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h1n1 flu vaccination
I know any vaccination question can be contentious, but I have to get on my soapbox for a minute and then open up the floor for any other soapboxes.
Personally, I think the theory of vaccination is well studied, well understood and for the vast majority of people, highly effective.
I think that the potential for complications and severity of influenza is quite serious, and that if you don't agree and instead believe on "letting nature run it's course" that you've likely never been hospitalized, or had a loved one hospitalized for complications like dehydration or breathing difficulties.
I've gotten the influenze vaccine in Ontario ever since they started giving it out... I have athsma, I've always been in the "high risk" group. My kids will all get it as well, despite their screaming terror of needles in general. I feel that even if it is only partly effective, it will be better than running up against the full strength influenza virus.
Although I feel that the media has blown the "Swine Flu" fears ridiculously out of proportion, that influenza is a serious enough illness to vaccinate against. I don't feel anti-virals are particularly effective as an alternative.
I would also come out and say what I think about the average person* who chooses not to vaccinate in favour of the all natural human immune system, but I would really be getting out of the spirit of Offsprung. I choose to respectfully disagree REALLY REALLY strongly with that perspective.
*Well, really just the only two people I've met this week that have vocalized their opinions on the matter... did not strike me as informed or well-thought out. And it makes me cringe.
What are your plans for this seasons flu vaccine? Have you (or a family member) ever had serious complications from influenza? Have you ever had a serious reaction to the shot (beyond the 'feeling unwell' reaction, I mean allergic reaction or serious illness) ? Do you participate in or skip the other vaccines (measles, polio, diptheria, etc?)
Personally, I think the theory of vaccination is well studied, well understood and for the vast majority of people, highly effective.
I think that the potential for complications and severity of influenza is quite serious, and that if you don't agree and instead believe on "letting nature run it's course" that you've likely never been hospitalized, or had a loved one hospitalized for complications like dehydration or breathing difficulties.
I've gotten the influenze vaccine in Ontario ever since they started giving it out... I have athsma, I've always been in the "high risk" group. My kids will all get it as well, despite their screaming terror of needles in general. I feel that even if it is only partly effective, it will be better than running up against the full strength influenza virus.
Although I feel that the media has blown the "Swine Flu" fears ridiculously out of proportion, that influenza is a serious enough illness to vaccinate against. I don't feel anti-virals are particularly effective as an alternative.
I would also come out and say what I think about the average person* who chooses not to vaccinate in favour of the all natural human immune system, but I would really be getting out of the spirit of Offsprung. I choose to respectfully disagree REALLY REALLY strongly with that perspective.
*Well, really just the only two people I've met this week that have vocalized their opinions on the matter... did not strike me as informed or well-thought out. And it makes me cringe.
What are your plans for this seasons flu vaccine? Have you (or a family member) ever had serious complications from influenza? Have you ever had a serious reaction to the shot (beyond the 'feeling unwell' reaction, I mean allergic reaction or serious illness) ? Do you participate in or skip the other vaccines (measles, polio, diptheria, etc?)
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by ruth on -
I need to ask my doctor if they're going to be incorporating the H1N1 vax into the other flu shot, or is it one thing. I have often blown off the shot because my immune system is healthy but my asthma is getting worse every winter so last year I did get one. The boys got the spray in the nose. Sam has mild asthma, Luke's healthy as a horse. I'm basically going to discuss it with my doc and the boys' pediatrician and go on their recommendation after a risk/benefit analysis. Although frankly I'm wondering if there will be enough supply of H1N1 to cover everyone anyway; they may have to limit it to highest risk categories like pregnant women, babies and the elderly.
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Permalink Reply by Mamawho on
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I'm a fan of vaccines. But that's not to say that I don't have any concerns about them. They are potent medical concoctions - nothing worthwhile is benign in medicine.
We've done all the required shots plus a few extras because of the population on military bases - higly mobile, overseas often, etc. I have had flu shots because I cared for my grandmother, who had emphysema. GirlWho has never gotten the flu shot. DaddyWho always got it, but most everyone in the military does. He got all kinds of shots.
I think we may get the H1N1 shots when they are available. We're out in public amongst tourists from all over, so it's a potluck of germs from around the world. I imagine that increases the chances of getting whatever's going around. I'd feel better if we had the shots, because I know the first time that GW wakes up with a cough and fever, I'm going to FREAK otherwise.
My great-grandma was always first in line for the flu shot until she died at 103. She was 22 during the 1918 flu pandemic, and she cared for the dying and dead. Tiny woman with the constitution of a horse - she did not get sick.
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Permalink Reply by MamatothaMax on -
Yeah this is a touchy subject. I've never had a flu shot and I've only had the flu once in my life. My parents don't get flu shots and rarely get the flu. We don't try and persuade people not to get them as there are those who really do need them. We did not skip other vaccines that are given in childhood. My grandmother has severe asthma that is triggered when she gets a head cold. I sure as hell hope she gets a flu shot.
This flu season I'll be pregnant and I'm still debating whether to get one or not. Should the swine flu come to my area then I will definitely get the h1n1 shot. But like always we will take measures for staying healthy (ie washing hands, and lots of lysol).
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Permalink Reply by Ylimemagic on -
I did just hear from our Ped. that the H1N1 shot was going to remain separate from the seasonal flu vaccine and that testing had been strong in adults but that it hadn't been tested in children.
Take that for what it's worth.
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Permalink Reply by DLBK on -
The H1N1 vaccine will be a separate shot (or two) from the seasonal flu shot.
I used to get the flu every season--that stopped when I started getting the shot, so I'll continue. Last year my son also received a flu shot; we'll do the same this year and he'll also get the H1N1 shot when it becomes available.
He has received every single vaccination recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics so far. While I agree that vaccines aren't totally harmless and their side effects should be carefully studied, I can't imagine not vaccinating him. Nobody in our family has ever has a serious reaction to any vaccine, so that might help my positive view of vaccination.
Like Wookie, I don't want to insult anyone's personal views of vaccinating their children, so I'm not sure how to best phrase my opinion of people who choose against vaccination. Chances are that their kids will not get any serious disease because most of the population is vaccinated; however, if enough people don't vaccinate their kids some of them will start getting these serious childhood diseases. I think it's unfair to the children to expose them to preventable disease, and it's unfair to the rest of the population to expose them, too.
I don't see what the difference between refusing to vaccinate and refusing to give antibiotics for an infection is. Either way, you're letting your (non-scientific) beliefs stand in the way of providing the best health care you can for your kids.
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Permalink Reply by hotmama on -
I am getting them both if I can- baby will be born during flu season and hopefully he will be protected through nursing. I will get the regular flu shot for M, but probably not H1N1 unless the pedi pushes the issue. I trust the pedi completely- she has been wonderful and very supportive of my vaccine concerns.
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Permalink Reply by Annaevilred on -
Both of the boys will be getting the regular flu and the h1n1 shots. Doug may - he's an adult he can decide for himself. I will not be getting either one - I have had several bad reactions to flu shots in the past - came down with a really fun loop of bronchitis/laryngitis/bronchitis and the next year my arm swelled up like a balloon about 5 minutes after the shot. No more flu shots for me - I'm superstitious like that.
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Permalink Reply by Floor Pie on -
I'm usually pro vaccine, but I'm a little leary of the H1N1 vaccine. They're under so much pressure to crank out this vaccine . . . suppose they don't get to do all the necessary testing to make sure it's safe for everyone? That's not outside the realm of possibility.
I'll probably still get the vaccine for the kids and myself (I work in Little Girl's preschool one day a week), but I don't think I'll be throwing elbows to be the first family in the door.
I tried to get the kids the regular seasonal flu vaccine before school started, but I was late for the stampede at our pediatrician's office. They ran out in 24 hours. So for now, we're just doing a lot of handwashing.
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Permalink Reply by kommishoner on -
Our issue is not with getting the vaccines at all, but with getting lots of them at once. Our pediatrician is supportive of staggering the schedule and has been really helpful with his recommendations of which ones to get first and when to make the appointments (since some have to or can't be given within certain amounts of time of others). I don't know if he'll recommend the H1N1 (though the life duet is at the 18-month appt. now, so I'll know in a couple hours), but if he does, we'll probably ask a few questions (like whether it's been tested on kids and what the relative risks are if it hasn't) and get it.
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Permalink Reply by rommie on -
I'll be getting the regular flu vaccine when it becomes available at work, as I have since we began trying to get pregnant. We get it free through our medical department, so I tend to wait until then rather than try to get an appointment and pay for the priviledge. Don't know about H1N1, though. I tend to be a bit more cautious about things that haven't yet withstood the test of time, and having a baby in the house sometime soon makes me both more and less willing to take risks like that. If/when next year rolls around and there haven't been any problems with the vaccine, I'd be much more comfortable.
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As pro-vax as I am, had I known much about staggering schedules when GW was born, that's something I might have considered. As it was, she screamed for 4 hours, went to sleep for 6, and was a shiny, happy baby after that. But during the screaming, I was wondering if the barrage of shots at 6 weeks old wasn't a bit much.
kommishoner said:Our issue is not with getting the vaccines at all, but with getting lots of them at once. Our pediatrician is supportive of staggering the schedule and has been really helpful with his recommendations of which ones to get first and when to make the appointments (since some have to or can't be given within certain amounts of time of others). I don't know if he'll recommend the H1N1 (though the life duet is at the 18-month appt. now, so I'll know in a couple hours), but if he does, we'll probably ask a few questions (like whether it's been tested on kids and what the relative risks are if it hasn't) and get it.
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