H1N1 Vaccination for your kids/babies.

[DanielParul 50]

I cannot still decide what to do for my 6 month old. SO want to hear your thought on it.

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

I have 20 months old twins and am pregnant again and if we haven't caught the H1N1 by the time the flu shot is available, we will all get it (currently there is only the nasal mist, not suitable for under 3s or pregnant ladies). My doctor recommends it, and the twins go to playschool two mornings a week, and we attend toddler events at the library etc, so they are in lots of close contact with other kids, put things in their mouths etc, and at such a young age, the flu could have nasty side effects for them. Plus, I don't want to be heavily pregnant and having to look after two sick toddlers!

With an only 6 months old, I am not sure... if the boy goes to daycare or is out a lot, I would probably get it for him, but if you are a SAHM and can avoid crowds, I might give it a miss (the twins didn't get the seasonal flu shot last year, only this year).

[TBoneTX 45,266]

Hi, Parul -- what a great new picture of you, Daniel, and the googie!

I am not a doctor. However, I get the sense that the H1N1 vaccine was rushed into production with less testing than usual, perhaps partly in response to media "panic." There are not yet enough reliable data to evaluate its short- or long-term safety. In a similar vaccination rush some time ago (the early 1970s?), more people died or became disabled from the flu vaccine than from the illness itself. Of course, the field of immunology has progressed since then.

In general, the Swine Flu (conveniently dubbed "Porcina" in Ecuador) is milder than had been feared. If I read correctly, more people have died worldwide from the seasonal flu than from the Porcina.

Try consulting at least three local pediatricians, and get their reasoning for their recommendation for or against vaccination of your googie. Also, try some Internet research to find any papers in medical journals that deal with your question.

In short answer, I would personally not vaccinate my own googie, if I had one (we don't).

Sidebar: Interestingly, in Ecuador, everyone is completely panicked about the Porcina, and governments are giving out brochures on how to prevent its spread, recommending assiduous hand-washing. Trouble is, even if the faucets work in most public places, there is almost never any soap, and 99.44% certainty of no towels... because people steal these things. When I was down there in August, I had to wipe my hands on my (usually dirty) shirt every time I tried to wash them. Go figure, si man.

[AlHayatZween 2]

i think i may get it... i have to talk with the doctor about it.

i work in a university and the pork virus is already wreaking havoc in the dorms, the sororities, and the faculty.

i don't know........

[LoriLawless 0]

I asked my daughter if she wanted one and she said "I'll take my chances before they stick me with a needle" lol

[HAL 9000 96]

If your child is old enough for it (exposable to the virus from social contact) then yes, it might not be a bad idea. I suggest you folks check up on what the pathology of diseased organs (lungs, etc) is like in autopsies performed on actual H1N1-related deaths. It really beats them up much worse than the regular flu. People need to consider (not fear) susceptibility issues that may make them more candidate for contracting the viral infection to the point of dying.

Since its making the rounds here as well, I'd get it for myself too.

[Nessa 23]

good question. i'm interested to know what people think. i still don't know what to do.

[HAL 9000 96]

Its a pretty touchy issue. I've heard all kinds of rumors that are difficult to prove or disprove.

[Anna C. 4]

Nope, none of us will get, neither our son, me, my parents, cousins, nephews, nieces, SILs or anybody else. Only Hubbie will be forced to get it thanks to the government.

[Kevin and 10]

I have never taken the regular shot, so I'm not getting the H1N1 shot.

This is a Novartis insert for the vaccine.

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloo...s/UCM182242.pdf

[Sassy1natl 0]

Have yet to be persuaded... me, no shot, hubby, no shot, daughter, no shot

[TBoneTX 45,266]

On the other hand...

Anyone who is in a high-risk group usually do well to be inoculated against influenza (the Porcina and the seasonal flu). The American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and American Diabetes Association have all recommended inoculation for patients of high-risk status -- such as anyone who has been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. Healthy persons age 65 years or older also benefit from receiving the influenza vaccine.

Read this very interesting (and understandable) article, si man:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC387428/

Also, Google-search "influenza vaccination" for dozens of write-ups on the subject.

Edited October 16, 2009 by TBoneTX

[DanielParul 50]

Here is my updated thought on it

We had to take Adi to the ER on the night of the 13th coz he was throwing up. We sat there for 3 hours while the drs were busy with all the swine flu cases. There were atleast a 100 patients and thankfully we were in a separate room waiting but there were people coughing and touching everything everywhere. It turned out that Adi was throwing up because of a bad batch of formula we purchased. We changed it and he was fine.

For the past 2 nights and days I have been stressing over us getting the flu. Not as much for me as for him. I have called his pediatrician 2 times and hassled her about what happens if he gets it. I have had panic attacks over it to the point that I have physically felt myself getting a sore throat twice. Thankfully, they were just panic attacks and Daniel is calling me a hypocondriac now. According to the doctor if we don't get it by tonight, we are in the clear then

As soon as the vaccination is available. I am getting him vaccinated. I have just realised - It is worth it.

[HAL 9000 96]

On the other hand...

Anyone who is in a high-risk group usually do well to be inoculated against influenza (the Porcina and the seasonal flu). The American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and American Diabetes Association have all recommended inoculation for patients of high-risk status -- such as anyone who has been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. Healthy persons age 65 years or older also benefit from receiving the influenza vaccine.

Read this very interesting (and understandable) article, si man:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC387428/

Also, Google-search "influenza vaccination" for dozens of write-ups on the subject.

Yes, hombre.

Those are some of the susceptibility factors. Pulling Pubmed on me... don't get to see that often here on VJ.

I was talking with my wife this morning and I think I may have had Swine flu some years ago due to the symptomology. Hope that helps me bypass this current pandemic. Likely it won't due to the virus mutating several times over since then.

[GabiandVi 34]

I've NEVER had a flu vaccine and I've only had one bad case of the flu and no vaccine would have been protected me from that. But my daughter has pretty bad asthma so not only will she get it, but so will I.