H1n1

[yvonnahenna]

How is that flu going in your country?

In the netherlands all the childeren between 6months and 5 years 'have to' go get the injection for this H1N1.

We can decide if they get the injection or not. For my girls, I allready decided that they would get theirs.
Tomorrow we have to go between noon and 1pm.

I'm curious about how this is going in your area. Are there a lot of ppl who get sick? Did you or your (grand)kids also get a call for the injection?

(I'm sorry if I wrote something wrong. I don't know if 'injection' is the right word for this? )

 

[katg1006]

Yvon....right now in my area due to limited vaccinations they are only vaccinating the people who are high risk so my hubby & I cannot get it, however my son did receive his 1st dose on Friday. It's a 2 dose process - in three to four weeks he will need a second shot.

We agonized over whether or not to give it to him to be honest - the doctor convinced us in Nick's situation it was the right move. We were really scared and not sure if this is the right decision? We are hoping it was the right choice.

(((Hugs)))

 

[clarabear]

You know...I have not been a huge fan of the H1N1 shot since it came out. It seemed to come out to fast, but I am starting to change my thoughts a little bit on this. I am huge about getting the flu shot yearly. Since I started getting the flu shot regularly and they stopped using a live vaccine I have had the flu so rarely and the times I have had it, the extent of how bad I have had it has been much less than those around me. So, I swear by the yearly flu shot.

Now, the swine flu vaccine scared me. It came out so fast and just seemed crazy to me. How could an illness have a vaccine so quickly? Well, as it turns out the swine flu has been around for years. the vaccine they made my parents get in the 70s was a live vaccine and gave them the swine flu. Not cool. But now technology has changed and it is no longer a live vaccine and not so scary. It was also made with the same technology as todays flu shots, which change every year. So, even though I was hugely against it I will be getting it with my kids next week.

Kat what were your concerns with it?? Just out of curiosity?

 

[dlhoffer]

I'm torn as to what to do about the vaccine as well. They are having a vaccination clinic at my kids' school today, but only offering the nasal mist except for high risk individuals. I am not generally a big fan of the nasal mist vaccines & both of my kids have head colds right now, so I didn't sign them up to get vaccinated today. They did both get their seasonal flu shots though.

Also, they were both ill a few weeks ago & the doctor said they "probably" had H1N1 - never tested for it though to be sure - Are you "immune" once you have had it?

 

[Soco]

This is a very interesting subject to me. We just received today the letter "inviting" us to get the vaccine and we hesitate if we should do it or not, specially for my little one. As you, I'm not sure which is the best decision. I think I'm going to call the doctor we had before moving... I really trust him and I hope he can help us to make a decision.

Lisa... I'm not sure, but I think you're not "immune" once you have had it.

 

[danenan]

my 8 yo has asthma so she got her shot last week. And my 5 yo cried because she wanted too, but she is too old. That made her cry even louder LOL

 

[LSlycord]

We couldn't get the H1N1 immunizations. They ran out several times and before we got them for the kids, Sydney and I both got sick with H1N1. Both of us were very sick.

I need to look for a place to get the shot for Shaun. Brian refuses flu shots so he won't get the H1N1. As sick as I was, I really would encourage everyone to get it if they can. It's nothing to mess around with!

 

[MommySpice]

I made my husband got the H1N1 shot when he had pneumonia 2 weeks ago. He gets sick if germs even look at him, so I made him ask when he went to the doctor, and they gave it to him. I will probably not get one, as I have a very strong immune system. After taking my microbiology class, I decided it is for the benefit of all if we allow our natural immunities to combat viruses and infections when they are able. This is also the reason why I make sure everyone around me takes all of their antibiotics when they are prescribed...but I also make sure that antibiotics aren't prescribed "just because." And yes...there are some doctors who do that. I had a doctor (not my normal doctor) who wanted to prescribe antibiotics on a "phone consult."

I guess I went off on a bit of a tangent there...*lol*

 

[azrood]

We also have limited vaccines available here. Those in the high risk category are able to get them, but not everyone. We have not had access to them yet through our insurance company. Many people we know have already had the virus so we're counting our blessings as we've all managed to keep healthy so far.

 

[janedee]

They have just opened up vaccinations to everyone around here. It was high risk only until last week, so I will be off to get mine this week and hopefully dh will get his too!

 

[hondachicc]

Three of my grandchildren got theirs...Savannah is too young...have to be at least 6 mos....

From what I have seen about this vaccine is it is just like the regular flu shot....the flu shot is changed EVERY single year adjusted to the most contracted strain that year (they develop and give a completely different flu shot every year)....this year it just happens to be the H1N1 strain...what they did was no different than any other year (I saw all of this info on the news). We seem to not have too much of a shortage...everyone I know that has called to get one has been contacted and already received their shot from the health department. And if you are school age, you HAVE to get it through your school (the first dose).

 

[cellomom]

I just took Quentin to the pedi today and asked about the H1N1...they didn't have any for children over 1 - they were saving the ones they had for babies, they said. I did ask for Quentin and Lillian to get the regular flu shot as they are the most susceptible to the flu. And even though Quentin has had a fever for the last 4 days due to lots of congestion and a secondary ear infection, the dr said it was fine for him to have a reg flu shot. I should have probably taken Emma, but someone needed to stay at home and fold the laundry!! LOL!! She'll be the well one this season, I'm sure of it!! The other funny thing was that I told the dr in front of Cora that she wouldn't have anything to do with any flu shot of any kind. He offered her the flu mist and she totally refused...he looked at her and said, "you are too young to be so closed minded!!" Cora is extremely opinionated about the flu shots!! Just ask her!! LOL!!

 

[clarabear]

Sally - that is pretty funny about the doctor and Cora. I am always flipping back and forth. I used to refuse them, now I won't go without them...but my immune system has changed so much over the years also. It used to be that you could say the word flu or strep throat and I'd be sick with it within the week. 21 doses of antibiotics in 18 months and every time was necessary, not weird phone consult type stuff. But now except for allergies and head colds, which suck big time, i don't get horribly sick. I can't get the flu shot this year because they are out of them but I can get the H1N1. I count my blessings that I haven't gotten horribly sick with a flu bug. A friend of mine had all of her kids home sick with the flu and she wasn't able to go and see her brother who is slowly declining from cancer because of his weakened immune system. It has been very sad watching that all unfold.

I really don;t get the nasal mist thing though. It really made Derek so sick last year. He took it and by the time he got back to his department he was already a mess but this year he was just fine after it. In the military you do what you're told so he didn't make a big stink about it. I'll stick with the shot. I promised Ethan I would get my shot when he gets his.

Oh, and for whoever asked...the flu is not one of those things that you become immune to unfortunately. you can get it again and again.

 

[faerywings]

We are in a different risk category- our immune systems are so shot from Lyme that it wouldn't be good for us to add in more "stuff" live or dead.

We were also very concerned about the fast production of the vaccine. I am not totally against vaccines, but I am more like-minded with Kara.

 

[yvonnahenna]

my 8 yo has asthma so she got her shot last week. And my 5 yo cried because she wanted too, but she is too old. That made her cry even louder LOL

Ohh poor little girl!

 

[yvonnahenna]

The girls got their shot.
Imke didn't cry at all. She saw she would get a sticker after the shot. That was the most important thing I think :lol:
Fenna, I felt that she was surprised when that girl gave her the shot. She said something like: hwaa,, huuuuuuu..
And than she was smiling for the girl who was making pictures :lol:

That girl asked me if she could make pictures, they would go into the local newspaper that comes out every thursday.

 

[yvonnahenna]

Thanks for answering everybody.

My biggest concern was that this flu can damage the lungs of the children.
It was told on the news that there would be vaccinations for all the children in the netherlands. And within 2 weeks it was announced when and where we had to go. And I think that they arranged everything that fast, it has to be a serious flu that can cause serious problems.

 

[dabittymama]

I am still undecided at this time. We go to the pedi next week for Chases 6 month check up and we are going to talk with our Dr. about it then. If my girls were in school or daycare I would most likely have them get it, but we are really homebodies. I decided not to get it but the hospital has plently on hand for staff right now so I can change my mind for now.

 

[Soco]

Girls, I see most of you are favorable to the vaccine... but what about the secondary effects and the long term effects? Today we heard the news about a serious problem of allergic reactions in Canada. Here in France, we keep hearing about a neurological problem called Syndrome Guillain-Barré... All that scares me, but at the same time I want to do what is right to protect my little girl and our family.

 

[clarabear]

Girls, I see most of you are favorable to the vaccine... but what about the secondary effects and the long term effects? Today we heard the news about a serious problem of allergic reactions in Canada. Here in France, we keep hearing about a neurological problem called Syndrome Guillain-Barré... All that scares me, but at the same time I want to do what is right to protect my little girl and our family.

I had never heard of that before so I looked it up. It does look scary...but it has only affected 5 people in the US that have gotten the vaccine and it affects people who get the flu, so you can get it whether you get the vaccine or you get the flu, so you really aren't safe. It really stinks because illness and the cures are all so crazy. I know one of the big things that are scary is cancer and the treatments for it. Cancer can kill you but so can the treatments so how do you decide what to do? It stinks. It is like that with so many things. You don't want to be sick but the things to prevent it or to make you well sometimes are even more scary. I get that. I think you just have to think about it long and hard. If you believe in prayer, pray about it, and then make a decision that feels right in your heart and then stick with it and just know that you are right because you are making a decision based on love and not from fear no matter what the outcome and that is the best you can do for yourself and your children. Just love them and do what feels right and you'll be okay.

 

[katg1006]

never tested for it though to be sure - Are you "immune" once you have had it?

So far they are saying that the H1N1 has not mutated....but if it does...then yes you could get it again.

 

[schneeflocke]

here in Switzerland there is no need to get the injection, but we wanted to get one for our girl. But we are too late, they are both sick with h1n1 right now - poor babies...

 

[hondachicc]

Awe...Mirjam...((hugs))...I hope they are better soon!!

 

[faerywings]

Soco- that is how I feel too- I was just reading an article on this yesterday and a neurologist was concerned about the long term effect including this G-B Syndrome.

Like I have mentioned before, the Lyme Vaccine was pushed through very quickly and ended up doing a lot of damage. Katherine Sebelius (Dept of HHS, IIRC) has given the manufacturers immunity on any damages that may come from the vaccine. That in itself makes me concerned.

I also agree with Clara- you have weigh risk/benefits. We are on a lot of meds that have some bad side effects, but they might help us to get better.

 

[faerywings]

Oh and if you search for it, I have a thread here on H1N1 natural "helps." (like my oh so favorite garlic pills LOL)

 

[danenan]

we are still healthy, yay, I hope it stays that way...
DH and danielle got their shots, but me and annelie are too healty .
I keep my fingers crossed