Swine Flu News

[MickeyMomTo2]

My kids and I were vaccinated today for H1N1 (the shot, not the mist). I am so excited to have gotten it so early. I found a site that listed all our state's health departments and the vaccine options they have. On Friday evening, two small counties in our state posted that they had the shot version (who knows why they got it before the cities). One of the counties just happened to be the county to the south of us. I called this morning and was told they had 600 shots and we could come on. We barely had to wait. I don't think word had really gotten out. With my asthma, I am so relieved to have gotten it so soon, and I am thrilled that my kids are on the road to immunity!

Be on the lookout in your area! The shots will be trickling in this week!

 

[maroo]

The CDC has released an advisory...I have bolded parts of this...

Link to source:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/recommendations.htm


"Recommendations for Early Empiric Antiviral Treatment in Persons with Suspected Influenza who are at Increased Risk of Developing Severe Disease

Summary Recommendations: When treatment of influenza is indicated in a patient with suspected influenza, health care providers should initiate empiric antiviral treatment as soon as possible. Waiting for laboratory confirmation of influenza to begin treatment with antiviral drugs is not necessary. Patients with a negative rapid influenza diagnostic test should be considered for treatment if clinically indicated because a negative rapid influenza test result does not rule out influenza virus infection. The sensitivity of rapid influenza diagnostic tests for 2009 H1N1 virus can range from 10% to 70%, indicating that false negative results occur frequently.

***

Early empiric treatment should be considered for persons with suspected or confirmed influenza who are at higher risk for complications, even if not hospitalized, including:

o Children younger than 2 years old

o Adults 65 years and older

o Pregnant women

o Persons with the following conditions:

· Chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological (including sickle cell disease), or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);

· Disorders that that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions or that can increase the risk for aspiration (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other neuromuscular disorders)

· Immunosuppression, including that caused by medications or by HIV;

· Persons younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy, because of an increased risk for Reye syndrome.






~~ This is a change from the previous guidelines. It indicates that more people should be prescribed an antiviral (like Tamiflu) ASAP - even if they have a NEGATIVE flu test. The flu test is not working - it is only 10% - 70% accurate. ~~

 

[LuvOrlando]

So its October 19 and kids are dropping all around us with the Flu here in the Lehigh Valley. Still, no H1N1 vaccine for my kids. No alleviation of school attendance policies. No policy on keeping parents of high risk kids in the loop for the number of cases popping up in our community or in the schools.

I wonder if there are any organizations keeping track of which states got the H1N1 vaccine and which did not? My state, PA, has a website with nothing on it yet. Our School district, BASD, knows nothing either. How can it be that some people and their kids have already gotten the shot and are 1/2 way towards the 2 week window needed for immunity while my state is completely in the dark? I would really like to know what populations are higher up on the food chain than my high risk kids, 10 & 11 year old Asthmatic children, and how they got to be selected. In case you are wondering, yes I am bitter... very.

Thanks for the link maroo. Funny how the DIS is better at disseminating information than the people in charge.

 

[sersee05]

I am so nervous about this and there is so many different opinions..I just don't know what to do!!!

I have three kids 12, 7 and 5. We are in NJ where it isn't widespread yet...My 12 and 5 year old have asthma..My 5 year old is the one who has asthma the worst though. He runs out side and comes in wheezing. Every year , he gets real sick and is on steroids..A couple of times he ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. It was very scary. I got a flu shot for him last year and he didn't end up in the hospital...

so now we have the swine flu. I hear it has been rushed and I hear it is the same thing as the flu vaccination. I have an opportunity to get my son the vaccine..We have to travel an hour and a half to get it and it is tomorrow. I am not sure that he will be able to get it since he has been asthmatic the past couple of days.

I called the doctor's office to see what they think and they said they are not recommending the swine flu vaccination one way or the other. The say they are leaving it up to parents to make the decision and do the research But there is so much different info out there..How can I make a decision without professional opinions??? But they won't budge. The health department worker who called me to make the appointment even told me she wasn't sure of this vaccine and just hopes my son will be ok

We are leaving in two weeks to go to the World ...and Florida has swine flu all over the place...I am actually thinking about postponing my vacation..although my hubby thinks I am getting to anxious about this..which is quite possible! My kids would be devasted..

But what do you do? Vaccinate? NOt vaccinate? Do I take my chances and go to Florida? I hate that there is so much confusing evidence out there..

 

[C.Ann]

So its October 19 and kids are dropping all around us with the Flu here in the Lehigh Valley. Still, no H1N1 vaccine for my kids. No alleviation of school attendance policies. No policy on keeping parents of high risk kids in the loop for the number of cases popping up in our community or in the schools.

I wonder if there are any organizations keeping track of which states got the H1N1 vaccine and which did not? My state, PA, has a website with nothing on it yet. Our School district, BASD, knows nothing either. How can it be that some people and their kids have already gotten the shot and are 1/2 way towards the 2 week window needed for immunity while my state is completely in the dark? I would really like to know what populations are higher up on the food chain than my high risk kids, 10 & 11 year old Asthmatic children, and how they got to be selected. In case you are wondering, yes I am bitter... very.

Thanks for the link maroo. Funny how the DIS is better at disseminating information than the people in charge.

I guess I'm just missing the point of how this vaccine will be helpful if it only becomes readily available after so many people have become sick or have been exposed..

 

[LuvOrlando]

I am so nervous about this and there is so many different opinions..I just don't know what to do!!!

I have three kids 12, 7 and 5. We are in NJ where it isn't widespread yet...My 12 and 5 year old have asthma..My 5 year old is the one who has asthma the worst though. He runs out side and comes in wheezing. Every year , he gets real sick and is on steroids..A couple of times he ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. It was very scary. I got a flu shot for him last year and he didn't end up in the hospital...

so now we have the swine flu. I hear it has been rushed and I hear it is the same thing as the flu vaccination. I have an opportunity to get my son the vaccine..We have to travel an hour and a half to get it and it is tomorrow. I am not sure that he will be able to get it since he has been asthmatic the past couple of days.

I called the doctor's office to see what they think and they said they are not recommending the swine flu vaccination one way or the other. The say they are leaving it up to parents to make the decision and do the research But there is so much different info out there..How can I make a decision without professional opinions??? But they won't budge. The health department worker who called me to make the appointment even told me she wasn't sure of this vaccine and just hopes my son will be ok

We are leaving in two weeks to go to the World ...and Florida has swine flu all over the place...I am actually thinking about postponing my vacation..although my hubby thinks I am getting to anxious about this..which is quite possible! My kids would be devasted..

But what do you do? Vaccinate? NOt vaccinate? Do I take my chances and go to Florida? I hate that there is so much confusing evidence out there..

If the vaccine is the nasal "Mist" Asthmatics (and all other high risk populations) are not supposed to have it because it is a live but weakened virus, and as a result it poses a small threat of causing the infection. For my family, I will not allow the Mist but will be the first to get the injection of killed virus.

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

So its October 19 and kids are dropping all around us with the Flu here in the Lehigh Valley. Still, no H1N1 vaccine for my kids. No alleviation of school attendance policies. No policy on keeping parents of high risk kids in the loop for the number of cases popping up in our community or in the schools.

I wonder if there are any organizations keeping track of which states got the H1N1 vaccine and which did not? My state, PA, has a website with nothing on it yet. Our School district, BASD, knows nothing either. How can it be that some people and their kids have already gotten the shot and are 1/2 way towards the 2 week window needed for immunity while my state is completely in the dark? I would really like to know what populations are higher up on the food chain than my high risk kids, 10 & 11 year old Asthmatic children, and how they got to be selected. In case you are wondering, yes I am bitter... very.

Thanks for the link maroo. Funny how the DIS is better at disseminating information than the people in charge.

I would call your health department. They will get the shots first, and I would suspect they will have a small number this week. If you call every morning to see if they have it, maybe you'll get ahead of the crowd like I did. The only way I knew it was there was to watch the website, and only two counties in our state were listed as having it--I was just fortunate that one of those was close.

And, just so you don't think we jumped in front of you, my kids and I are all high risk, but I have had more serious asthma issues this year than they have, so I was really concerned that I wouldn't be able to fight off a serious round of the flu.

I truly hope you are able to get shots for your kids very soon.

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

We are leaving in two weeks to go to the World ...and Florida has swine flu all over the place...I am actually thinking about postponing my vacation..although my hubby thinks I am getting to anxious about this..which is quite possible! My kids would be devasted..

I truly understand your concern, but 40+ states are considered to have "widespread" cases of swine flu, so you are just as likely to get it at home as you are in Florida. Go enjoy Disney World!

 

[autumnpalm]

I will be getting the H1N1 vaccine once it becomes available. My doctor (who I really trust) is recommending it. She has said that it is the same formula as the seasonal flu shot but with a different virus added and that it HAS been tested. I'm not in a high risk category but I can't afford to get sick! I'm just hoping that it gets to Canada quickly, they're predicting it won't be here until mid-November.

 

[klj27]

My son had very mild cough, sore throat, headache, cold feeling, and a temp of 100.5 (only for four hours) yesterday. I took him in today because he has asthma and his peak flows have been below normal. His doctor didn't know what to make of him. She said those are the H1N1 symptoms but that his were so minor. They are not testing anyone even though I asked if he could be. She put him on tamiflu as a precaution because of the tamiflu. He is doing really well right now.

I forgot to ask if he can get the shot while on tamiflu. Our state (or maybe our part of the state) is giving the shots at in school clinics and it will be a surprise which day they show up at the school to give them.

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

My son had very mild cough, sore throat, headache, cold feeling, and a temp of 100.5 (only for four hours) yesterday. I took him in today because he has asthma and his peak flows have been below normal. His doctor didn't know what to make of him. She said those are the H1N1 symptoms but that his were so minor. They are not testing anyone even though I asked if he could be. She put him on tamiflu as a precaution because of the tamiflu. He is doing really well right now.

I forgot to ask if he can get the shot while on tamiflu. Our state (or maybe our part of the state) is giving the shots at in school clinics and it will be a surprise which day they show up at the school to give them.

When I got the H1N1 shot today, the nurse at the health department specifically asked me if I had taken Tamiflu in the last two days. She said you can't take it for two days before the vaccine or in the two weeks following. It can interfere with the immune response.

 

[klj27]

When I got the H1N1 shot today, the nurse at the health department specifically asked me if I had taken Tamiflu in the last two days. She said you can't take it for two days before the vaccine or in the two weeks following. It can interfere with the immune response.

Thank you so much for the info! He will finish the tamiflu Saturday morning so I guess he couldn't get the shot until next Tuesday?

 

[LuvOrlando]

When I got the H1N1 shot today, the nurse at the health department specifically asked me if I had taken Tamiflu in the last two days. She said you can't take it for two days before the vaccine or in the two weeks following. It can interfere with the immune response.

WOW, that has not been well publicized. I think people should know about this. Now, if someone needed Tamiflu within the 2 weeks of the vaccination due to a suspected illness, do they then need another dose to compensate for the forfeited immunity?

This question isn't directed to you MickeyMomTo2, it's more of a wondering out loud thing. Funny how the further we go along the more questions are uncovered yet the fewer people willing to pop up their heads with an answer.

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

WOW, that has not been well publicized. I think people should know about this. Now, if someone needed Tamiflu within the 2 weeks of the vaccination due to a suspected illness, do they then need another dose to compensate for the forfeited immunity?

This question isn't directed to you MickeyMomTo2, it's more of a wondering out loud thing. Funny how the further we go along the more questions are uncovered yet the fewer people willing to pop up their heads with an answer.

I wondered that too, but I don't know. I was surprised when the nurse said it because I hadn't heard that. It makes sense, but I had never really thought about it. I did have the thought that I might lock myself in my house for 7-10 days until the shot is working, but of course, I can't do that!

 

[maroo]

The CDC has released an advisory...I have bolded parts of this...

Link to source:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/recommendations.htm


"Recommendations for Early Empiric Antiviral Treatment in Persons with Suspected Influenza who are at Increased Risk of Developing Severe Disease

Summary Recommendations: When treatment of influenza is indicated in a patient with suspected influenza, health care providers should initiate empiric antiviral treatment as soon as possible. Waiting for laboratory confirmation of influenza to begin treatment with antiviral drugs is not necessary. Patients with a negative rapid influenza diagnostic test should be considered for treatment if clinically indicated because a negative rapid influenza test result does not rule out influenza virus infection. The sensitivity of rapid influenza diagnostic tests for 2009 H1N1 virus can range from 10% to 70%, indicating that false negative results occur frequently.

***

Early empiric treatment should be considered for persons with suspected or confirmed influenza who are at higher risk for complications, even if not hospitalized, including:

o Children younger than 2 years old

o Adults 65 years and older

o Pregnant women

o Persons with the following conditions:

· Chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological (including sickle cell disease), or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);

· Disorders that that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions or that can increase the risk for aspiration (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other neuromuscular disorders)

· Immunosuppression, including that caused by medications or by HIV;

· Persons younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy, because of an increased risk for Reye syndrome.






~~ This is a change from the previous guidelines. It indicates that more people should be prescribed an antiviral (like Tamiflu) ASAP - even if they have a NEGATIVE flu test. The flu test is not working - it is only 10% - 70% accurate. ~~

I just figured this bears repeating.

So its October 19 and kids are dropping all around us with the Flu here in the Lehigh Valley. Still, no H1N1 vaccine for my kids. No alleviation of school attendance policies. No policy on keeping parents of high risk kids in the loop for the number of cases popping up in our community or in the schools.

I wonder if there are any organizations keeping track of which states got the H1N1 vaccine and which did not? My state, PA, has a website with nothing on it yet. Our School district, BASD, knows nothing either. How can it be that some people and their kids have already gotten the shot and are 1/2 way towards the 2 week window needed for immunity while my state is completely in the dark? I would really like to know what populations are higher up on the food chain than my high risk kids, 10 & 11 year old Asthmatic children, and how they got to be selected. In case you are wondering, yes I am bitter... very.

Thanks for the link maroo. Funny how the DIS is better at disseminating information than the people in charge.

You are very welcome. If you are interested and want way more information about the swine flu, let me know and I can give you my "source"...But it is a lot to read.

And we have very little information as well.

I am so nervous about this and there is so many different opinions..I just don't know what to do!!!

I have three kids 12, 7 and 5. We are in NJ where it isn't widespread yet...My 12 and 5 year old have asthma..My 5 year old is the one who has asthma the worst though. He runs out side and comes in wheezing. Every year , he gets real sick and is on steroids..A couple of times he ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. It was very scary. I got a flu shot for him last year and he didn't end up in the hospital...

so now we have the swine flu. I hear it has been rushed and I hear it is the same thing as the flu vaccination. I have an opportunity to get my son the vaccine..We have to travel an hour and a half to get it and it is tomorrow. I am not sure that he will be able to get it since he has been asthmatic the past couple of days.

I called the doctor's office to see what they think and they said they are not recommending the swine flu vaccination one way or the other. The say they are leaving it up to parents to make the decision and do the research But there is so much different info out there..How can I make a decision without professional opinions??? But they won't budge. The health department worker who called me to make the appointment even told me she wasn't sure of this vaccine and just hopes my son will be ok

We are leaving in two weeks to go to the World ...and Florida has swine flu all over the place...I am actually thinking about postponing my vacation..although my hubby thinks I am getting to anxious about this..which is quite possible! My kids would be devasted..

But what do you do? Vaccinate? NOt vaccinate? Do I take my chances and go to Florida? I hate that there is so much confusing evidence out there..

This is a very hard question.

I think you just have to go with your Mommy gut.

I personally think the vaccine is safe - if he takes the regular vaccine each year, this is very similar and I think any major issues would have come out by now (hopefully) from those people that got an early shot on the studies they did. But the studies obviously are not that old. So...who knows.

I can tell you that the 7 doctors here that I have asked...all say that they will NOT get the vaccine. They said it is just safer to treat with Tamiflu as soon as they get sick. But they are doctors and getting Tamiflu is not a problem for them (no waiting, just go to pharmacy).

I would say...if you are not going to get the vaccine...then get a script for Tamiflu from someone. Don't fill it until you need it (you may not ever need it)...but as soon as he gets sick, get him the Tamiflu. He does not have to test + for the flu. Just if he gets flu like symptoms.

As far as a trip to Disney. If your child is in school...If you are going to the grocery store...then you could be exposed just as much at home. If you are going to get the vaccine...maybe you should wait and go later? If you are not going to get the vaccine...then you might as well go, because he will probably be exposed eventually anyway. It is spreading throughout the country.

I personally GOT the swine flu at Disney or in the plane, so I know it can happen. But I have moderate asthma and with Tamiflu I was fine.

My son had very mild cough, sore throat, headache, cold feeling, and a temp of 100.5 (only for four hours) yesterday. I took him in today because he has asthma and his peak flows have been below normal. His doctor didn't know what to make of him. She said those are the H1N1 symptoms but that his were so minor. They are not testing anyone even though I asked if he could be. She put him on tamiflu as a precaution because of the tamiflu. He is doing really well right now.

I forgot to ask if he can get the shot while on tamiflu. Our state (or maybe our part of the state) is giving the shots at in school clinics and it will be a surprise which day they show up at the school to give them.

I am glad he is on the Tamiflu. Looks like there is something in the fine print, though, about not getting the vaccine while you are on Tamiflu...which makes sense. He probably needs to wait to get the vaccine.

When I got the H1N1 shot today, the nurse at the health department specifically asked me if I had taken Tamiflu in the last two days. She said you can't take it for two days before the vaccine or in the two weeks following. It can interfere with the immune response.

This makes perfect sense, but I had not heard this yet. This information needs to get out there....

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

When I got the H1N1 shot today, the nurse at the health department specifically asked me if I had taken Tamiflu in the last two days. She said you can't take it for two days before the vaccine or in the two weeks following. It can interfere with the immune response.

I read this online somewhere. I don't remember the 2 day part, but remember 2 weeks. It makes perfect sense.

 

[Kristi1357]

I just called all over NH and can't get an h1n1 vaccine.

DS and I are both high-risk and I wanted to get us vaccinated before we visit my grandmother over Thanksgiving who is going through chemo.

 

[Pennykay]

I just called all over NH and can't get an h1n1 vaccine.

DS and I are both high-risk and I wanted to get us vaccinated before we visit my grandmother over Thanksgiving who is going through chemo.

Just make sure that you don't get the mist unless you get it right away. I just read that it you shed it for up to 21 days, and it could make your grandmother sick.

 

[luvwinnie]

I really wanted the vaccine before our convention in Vegas. I leave on Nov. 1. 800 people from all over the country in a confined space, shaking hands, handing out business cards, etc. UGH. ANd there is the plane ride too.

 

[luvwinnie]

Just called our health dept. and they have no idea when vaccines are coming in either.