Have You Gotten the Swine Flu Vaccine for You or Your Child?

I have not gotten the swine flu vaccine for my 5 and 2 year olds. While I'm a big believer in vaccines, this one is so new and I have had so many questions that are not able to be answered because it is so new, that I decided against the vaccines for now. Also, my children have no underlying health issues.

My 2 year old and I are absolutely NOT getting the vaccine. We have doen a ton of research as well as talked to Dr.s adn pharmaceutical professionals who all advise against it. If you woudl like to view a website that has a lot of information on this vaccine and others go to www.mercola.com there are several articles abotu the H1N1 vaccine on there.

My 2 year old just got and my 16 month old will next week. same effects as seasonal - same vaccine only different strain. my daughter gets more upset when getting blood test and strep test. well worth it for me. you can go to cdc.gov to read about how they make it, etc. good luck

L.,

This is a very touchy subject in most circles. I for one will not get it, nor will my children. I also haven't had either of my children vaccinated at all. As a chiropractor, it is out of my scope of practice to advise people of what to do or not to do in this case, but as a mom that has done over 18 years of personal research on the SCIENCE behind vaccines I would say RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN AWAY from this vaccine. It's funny, they say for you not to eat tuna while your pregnant, but it's just fine for you to get the swine flu vaccine that contains thimerosol (mercury) shot straight into your bloodstream. Yes, even the vaccines they are giving pregnant women does has thimerosol in it as the government lifted the ban on mercury-containing vaccines given to pregnant women due to the "National Emergency". Also, the amount of mercury in the seasonal regular flu vaccine (as well as the H1N1) would only be well metabolized by a 500 lb man according to the EPA standards of mercury contamination. There is no difference in the amount of mercury in the child to the adult vaccine.
As for the efficacy of these vaccines, I call that into question as well. The FDA approves these seasonal vaccines after a VERY short trial (anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 days), and all they have to prove is that it produces an antibody titer. NOT that it prevents the disease. Also, the regular flu vaccine has yet to decrease deaths or even the hospitalization of people who get the flu and the vaccine. It shows very little if any effectiveness. Also, of the 36,000 who die from the flu every year, the number is actually less. They conveniently lump those that die of pneumonia with those that die from flu. So, the number that actually die from flu is in the low one-thousands and the number that die from pneumonia not associated with the flu) is just tacked on there for shock factor.
Please note that ALL of the information that is coming across the media and who is educating our government on this subject are the same people who are profiting from this "epidemic". They are also the same people that cause 106,000 deaths per year (290 per day), according to a comprehensive report by The JOurnal of the American Medical ASsociation, by drugs that are prescribed and taken CORRECTLY! Now where is the true epidemic.
I may be a doctor, but I am a scientist first. I only look at so-called medical breakthroughs by their scientific validity. I encourage you to check out www.mercola.com for a layman's view of these studies. He is an MD that is NOT anti-vaccine, but wants there to be safe vaccines, and not a cookie-cutter approach believing that every person or child should receive the same dose or put into question the dangerous adjuvants and preservatives in vaccines.
Also, a great video to watch, that tears apart the CDC's recommendations, according to their OWN studies is Dr. Sherry Tennpenny's "Vaccines: What the CDC and Science Reveals".
If you want to make an educated choice, (it still remains choice at this juncture) do your research on the SCIENCE. Not the junk science that the talking heads of the media or government give you, but the true science by those that don't have any monetary stake in it. It may be difficult, but when you ask a parent whose child has been vaccine-injured and they cry when they talk about the days and weeks following that last vaccination, I'm sure if they would have had a great resource, like mamasource, to encourage them to research, they would have gone with their mommy-instinct and wish that they had done the leg-work, if only to understand and know the symptoms related to a reaction.
Now, what is in my scope of practice is ways to keep your immune system revved up and ready to take on whatever you may come in contact with (this is NOT a Swine Flu remedy for those FDA watchdogs out there :-)). Be sure you're getting at least 5000 IU's of vitamin D3 per day, and at least 2000 IU's for your son. You both must also be taking 2000mg of fish oil per day (if cod liver oil, you can reduce the vitamin D intake to 3000 for you and 1000 for your son as cod liver oil already naturally contains vitamin D), a good whole food multivitamin (I like Standard Processes' Catalyn), and a probiotic. Get one in the refrigerated section at Whole Foods for you (just ask their best recommendation) and get Jarrows Yum Yum Dophilus for your son. I know this is long, but if I can help to educate those on this site, and even if one person takes the advice to get educated on the SCIENCE, then I've done my job. It's not to get people to not vaccinate their kids or themselves, but to make sure people understand the ACTUAL risks and benefits associated with that choice. GOD BLESS.

Please be so careful when considering getting any vaccine while you are pregnant. I got a flu shot when I was pregnant three years ago, and my twin boys ended up with high levels of mercury and some significant delays particularly in speech (neither has said a word at almost three). I cannot guarantee that this is the cause but if years from now you are spending most of your time and money for therapy to help your child you will wish you hadn't gotten the shot. I would highly recommend washing you hands staying home when you can and making sure that you get your vitamins and plenty of sleep. Those things will protect you from H1N1 much more than a vaccine could.

My son got it and experienced absolutely no side effects. It's not really a "new" vaccine since it's basically a seasonal flu vaccine targeting h1n1 that was developed the same way as the other seasonal flu vaccines (using chicken eggs) and by the same manufacturers. Every year, it's a new flu vax and this is the same deal. It's not like a new vax for some disease that there was no previous vaccine.

There's been a lot of discussion going around, but I have no regrets for vaccinating my son. I personally know several children who have been hospitalized, a pregnant mom that has had a really difficult time (she caught it before the vaccine was available) and know of one adult who died from it (he had no underlying health issues).

This month's Wired magazine has a really good article on this vaccine and vaccines in general that is worth a look. http://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/10/ff_waronscience_arg... There have actually been a couple of recent articles covering the same debate with the same conclusion. Ultimately, it's up to you but if you are in the high risk group, I think you should seriously look into it further.

I'm 30 weeks and did choose to get both flu shots. I am still trying to get one for my 2 year old, but pediatric doses are nearly impossible to find. Why I got one:
1) my doc recommended it
2) my uncle is a ccu doc and just took a pregnant woman's baby by c section and placed her on a respirator due to swine flu (she had no previous health problems)
3) the shots may offer protection for my unborn child who will be in a hospital at peak flu season (and there isn't much to be done to help an infant if she catches the flu)
4)I have known 7 people with confirmed H1N1, so I am certain it's here and not worth risking my life for (I want so badly to raise my children!)

It's a decision we each have to make for ourselves and our children, but for me it was an easy choice. I have had no side effects though I did still catch a flu (caught it before the vaccine had a chance to be fully effective and it was horrible- I lost 6 pounds in 2 days although I started tamiflu only 4 hours after onset of symptoms). Another thing- Tamiflu is questionably safe for a fetus- so it's far better not to get the flu than to suffer from flu and treat it.

I am not an anti-vaccine mom. My daughter is up to date on vaccines.

However, there are some vaccines I feel are not tested enough to my satisfaction for long term results. Namely, the H1N1 and Guardasil. It is SO easy to say I got the shot and had no effects....but with a new vaccine, we don't know the true effects until years later.

We did not get the vaccine. My daughter did have the H1N1 virus and it was not as bad as I thought it would be. We had a rough 24 hrs period or so and then it was all uphill. Daughter is a healthy kid and has rarely been on antibiotics. Our pedi did not give her Tamiflu either. I feel better knowing that daughter fought this without the help of Rx. I completely understand the Dr's saving the Rx for the children who have underlying issues and need it most.

I will note that the chicken pox vaccine came out just as my daughter was old enough to get it. I did allow the Dr. to give her this vaccine. Go forward about 9 yrs, when she was 10 and in 5th grade, she came down with an unexplained rash. I unknowingly exposed the 5th grade to the pox because I sent her to school. We were told she would never get the pox. Things are different now and kids have to have a booster if they did not get the pox about 10 yrs post vaccine.

It is a personal choice and the views on H1N1 vaccine and most all new vaccines vary widely. You just have to go with your gut on what is best for your family and not worry about what others think.

Yes, my 10 year old received it yesterday - has asthma and his doctor highly encouraged us to get it for him. We felt lucky he was able to get it since it is so much in demand. The benefits out way the outcome. Check with your doctors for their best advice.

I am almost 24 weeks pregnant and both my OB and my family dr highly recommended that I get the vaccine as well as my two small children. I have gotten the shot and am doing just fine. My two year old got the vaccine in the flu mist, she did have a very small reaction about 10 days after. I am not sure if it is because she got her swine and seasonal flu at the same time and if that was too much for her body to handle. But my sister-in-law who is a pediatric nurse says that if you take a dose of Motrin or Tylenol one hour before the vaccine you will have less of a risk of having any reaction, especially when the virus is live as in the flu mist application.

I'm sorry I haven't read the other posts, this is a hot topic and wanted to give you my thoughts. Research the ingredients for the vaccine you will be given. I have found that the H1N1 vaccine has squalene, thimerosal, and aluminum hydroxide. squalene has been linked to induce rheumatiod arthritis, thirmerosal contains mercury which while your pregnant you are told to limit, and has been linked to autisim. it also has nonoxynol 9 that is used in cleaners cosmetics and spemicides. Aluminum hydroxide is a heavy metal that has been linked to brain damage. all of this is debateable and everyone reacts differently. it is up to you to decide what is best for you and your family.

I would definitely get the vaccine if I were pregnant. My husband is a physician, and I have been paying close attention to the information about this vaccine. We have also had questions about its safety. Thus far, I have not heard any reports of adverse reactions (like the Guillain-Barre Syndrome that resulted from the swine flu vaccine back in the 70s), but what I have heard about pregnant women who contract H1N1 is downright scary. It is extremely dangerous. If it were me, I would run, not walk to wherever I could get this shot.

As for your child, I think, based on the fact that this virus is much more dangerous for children, I would also get him vaccinated, especially if he has asthma or any other underlying conditions. Over 100 children have died, some without any underlying conditions. According to news reports, many of the children who died had H1N1, seemed to get better, then had a recurrence (or maybe a related infection).

As for the mercury, it concerned me more until I saw an administration physician explaining that the amount was roughly equivalent to a serving of fish. On balance, I can live with that. It seems that the potential benefit outweighs any risks.

Personally, we generally believe in vaccinations. No research has shown that autism is related to vaccinations. We all get the flu shot every year since the year we all got the flu and missed a free trip to California. All four family members were extremely ill. Since we have started taking the shots, we haven't had the seasonal flu, nor any side effects whatsoever.

Hope these thoughts help. Blessings to you and your little ones!

I am 12 weeks pregnant and I got the swine flu vaccine 1 week ago. I had no symptoms other than a sore arm and everything seems to be fine with myself and the baby. I talked to my Dr about it and he strongly recommended the vaccine. He told me that while only 1% of the population infected are pregnant women, 8% of the population who has died were pregnant women. There is just something about this particular flu strain that affects us differently, and for me the the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh the risks. Ultimately it is your decision so just talk with your Dr. about it!

L.,

I'm right here with you. I'll be 16 weeks tomorrow and I keep going back and forth on this issue. There are two things that for now are keeping me from getting the shot. The first is that the government gave the makers of this vaccine a free pass from any legal reprecussions from making this vaccine. So if there ends up being any major side effects, they can not be held liable. When I first heard this, I thought that had to be wrong. But I asked a representative from the Dallas Health and Human Services dept and he confirmed that was correct. Secondly, if they are so sure this is safe, why have they said they are tracking side effects? What's to track if it's safe and "made just like other vaccines"?

I'm surprised at the number of posts that say things like I got it a week ago and I'm fine. Good grief! How many times have things been given to people and we only find out about long-term side effects years later? Most recently, we've been told Gardisil is safe and the weight-loss med Alli was safe and approved by the FDA. Now Alli users are saying they are having liver failure. I'm sorry, but just because our government says it's safe doesn't mean it is.

All this being said, I'm STILL not sure what I will do. I feel we're being bombarded with info from both sides.

Also, I don't know where the poster who said that 50% of pregnant women who get the H1N1 flu die, but I've never heard that. What I heard was that there have been 100 pregnant women go into ICU due to H1N1. 28 of those in ICU died. So that's 28% of those entering ICU, not even 28% of the total who got the virus.

I am 21 weeks and am not going to get the vaccine, although my doctor is really pushing me to. She keeps saying "they have done all the testing and it's fine! but when I replied, "Yes, but they ahve NO testing on the fetus!", well, she had no response. She couldn't argue. There has been absolutely NO testing on the long-term affects of this drug on a fetus, other than the fact that it definately gets transmitted to them, they have NO IDEA what side affects it may cause them later in life. I'm more willing to risk a really bad case of the flu and a week in the hospital than I am some congenital defect in my child that pops up when they are 6 or 7 and I have no one to blame but myself for doing it to them since the government gave these companies a free pardon for any pain or injury they may inflict. Also, due to the push for mass vaccinations, they have lessened their mandates on the use of Mercury and all shot-form vaccines in the US will have it. it is my understanding from my Dr. that you can't even request a non-mercury based shot because we didn't get any. To me, the odds of me getting the flu are far less than the odds of damage being done to my child by this fly-by-night drug they are pushing out as fast as they can bottle it.

Hi L.,

My name is J. and I too am pregnant. I am currently a stay at home mom with my daughter. I am 18 weeks pregnant and at my last Dr's appt he offered me the H1N1 shot. I did decline it. I have hesitations like you. I feel it's too new and almost like it's still being tested. My mother enlaw is an RN and told me not to get it. She seems to know what she is talking about. I don't want something to effect my child now or later in her life. I have been using alot of sanitizer, hand washing and not sharing drinks even with my husband or daughter. I think as long as you watch what your touching when your out in public and staying away from anyone who is coughing or anything we should be fine. I hope this helps. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

i know there has been alot of hype about the swine flu but i don't see that it is that much different than the regular flu. i had my 20 month old get the regular flu shot, (the rest of the family mom, dad and 3 year old daughter did not). but i am not giving her the swine flu shot. i just feel like it is too new and not really tested. i don't think they even really know if it works. i think we are going to chance it with the real flu than get a shot on purpose that might hurt her. good luck.

My kids and I got the vaccine a week and a half ago and so far everything has been fine. My daughter, who is 3, and I got the mist while my son, who is 1, got the shot. I do understand your anxiety.

My cousin caught H1N1 and today he finally got his breathing tube out. He has no underlying medical conditions..just caught it from a coworker and since October 25th he has been in the hospital on dialysis and a ventilater. I decided to get my children the shot because if they ever ended up like that it would be a lot harder for them to pull through. I do recommend it because it could be a lot worse not getting it done. In Canada they are only giving the shot to pregnant woman, kids above 6 weeks and below five. I recommend you getting it to for the safety of your pregnancy. Hope it helps

If you would get the regular flu shot for yourself and your kids then I would say yes. It is has been tested. It is just a different strain. Every year they predict which strain will flourish and make a vaccine with that strain. They have just inserted Strain A which covers H1N1 into the same serum. There are mercury free shots for regular flu that most progressive pedi's stock. I haven't heard that they are stocking the perservative free H1N1 but you could check with your doctor. If you are pregnant, you risk dehydration and that could lead to early labor. I am not trying to scare you but I feel a pregnant woman needs to weigh out all the risks and benefits. Ask your friend why her doctor told her not to. She may have already been exposed or her doctor may think it is mild. There are so many things to weigh.

Hi L.,

My 4 year old got the H1N1 flu mist and he is totally fine. I work in a Newborn nursery and will be getting it too to protect the babies.

99% of the flu's this season are H1N1. Fifty % of the pregnant women who actually contract the swine flu have died. Pregnant women have weakened immune systems. Consider this when you make your decision. Congratulations to you and stay healthy!!

:)

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey...

I have an autistic son and have chosen not to continue vaccinating him or my daughter. So neither child nor my husband or myself with get the N1H1 or the seasonal flu vaccines. None of us has ever had a flu shot. My son did get the flu last year and perhaps had the flu this year too(didn'tswab but had flu-like symptoms). I have several friends whose children got flu virus A (assumed to be N1H1)and it was mild. The CDC stopped counting N1H1 a while back so when you get the quick swab test postive for flu virus type A there is an assumption that it is n1h1 but not confirmed. The kids who run into trouble have a secondary bacterial infection. I've heard (Mercola with Barbara Loe Fischer and CBS) that when those cases were tested many are not actually N1H1. I am not anti-vaccine but do think some people can't handle vaccines well and that many kids can't handle our current very aggressive vaccine schedule. One doctor who treats autistic kids beleives the N1H1 is no more dangerous than the seasonal flu vaccine. The injectables have thimerasol. And although you can read that the mercury in the vaccine is similar to eating a can of tuna, by eating you aren't injecting--there is a difference IMO.

My children and I all got the Regular Flu Vaccine but not the Swine Flu Vaccine. The reason we haven't got the Swine Flu Vaccine is b/c where I live they only have the 'live' version of the vaccine. That version is not recommended for children under 2, those with asthma, and those w/ autoimmune disorders (my children and I all fall in those categories). If the 'inactivated' swine flu vaccine comes out, then I will probably do it (as long as it's not the end of the flu season already). I hope that helps out a little.

I got the vaccine on Friday and have no ill effects from it. I am 35 weeks. If this was any other year, this strain of the flu would be in the seasonal vaccine and you would not know any different. Considing that 28 of 100 pregnant women have died this year, I am not going to push 28% odds so I chose to get it. I work in healthcare and was encouraged by many people, including my doc, to get the shot.

Hi L.! I know you have received several responses but I just wanted to add mine. I just scheduled appointments for my kids (one is 3 yrs. and the other is 11 months) to get their vaccines on Monday. Every time our peds office gets a delivery of the vaccines it is reserved by the end of the day (they have a Twitter account that you have to follow so you know when it comes in and can call ASAP to get an appt. On the one hand I am not worried because they say it's the same as the seasonal flu vaccine but on the other hand I still worry a little just because of all of the hype. My kids pick up every cold and virus that goes around and they are in daycare all week so I feel it's a must for them. I have just decided to go with my gut and our ped's recommendation. Good luck!

Go to Dr. Mercola's website and read up. www.mercola.com
I say DO NOT get the flu shot or any other vaccinations for that matter.

Keeping this short and to the point since so many people have responded. Obviously a hot topic and one that's really confusing I know. Best to you!

Hello there,

I agree that it is a difficult decision and a lot of conflicting information out there. As for me and my 15 mnth old, I chose not to receive the vaccination. I find it absolutely absurd that the medical community fails to promote the most important preventative measure, which is maintaining and building your immune system by making healthy choices. I believe that building your immune system is truely a vital key to avoiding sickness in the first place. In addition, I have definitely researched the harmful ingredients in these vaccines and chose not to expose myself or my baby.

I'm 13 weeks pregnant into my second pregnancy. My first pregnancy, I opted to not get the flu shot. Whether the media has scared me, or the flu really is as bad/deadly this year as they say...I decided to vaccinate myself for the seasonal flu/ swine flu. I agree, the seasonal flu was harder than the swine flu shot. Not even so much as a sore arm afterwards. I'm praying for no long term side effects, but feel like I made the best decision for me at this time. I will not be vaccinating my 2y twins for either the regular or swine flu. My husband will also not be getting the shot. I'm not really a "pro vaccine" kinda gal (mine are way behind on a traditional vaccine schedule) but I'd rather vaccinate myself than risk serious complications.

Hi L.,

As a mom of a 3 month old baby and a 4 year old with mild asthma I was struggling with the same decision myself. I have been a nervous wreck worrying that either one of them would get the swine flu. I was nervous about the vaccine being so new, but after researching I have since learned that it is just like the regular seasonal flu shot just targeting a different strain of the virus. I agree with LL's comments posted to you below.

Four weeks ago I tested positive for the swine flu and I can tell you it was no fun. I was down for the count for 5 days (with Tamiflu treatment) and I had to be quarantined from my kids for nearly a week. I cannot imagine how difficult that would have been had I been pregnant. Fortunately neither of my kids or my husband has gotten it.

You have to do what is most comfortable for you but I came to the conclusion that any risks from the H1N1 vaccine were no more than that of the regular flu shot.

Didn't read all your other responses, but I got the swine flu shot two weeks ago. I am now 35 wks pregnant. I also got the regular flu shot which I had never had before. Think I was more tired and arm was sore from the regular flu shot. I was very nervous about getting both done, but my dr recommended it. I talked to her a lot about it. I asked if she had the shot herself. She said yes along with all the other dr's in the office, like 8 obgyns. She also said she took it home and gave it to her kids immediately. My dr also told me it would give the baby some immunity when it's born. Yours won't be born during flu season at least, but they can't get any sort of flu shot for the first 6 mos. Anyhow, it's a tough choice, but I guess go with your gut, although mine waivered quite a bit. Good luck!!

I have had several friends and their families get the swine flu and all said it was less severe than the regular flu. It only lasted 3-4 days, they had spurts of energy, etc. The regular flu however, lasts 5-7 days and you are zapped of energy the whole time. More people (in the high risk category) die of regular flu every year than have died of the swine flu. Personally, I do think the vaccine is too new and it did not go through the extensive testing other vaccines go through (even the yearly flu vaccine has more testing). One of my fiends has a daughter who was born at 26 weeks (she is now 3, but still high risk) and her pedi advised no swine flu vaccine. It is a tough call, no doubt.

I work in an emergency room and I got the vaccine. My arm was a little sore but no other issues at all. I wanted to protect my family from it...hopefully this helps.

My daughter & I both got the swine flu shot last week. I think the risks from getting the flu are worse than the risks from the vaccine. It didn't hurt a bit...just like the regular flu vaccine. You don't need to worry with what other doctors tell other people...YOUR doctor knows YOUR history and YOUR situation...that's what you need to listen to.

L.,
I have a son who was vaccine injured and I have researched and traveled all over to understand how this could happen. To make a very sad and long story short, PLEASE listen to your gut about this swine flu vaccine. Let me help you understand something.....They took the Thimerasol (mercury) out of the childhood vaccines. (well they say they did , but actually there are trace amounts which can be harmful).They say they did this because it is a NEUROTOXIN!! Now...they put the mercury into flu shots and target pregnant women and children! Does that make sense to you?? They tell pregnant women to be careful not to eat tuna, fish, etc.....BUT they tell you to get you flu shot with mercury! My son was a perfectly normal HAPPY baby and after 7 vaccines in one day he retreated into autism. I saw it with my own eyes. I am NOT anti vaccine I just KNOW there is a smarter and safer schedule. The swine flu vaccine has not been adequately tested and people are haing negative side affects all over that the media is not reporting. The swine flu is MUCH safer than getting the flu shot. Most of the typical flu shots don't even cover the strain of flu outbreaks that occur. And it is not just the mercury in vaccines that are dangerous, it is the other ingredients such as aluminum that can be harmful. Please if you need more info I have plenty and would be happy to send it to you. I am not some radical mom, I am a mom who has had to find out the truth on my own and with my own money and I want to help others not have to go through what I and millions of other moms are going thru right now. Emaill me if you want more info. ____@____.com
I realize eom people need more proof than what a mom says. And I have plenty of resources you can look at to make your own decision. You are a great mom to even be asking these questions!!!
L.

I would actually not get the vaccine for the swine flu and I believe they will not allow a pregnant women to get the injection. What can be done is get you and your child on a preventative program with natural products.

Take a moment to look into natrual products at
http://choice-wellness.myshaklee.com

I can send you pdf files on childrens products and products that can be safe for you and your unborn child. Building your immune system and taking care of your bodies early can be a preventative measure to assure you are in good health!

Hope this helps and congratulations on your new bundle of joy!

S. A.
###-###-####
http://choice-wellness.myshaklee.com

Good morning, L.,
If you want some good information about the debate on swine flu shots that has not been paid for by the pharmaceutical companies, go to the website www.mercola.com and read their info about it.
We have never gotten flu shots, because the carrier solution does contain dangerous substances like mercury and squalene. Even in minute amounts these chemicals are dangerous and it is highly risky to inject them into the human body. My father was a chemist and told us that no amount of mercury was safe to ingest.
The best defense against the swine flu (or any flu) is to eat healthy and keep your natural immune system strong, so it can do its job. Taking vitamin D3 supplements also helps a lot.
Good luck and take care of those precious babies.
B. G. (mother of 8, grandmother of 4)

My daughter and I both got it. She is 2 and I am 28 weeks pregnant. My doc told me it was a must. The positives outweigh the negatives... but do what you are comfortable with. In the grand scheme of things, the swine flu vaccine is JUST ANOTHER FLU VACCINE. They make them every year with different strains of flu and they are all safe. Good luck!

I got the swmine flu shot because I am a daycare teacher and I am constantly around it. So far I have been fine. I also got the original flu shot as well. I have a daughter who will turn 2 in December and another daughter turning 4 in March and they do not have it. My husband is dead set against these vaccines and he refuses to let them get it. They are also in daycare with me and so far they haven't caught it. They have come down with cold's and earaches but both were tested for swine flu and did not get it.

It says you are a stay at home mommy so I would assume your son is not around a whole lot of children anyhow. I could be wrong. I think this boils down to your personal belief's. I realize it's scary to think about what could happen if you don't get it either.

Good Luck to you. I did hear though that the swine flu is starting to taper off more around the area.

My husband and I got our 8 month old vaccinated against both the seasonal flu and H1N1. Everything that I was going to say, LL (first poster) has already said. So, I echo her statements.

I'll add that I'm not anti-vaccine, but I'm not gung-ho about the AAP vaccine schedule either. My daughter will get all the recommended vaccines, but on an alternative schedule. Questioning vaccines is wise, but make sure you're getting correct information, and not misinformation. My primary source has been Dr. Sears 'Vaccine Book', which I recommend. His book thankfully lacks the emotional hyperbole that's common in the vaccine debate, Dr. Sears breaks down the numbers - risk of acquiring disease versus risk of vaccine, as well as other reasons to get vaccines (i.e. herd immunity), and describes all the ingredients in vaccines. It's a handy resource. You can also check his blog post about the H1N1 shot at http://www.askdrsears.com/thevaccinebook/2009/09/four-swi....

Personally, the CDC published pediatric mortality rates were enough to convince me that the H1N1 shot was warranted. If you dig into the CDC information, you find this graphic http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/weeklyarchives2009-2010/IPD.... There's a blog post that describes this graphic in more detail at http://scienceblogs.com/effectmeasure/2009/10/why_cdc_say....

In short, there *is* information out there to help you make your decision, it's just hard to get through the misinformation to get there. And it takes some time to analyze the data (it took me a full 10 minutes to understand that CDC graphic LOL! (that scienceblog post helped enormously)).

Best of luck in your decision!

It is made the same way as the regular flu vaccine, so when I read that, I got it (mist was all they had). It is live, and I had no problems with it. My 2-year-old girl got it too. I am glad b/c my husband and son got swine flu (and missed their vaccine appts!), but we were OK. If you are pregnant, it is a scary time. I would get the shot.

Both my 2 year old and my 9 year old got the H1N1 vaccine a couple of weeks ago and go back for their booster in a couple more weeks. I would most definitely get it. We have had absolutely no problems. I would get it but I don't qualify even though I am a teacher. Every health care professional I have asked about it, from physician's assistants to registered nurses to MDs have said they will be the first one to stand in line to get it. Every educator I know wants to get it too. It is more contagious than the regular flu and as we have seen we never know who or why someone will end up in the hospital. I have had several students have it and they have missed class for over a full week and it has been really hard for them to catch up and get back into the swing of things (I teach at Texas Woman's University). One of the women my husband works with--her 7 year old daughter got it and had to be taken to the emergancy room with a fever of 105 degrees.

Let me also say that there are many people, like the one who posted here, who are anti-vaccine. Every group has an agenda and they are able to find the research to support their views. These people have a tendancy to be sensationalist and appeal to mother's natural instincts to worry and fear for their child's safety. A few years ago when I was a grad student I worked on a project that focused on people who do not vaccinate their children. It was very sad to see that many of these children contracted diseases and their health, future health, and even their lives were compromised. Millions of children (and adults too) get vaccines every year and yes, there will always be some that for whatever reason have severe problems. H1N1 aside, these horrible diseases have NOT been irradicated in our society, espcially when we have such a high immigrant population that does not necessarily get vaccinated. I am sure I will make some people mad with this post but the year-long project I was involved with was a huge eye-opener, and let me say that this project was not slanted to be pro or against vaccines.

First I want to say that I am not anti-vaccinations. All three of my kids are up to date.

People need to stop watching the news and taking it as news, it is not. The news is manipulated so that America will believe what the media wants them to believe.

Dr. Mercola is a world renowned doctor and he tells the WHOLE story, not just what the news wants you to hear.

My son is a former 24 week preemie and he still has very weak lungs, he is definitly in the high risk catagory. But when my son's doctors tell me they wouldnt give this shot to their children, I sure will not give it to mine.

I found this article to be VERY interesting, it is a 10min video, but totally worth watching if you are pregnant. It is the facts showing that ESPECIALLY pregnant woman should NOT be getting this shot!

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/1...

GL with your decision, whatever you decide will be the right choice for your family.

I am 36 weeks pregnant. My husband and I went round and round for months trying to decide if I should get the vaccine when it became available.

Then, in September a classmate of my godson's, a 6 year old perfectly healthy little girl, came down with H1N1, viral pneumonia and a staph infection of the lungs. She was in ICU at Texas Children's in Houston for 5 weeks. She suffered from both a heart attack and a stroke. She fought hard and is finally being released from TCH today, but has a long road of recovery ahead of her.

Hearing her story, doing research, visiting with my doctor and with friends who are doctors encouraged us. The risks just weren't worth it to us. Apparently women in their third trimester are at much higher risk to develop complications to H1N1. My doctor has seen women on respirators and even pass away.

Last Tuesday I got the vaccine. It hurt less than the regular flu shot. All the nurses and my doctor received the vaccine before giving it to patients. The grandparents of one of my nurses did the study and they feel the vaccine is perfectly safe.

Also- my doctor's office offered the thermisol free vaccinations. These vaccines are single dosed and contain much lower levels of mercury and preservatives.

Getting the vaccine also passes antibodies along to your baby and can protect them for up to 6 months after birth. Since my daughter will be born in the height of flu season, this was worth it to me.

I know it's a hard decision. I wish you all the best!

My 2 kids (under 6) received the nasal mist on Friday. They have had no symptoms or complications thus far. I was against having the vaccine until a friend passed away a couple of weeks ago from Swine Flu. Still, I debated and worried right up until Friday. Just pray about it and go with that good 'ol mother instinct.

my ob recommends it
my DH works in the ER and said that you should get it second trimester too...as for your son, it's debatable

L., we chose not to get vaccinated. I just have lots of questions about this vaccine that have not been answered and I am just uncomfortable with it in general. I'm sorry I have nothing solid to offer you.

I have 3 children and 2 out of 3 of them caught swine flu. It was horrible!! The same week they caught it, our doctors office had a supply of the vaccines so we took our 3 yr old to get it since he was the only one who didn't catch the flu yet. I was like you and very nervous but everythings been just fine. He had NO side effects and the shot is painless, my husband got one when he took my son and said you don't feel a thing. The vaccine can take about 10 days to fully be in your system so we were worried our 3 yr old would still catch the flu before it kicked in but so far so good and it's been 2 weeks since he got it.
I highly recommend you getting it since you are pregnant. You are putting you and your unborn baby at risk and you qualify to be one of the first people to get the vaccine so don't wait. I have to add though, we caught the flu in our kids so quick they barely suffered. My 8 yr old had it the hardest but she was given tamiflu and quickly recovered. The morning my 18 mnth old woke up with fever, we took him to the dr a few hours later and he was also given tamiflu and you never would have known he was sick he got better so fast. So if you take the risk of NOT getting the vaccine, make sure you get medical treatment fast if you get any symptoms. Check your little one every day for signs of illness but if you decide to not get the vaccine, another problem you might have IF you or your son get sick if finding the tamiflu. We luckily were prescribed it but I'm hearing a lot of doctors are not prescribing it and w/out it, you will take much longer to feel better. Good luck on your decision but my advice is, get the vaccine! Take care : )

My son is a Doctor and he said if you are concerned about safety of the swine flu get the triomerasol one. I am not sure I know what that means but he says it has less chance of side affects.

My son just got it on Friday. He is 21 months and is immunodefient, so we felt like we really didn't have a choice. You should know that for the little ones, it is a two shot series 30 days apart. I am nervous about it, since it has the thermasol in it, but since the virus would likely put him in the hospital it had to be done. He hasn't had any significant side effects so far, except his let was warm to the touch Friday. Otherwise, he seems to be fine.

If it were me, I would get it (the shots, not the nasal mist). I am afraid of the other childhood vaccines, but believe that since these shots are prepared in the same way that the seasonal flu shots are (which I do get yearly), then I don't see and hear about the risks such as you hear about getting side effects from the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella shot.

From what I'm hearing, the H1N1 (Swine Flu) is truly something to be worried about even for healthy people and it is also true that they are seriously limiting their use of Tamiflu to certain risk groups (which may not include your son at this point). Don't forget to check to see if you both don't need the seasonal flu shot also. I would space those out by 10 days though.

I'm not a medical person but I am paying very close attention to all the articles and advice that I can get my hands on since my grandfather died at the age of 38 of the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918.

LOL, wow you have gotten alot of responses! I think it is funny about making sure you get the right information before making you decision...People pro vaccine are going to think information supporting is the right information, and people against the vaccine is going to the information against is the right information.
I have three daughters one of them has asthma and I have chosen not to get any of them vaccinated. Personally, I just don't feel all that confident in the vaccine. Also, I feel like they should have the opportunity for their little bodies to form it's own immunity instead of being vaccinated for everything under the sun. I make sure they get vaccinated for all the required vaccines but anything optional I usually choose not to do. I did fight with the doctor just recently because she wanted to give my oldest daughter a second chicken pox vaccine when she already had one and then contracted full blown chicken pox when there was an outbreak at her school.
Anyway, that all being said I think in the end it is a personal choice. The best thing to do is research good and bad about the vaccine and make the best choice for you and your family.
Good Luck!

My 5 year old daughter had her H1N1 flu mist about 3 weeks ago and is doing fine. No side effects. Also no flu!!! This is a tough decision to make. With so much conflicting information out there, it's hard to know who to believe. You just have to make the best decision you know how. After telling some friends that I immunized my daughter, I received lots of strong opinions on the subject.

I opt not to get the swine flu vaccine for myself or my children. I have heard that the shot has mercury in it.
My MIL told me there is an over the counter medicine like tamiflu that works just as well with flu symptoms. Read the risks and ingredients before deciding.

This was a very difficult decision for me, as well. We NEVER get the flu shots because we think it's just nuts to keep injecting things into our bodies that God didn't put there! (Thermerisol, formaldahyde, etc.) We'd usually rather take our chances with nature ... our bodies are designed to fight off viruses/illnesses, and we develop immunities in doing so. BUT ... the H1N1 has hit kids and people with "underlying health issues" much harder than the regular flu, and my daughter is in the high risk category because she has developmental disabilities and cerebral palsy. On the one hand, I didn't want her to have the vaccination because there are those who think the "extras" in vaccinations CAUSE some developmental disabilities. The list of possible side effects includes seizures, and that scared me because she is already prone to having them. But, in the end, I looked at it this way: H1N1 is killing more people than the regular flu, and most of those who are dying are those who are in the high risk groups. Very few are experiencing the side effects. I decided that THIS TIME, I would prefer to take my chances with the vaccination rather than with this flu. It doesn't mean we will continue getting the vaccines, it was just for this time. My daughter was given the nasal mist (which has no thermerisol) and has experienced none of the possible side effects. She did come down with a cold the day after, but she had been hoarse for a couple of days before, so I'm not blaming it on the vaccine. They're only claiming about a 70% effectiveness rate, I think, and the season isn't over yet, so I can say whether or not I'm glad she took the vaccination. But I am at peace now because I know I've done WHAT I COULD to prevent her from getting a virus that could potentially be deadly to her. Hope this helps.

My husband and I are both over 40, my son is 19, and my daughter just turned 6 the end of Sept. We NEVER get flu shots and we never have had the flu in our house. Well guess what my daughter got for her birthday? A nice case of Swine flu! Funny thing, if she had not run a temp one day I would not have even know she had it because she had no other symptoms other than the normal seasonal allergy symptoms that she normally has this time of the year.

We immediately started giving her fluids (Gatorade,Green tea with purple antioxidants, water) and started her on Tamiflu. Broke out the Clorox wipes and surgical masks. Because she didn't "feel" sick it was difficult to keep her in her room away from the rest of the family. So whenever she left her room she had to wear a mask and I made sure to wipe everything down with Clorox wipes after she touched it. Aired out her room on a daily basis and had her sit outside for fresh air and sunshine when the sun was out. Doctor said we were doing everything right. My daughter was fever free in two days but we kept her out the full 5 days to ensure she didn't relaps.

The body is a wonderful machine. When we let it work the way it is supposed to it runs beautifully. Bottom line you are the only one that can make the decision for you and your family about flu shots. Understand this... it is NOT the flu that has been killing people, it has been OTHER complications that developed that there is no vaccine for.

Dear L.,
No please don't get or give your child a swine flu shot. All I have read is a lot and they are dangerous.
Go to www.drmercola.com see what he has to say.More dangerous for your child and the child you are carrying.
Good luck and God Bless
J. G

All three of my children got it Friday a week ago....two of them got the mist H1N1 and one got by injection because he is high risk and can not do a "live virus" immunization. He will have to return on 11/30 for his second one. We had zero side effects so I am perfectly peaceful with my decision.

My husband, my daughter, who is 10 months, and I all got the swine flu shot a few weeks ago. There were no side effects, no sickness after, no problems, nothing. Her pedi advised us to get it and I trust her. I have watched the news and did a little research on it and the benefits seem to out weigh the risks, in my opinion. It is your decision though. :)

My 2 year old son and I got the injectible vaccine and didn't notice any side effects. I had soreness where I got the shot, but other than we had no issues. My son seems to catch everything that's going around so we chose to go ahead and get the shot.

My whole family got the vaccine on Friday. My daughters are 2 yo and 14 yo.
We did the intranasal vaccine which was easy peasy. Our 2yo will need a second dose in 4 weeks . None of us have had any negative side effects so far. We all feel great and even though I was initially worried about getting the vaccine - after checkig the odds we figured the odds of us getting a severe case of swine flu (about 2 or 3 in a million) are higher than the odds of is getting a bad reaction from the vaccine (about 1 in a million). So with that thought in mind - we took a leap of faith and got vaccinated :).

Hi L.,
It's a hard decision to make for you and your family.
For me I would never introduce anything foreign and man made like a vaccine to my developing child or fetus or any elderly person. Your immune system is already compromised just for starters. Why would you then compromise it more? I also just don't trust vaccines with their history of errors and unclean vaccines. Just because your body seems to have not reacted to getting it does not mean that there is not something unseen and unhealthy going on inside your body. Sorry but I really think this whole Swine flu thing is really a scare tactic to get people to get vaccinated. Most cases are very mild and should be treated like any other flu virus. Rest, fluids etc.... Problems arise from secondary infections that can be treated with antibiotics. Respiratory problems should be addressed by seeing a doctor (not ER) is they should arise to lessen the chance of complications. Again the same as any other flu virus.
I have chosen to use alternatives to any flu shot. Vitamin D3 daily and a extra dose of Elderberry for those days when we have really been in crowded areas. We haven't gotten sick and it's works for us. I'm not sure about usage during pregnancy though. I really suggest looking into it. Makes sense that we are low on vitamin D3 during the fall/winter months when we don't get as much sun for vitamin D3 production and the cases of virus's incline. The children take 1000mg per day in a yummy gummy drop I get from the Herb Mart store in Mesquite and Daddy and I take a capsule containing 2000mg daily during the fall/winter months and then half the dose for the spring/summer months.
Sorry to be so long winded but it's nice to know that you do have alternatives. Good luck making your decision.
Best Regards,
C.