Hi Moms,
I would like to know your views about the H1N1 vaccination (which is more popular as Swine Flu) for your kids. Earlier we're so anxiously waiting for this vaccination to be available, but now since it is available in the Metro Atlanta area and very soon will be available in the normal Pediatric office, we're in a dilemma if we should get our kids vaccinated or not.
I have a 5 years old daughter and a 19 months old son and we got the normal flu shots for both of them and for us too, but we are not too sure about the new H1N1 shots.
Please share with me your views about going forward with it and your concerns about not going for it. May be this will help most of the moms too in making a decision.
Thank you all!
P.
we are no longer taking any flu shots and that decision is based on advice from doctors we believe in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4SmFxyust0
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/1...
My son is 17 months and we are going on a Caribbean cruise in a few weeks. When I asked my pediatrician if there was anything we should think about before going, she had mentioned potentially getting the H1N1 vaccine. I spent some time last week trying to figure out if the shot would be out in enough time to take effect before we go (right now they have the mist, only for 2 years+). Anyway, I spoke to some friends of mine who had looked into it, who said that every medical professional they had talked to cautioned against it because it was developed so fast. I had mentioned to the pediatrician that a cousin of mine and her family had gotten it, and it wasn't even as bad as the flu. Her response was that it can mutate and become more severe, but then would the strain being given cover it in that case (that I didn't think about until later)? So basically I'm up in the air. Fact of the matter is that the shot is not available yet (that your 19 month old must have), so you have some time to sit on it for the younger one. You know, many of these illnesses are said to be more potent to young ones, so I'm not sure that I would be overly concerned about an older child. But then I'm sort of all over the place (in case you haven't noticed yet :). I think that until some time has past since they've started giving them and noted any reactions, and sadly have seen more severe cases, I'm going to hold off. Some of this I believe to be over-hyped. But that's just my opinion.
my pediatrician has adviced against it, so I am not giving it to my children...talk with your MD and get their opinion...
We all receive the regular flu shot every year, and I was contemplating the the swine flu shot this year as well for my three kids. However, my two youngest, 6 and 3 already got the swine flu (and tested positive for it at the dr. office) and my oldest has not so far. The 3 year old had a fever for 4 days, and that was about it. Motrin helped and really it wasn't any worse than any other bug. My 6 year old missed only 2 days of school and was fever free to go back on the third day. He has a history of asthma, so this caused his to wheeze and he had to be put on oral steriods to help. But really, all in all, the swine flu is nowhere near as bad as the regular flu and it doesn't last as long either. So I won't be vaccinating my oldest child. I however am pregnant, so I have heard I need to get the vaccine, but am still contemplating it since it isn't available yet. oh- and our pediatrician is not one that writes out tamiflu for everyone. She did give me a RX for tamiflu for the wheezing child, but said to wait a day before filling to see if he got worse and in the end, I never filled it b/c it just wasn't that bad. I guess, bottom line, if your kids are otherwise healthy, with no underlying problems, you can probably skip it. Hope that helps!
