jump on the Flu Mist just to do something proactive and this is made even more likely because the parents are in charge, not our Pediatricians who SHOULD be. I am worried the first wave might of vaccine might have very dangerous consequences among high risk groups and that negative results might end up scaring more people off of potentially life saving vaccinations in the future. This has the potential to end very badly.

Another thing that bothers me is the fact that my doctor nor anyone else I know Doctor will be receiving the vacine. I have an adult son who is severly brain injured and he has had two of his specialist tell me he SHOULD receive the
H1N1 shot. My primary care doctor told me I will have to take him to the health department to receive this shot. The HD is in a not so safe area to drive through let alone get out of your car. Also myself and everyone else in this area of Michigan will be going here to get the shot. Whichs means hours if not all day of sitting with an adult who can not handle that amount of time just sitting in his wheelchair. I understand that they are doing this to insure only those in need get the first shot but it doesn't make it any easier for these people that are the most fragile to have to go through this. It doesn't make it any easier that I am one of the people concerned about the shot but then again more concerned about the what if's.... Susan

 

[livie1205]

They are giving it here at the health dept. tues and I do not care what side of town it is in we will be there bright and early.....my dd dr is not giving the mist so it will be a little while longer for the shot and we are going to wdw in nov so we need to get her started (she needs two doses) but the head of the health dept. told me that if I wanted her to get the shot for the 2nd dose instead of going back to the health dept to get the mist again we can...we will see....

 

[disney1990]

I am not judging, I know we all make our own decisions, but I was really shocked this woman said she would not vaccinate her son, after almost losing her daughter to swine flu.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33243690/ns/health-swine_flu/

That surprises me too. I am so glad that my DD has decided to vaccinate both of our granddaughters -- ages 9 and 11. We need them healthy to go on their cruise in January.

 

[monkeybug]

I haven't read this whole thread, so I apologize if this isn't pertinent information. I just wanted to share for anyone that is curious about the vaccine that my Son and I got then h1n1 flu mist last Thursday, and neither of us has had any noticeable side effects. He is 3 and I am 30 (I babysit an infant). He goes back in 3 weeks for another dose, but I just had to get the one. It was quick and easy and free! My daughter has to wait for the shot, hope it gets here soon!
Anyways, just thought I would share our experience. I won't feel completely better until my daughter is vaccinated, but I am much less anxious now that my little man has been. (I know he won't have immunity until sometime after the second dose, just makes me feel good knowing we are headed in that direction)

 

[klj27]

I haven't read this whole thread, so I apologize if this isn't pertinent information. I just wanted to share for anyone that is curious about the vaccine that my Son and I got then h1n1 flu mist last Thursday, and neither of us has had any noticeable side effects. He is 3 and I am 30 (I babysit an infant). He goes back in 3 weeks for another dose, but I just had to get the one. It was quick and easy and free! My daughter has to wait for the shot, hope it gets here soon!
Anyways, just thought I would share our experience. I won't feel completely better until my daughter is vaccinated, but I am much less anxious now that my little man has been. (I know he won't have immunity until sometime after the second dose, just makes me feel good knowing we are headed in that direction)

How were you able to get your vaccine? Our schools haven't received them yet, but the kids will be eligible there. My husband works in the school, but is not eligible to receive the shot. I am a caregiver for a 2 1/2 month old and I can't get it either. I agree with you, I will feel much better once my kids get the vaccine. The kids came home from school today and said that a boy that rides are bus has been diagnosed.

 

[kilee]

How were you able to get your vaccine?

We received 500 doses of the H1N1 flu mist vaccine last week at work. The biggest problem we're facing is it came about 10 days after our state supply of seasonal flu mist vaccine. Meaning we immunized a lot of children w/ the seasonal flu mist. You have to wait 28 days between the seasonal one and the H1N1. I know my son falls into that category. He can't get the H1N1 until 10/29 if we have it still then.

Each state got to mandate how they divided their supply up. I know our school districts around here are not getting any.

 

[monkeybug]

How were you able to get your vaccine? Our schools haven't received them yet, but the kids will be eligible there. My husband works in the school, but is not eligible to receive the shot. I am a caregiver for a 2 1/2 month old and I can't get it either. I agree with you, I will feel much better once my kids get the vaccine. The kids came home from school today and said that a boy that rides are bus has been diagnosed.

Our county health department held a two day clinic. I just called (midway into the first day of the clinic) and made the appointment.

 

[C.Ann]

We received 500 doses of the H1N1 flu mist vaccine last week at work. The biggest problem we're facing is it came about 10 days after our state supply of seasonal flu mist vaccine. Meaning we immunized a lot of children w/ the seasonal flu mist. You have to wait 28 days between the seasonal one and the H1N1. I know my son falls into that category. He can't get the H1N1 until 10/29 if we have it still then.

Each state got to mandate how they divided their supply up. I know our school districts around here are not getting any.

I hadn't heard this time frame before.. Good info to have.. Thanks!

 

[klj27]

This is interesting.. Now if I have the regular seasonal flu shot (not the mist form), I need to wait 28 days before I can get the H1N1 shot (again, not mist)? If so, I need to try to find a flu shot clinic up here near the lake for the regular flu shot because I want to be able to get the H1N1 shot as soon as I head back to my DD's for the winter around November 1st..

I hadn't heard this time frame before.. Good info to have.. Thanks!

That only pertains if you get the mist, not the shot.

 

[C.Ann]

That only pertains if you get the mist, not the shot.

Oh - okay..

I wonder if there's still some kind of time frame that would apply to the shots as well.. I know with the regular flu shot you don't get the full protection until at least two weeks later, so I'm assuming one would have to wait a bit before getting the H1N1 vaccine.. Anyone know for sure?

 

[monkeybug]

This is interesting.. Now if I have the regular seasonal flu shot (not the mist form), I need to wait 28 days before I can get the H1N1 shot (again, not mist)? If so, I need to try to find a flu shot clinic up here near the lake for the regular flu shot because I want to be able to get the H1N1 shot as soon as I head back to my DD's for the winter around November 1st..

I hadn't heard this time frame before.. Good info to have.. Thanks!

You can actually get two shots, or a shot and a mist at the same time. You just can't get two mists within 28 days of each other. The reason is that the mist is a weakened live virus (It didn't make me even a teensy bit sick, or my son, we had not one side effect that I can notice) and they don't want you to get two of the live virus' within that time frame. As long as you mix shot/mist you will be fine. I would get the seasonal flu shot, as it seems most places are getting the h1n1 mist first.

 

[monkeybug]

My neighbor and I like to say that this is all very con-flusing!
We are corn balls, yes!

 

[monkeybug]

In our area they had just vaccinated all the school kids with seasonal mist a week before the h1n1 arrived. I had my children get the shot at the doctors office so we were able to get the h1n1 mist, but I think that's why it was so slow the day of the clinic and there didn't seem to be any mad dash to get the vaccine, most of the target group in our area wasn't eligible because of the time frame.

 

[C.Ann]

My neighbor and I like to say that this is all very con-flusing!
We are corn balls, yes!

Don't feel bad.. My adult DD keeps getting tongue-tied and just can't seem to say "Swine Flu" for love or money.. Every time she tries to say it, it comes out, "Fwine Slu"...

 

[laurie31]

Oh - okay..

I wonder if there's still some kind of time frame that would apply to the shots as well.. I know with the regular flu shot you don't get the full protection until at least two weeks later, so I'm assuming one would have to wait a bit before getting the H1N1 vaccine.. Anyone know for sure?

Yes, I just attended a training session required for everyone (in our state) giving H1N1 vaccine in the school-based clinics. The MIST for season and H1N1 flu cannot be given together, and must be separated by 28 days.

The SHOT for H1N1 and seasonal flu can be given together (on the same day) but should be given in different arms.

Here's a link, too. http://washingtontimes.com/news/200...asonal-flu-shots-viable/?feat=home_headlines#

It's also possible to get the FluMist for seasonal flu and the shot for H1N1 on the same day. (or vice versa). It is only the two MIST flu vaccines that cannot be given together.

Here's a quote from the CDC:

Can seasonal influenza vaccine and 2009 H1N1 vaccine be given at the same visit?


Both seasonal and 2009 H1N1 vaccines are available as inactivated and live attenuated (LAIV) formulations.... existing recommendations are that two inactivated vaccines can be administered at any time before, after, or at the same visit as each other .... Existing recommendations also state that an inactivated and live vaccine may be administered at any time before, after or at the same visit as each other. Consequently, providers can administer seasonal and 2009 H1N1 inactivated vaccines, seasonal inactivated vaccine and 2009 H1N1 LAIV, or seasonal LAIV and inactivated 2009 H1N1 at the same visit, or at any time before or after each other

Our big problem is going to be that children 9 and under require two doses to achieve immunity, and that's the vast majority of the elementary school population. It's going to be a total pain to schedule TWO school-based clinics a month apart for that.

Schools are not getting mist here, btw. They don't want the responsibility of sorting out who is and who isn't a suitable candidate, so they will just give everyone the shot.

 

[monkeybug]

Don't feel bad.. My adult DD keeps getting tongue-tied and just can't seem to say "Swine Flu" for love or money.. Every time she tries to say it, it comes out, "Fwine Slu"...

Sounds like she'd fit right in around here!

 

[C.Ann]

Yes, I just attended a training session required for everyone (in our state) giving H1N1 vaccine in the school-based clinics. The MIST for season and H1N1 flu cannot be given together, and must be separated by 28 days.

The SHOT for H1N1 and seasonal flu can be given together (on the same day) but should be given in different arms.

Here's a link, too. http://washingtontimes.com/news/200...asonal-flu-shots-viable/?feat=home_headlines#

It's also possible to get the FluMist for seasonal flu and the shot for H1N1 on the same day. (or vice versa). It is only the two MIST flu vaccines that cannot be given together.

Here's a quote from the CDC:





Our big problem is going to be that children 9 and under require two doses to achieve immunity, and that's the vast majority of the elementary school population. It's going to be a total pain to schedule TWO school-based clinics a month apart for that.

Schools are not getting mist here, btw. They don't want the responsibility of sorting out who is and who isn't a suitable candidate, so they will just give everyone the shot.

Thanks for that info..

 

[disneyfanforever]

I have a question. My DS is 8, and he has had the seasonal flu shot for several years. I know he only needs one dose/shot for immunity for the seasonal flu. However, does he need one or two doses/shots for the H1N1? Since it is made the same way as the seasonal flu shot but just includes a different strain, wouldn't he just need one? Or does he need two since this is a new strain?