My 2 cents on H1N1 from a non-vaccinator

Thanks Cat

I am still not convinced and I am a MAJOR vaccinator. I vacc right on time. Ironicly I vaccinate my children to protect them, and like the OP reason to vacc for H1N1 to protect kids who aren't. More kids who are not vaccinated the more likely the very things children are vaccinated with will come back.

My bf's 15yr old dd had H1N1(blood work confirmed) she was really sick her blood count was very low. She is fine now. My friend had her twins who are 5 vaccinated and herself. Everyone I know seems to have it and I am pretty sure me and my dd did but I didn't go and get tested because I didn't want her exposed to people who may have had it.

It is a 3hr waiting period here to get the vaccination at the mall... and from what I understand they have run out now. I am still not sure that it is as bad as everyone says. My mom watches a handicap young girl who was in the hospital all week, parents terrified it was h1n1. They said it was H1N1. Did the blood work and it turns out it is the flu. She still needed to stay in the hospital because some people do end up in the hospital with the flu... most don't. Same as with h1n1.

I live in Northern Ontario. It is suppose to be really bad here. I know countless people who have had it now(diagnoised). Only one who was hospitalized and it was for the flu... not h1n1 although like I said above, it was mistakenly assumed that is what it was.

that said, I could change my mind and end up vaccinating them because I do feel vaccinations save lives. I am just not so sure about this vaccination yet...

 We are not getting it and we have our reasons why not.

GL

sunnyinflorida:

Best of luck Kelly I hope your DD can get it Do you know how long till the vaccine gives us immunity? Is it right away or does it take some time?

7-10 days to build the antibodies. They did let my DD get it, but hers had thimerosol in it. The only thimerosol-free versions were for age 4+. She'll be 4 next month, so if they get some more supply in, maybe her next shot can be the mercury free one. 

sailormoon ~ At my clinic this morning and at my Dr's office last week, I was told you can get the shot as long as you don't have a fever. I'm on antibiotics for a sinus infection and they gave me the shot. 

We just got back from getting the H1N1 shot. all but the baby. She will get hers next month and the kids will need a second dose.

Your post sounded like the converstation I had with my mom lastnight!  I wasnt going to but after reading our about our IG girl's son I freaked out and wanted to.  I scheduled them for Tuesday (they're not offering it to adults in our area because of shortage so DH and I will have to deal) I posted on my facebook status and asked people their opinions.  A friend of mine said she didnt trust the shot, wouldnt not be getting her children vaccinated and said "Have you researched that stuff?!"  So I asked her to send me the link/info but she never did, so I have no idea the source of her "research".  Confused again.  Another problem I have that wont apply to everyone is that I am freaked out by the cheerleader to developed dystonia after a season flu shot, they think she probably had the condition but the flu shot brought on the symptoms.  They say it is really rare, but here is the thing- dystonia is really rare in general.  My DH has familial paroxsysmal dystonia, as does half of his maternal family and my kids have a 50/50 chance of having it.  Doctors dont generally know too much about it because it is rare, google even has little info so I highly doubt doctors know much about flu shot/dystonia correlation.  In my case, I am super confused!  So far the Tues apt is still on (then again I am afraid to take them in the damn pediatricians office, with every sick kid in town there) ugh.... at least they're not in daycare or school!

Btw, a friend of mines baby (he was born a few weeks after Bennett) already had it, my friend said he didnt act all that sick, and got better in a few days.  Thats the worse part, some cases make it sound like a death sentence while others make is seem like a bad cold.

I am going to try to word this the best way possible and hope it makes sense....

So, H1N1 is a new flu virus. There are tons of sick kids, adults, etc. In the hospital and dying...Just like back in the early days when tons of people where sick and dying from Polio, Measles, etc. So, now they have a vaccine that you can get so you dont have to risk you or your children getting it, and you choose, as a parent to not get it done. Is it not as important for your children to get these vaccines because you cannot physically see the detriment of what these diseases can/will do that makes them not as important?  I am not saying that one way is right and one way is wrong, and am NOT starting a debate. I know as a parent. thank God, we all have the right to make our own choices...

BabiesRBlessings, I know that your family had the H1N1 do you still need the vaccine?

sailormoonmomma:

BabiesRBlessings, I know that your family had the H1N1 do you still need the vaccine?

Nope, we should be good.

But I would take the vaccine 100x over, versus getting it. It was a NIGHTMARE.

BabiesRBlessings:

sailormoonmomma:

BabiesRBlessings, I know that your family had the H1N1 do you still need the vaccine?

 

Nope, we should be good.

But I would take the vaccine 100x over, versus getting it. It was a NIGHTMARE.

Sorry you had to deal with it. Are you getting Evelyn vaccinated when she is old enough? Evie did not get hers yet.

Also, do we need to get it every year like the seosonal flu shot?

My kids got the vaccine.  They are fine, no side effects.  They had the shot.  My oldest son has asthma and the swine flu scared me to death.  The difference between the swine flu and regular flu is that swine is particularly dangerous to the young and to pregnant women, the regular flu is highly dangerous to the elderly.  We had a 40% absentee rate in our town last week, obviously not all due to swine flu, but I was not willing to risk it.  I know many people who were not able to get the shot.  Right now in my area they are only giving it out to  high risk children and pregnant women.  I am grateful that there is a vaccine out there for it so I don't have to worry anymore.

We all got ours today the kids got the mist that is preservative free they had no side effects as of yet. I got the shot and felt a little off after headache, dizzy, but that could be pregnancy hormones I know that's way better than getting the flu so I'm not complaining. I'm still staying out of stores/mall as much as possible till the 10 day mark. Then Christmas shopping here I come

BabiesRBlessings:

I am going to try to word this the best way possible and hope it makes sense....

So, H1N1 is a new flu virus. There are tons of sick kids, adults, etc. In the hospital and dying...Just like back in the early days when tons of people where sick and dying from Polio, measles, etc. So, now they have a vaccine that you can get so you dont have to risk you or your children getting it, and you choose, as a parent to not get it done. Is it not as important for your children to get these vaccines because you cannot physically see the detriment of what these diseases can/will do that makes them not as important?  I am not saying that one way is right and one way is wrong, and am NOT starting a debate. I know as a parent. thank God, we all have the right to make our own choices...

measles vaccinations have been around for awhile, and although I DO vaccinate for measles many DON"T even though measles is HIGHLY contagious.

Polio is COMPLETELY different than h1n1... it is devesating to those who contact it and of course I vacc for it, the vacc has been around since my mom was a child.

I also Vacc for menigitis because we have had situations where I live where teens have died... and well I have a teen and I don't want any of my children exposed to it.

The majority of people just get sick like the flu with h1n1. I don't give them the flu shot either. TONS of people are NOT dying from h1n1 but tons are dying around the world who don't have the luxury to decide or not decide to vaccinate their children from deadly diseases.. THAT still exsit. We don't see them because MOST of us DO vacc our kids and so in doing so are protecting those who don't.

And more people die of the common flu than h1n1

that said, I am on the FENCE as to vaccinating for h1n1. Since I am a pro vaccinator, I tend to go on the safe side than take chances...  I like alittle bit of history first to ensure my children aren't guinea pigs. IF there was the new plague running rampant and killing 80% of the population of course I would risk being a guinea pig. But for ME,(a mom who is just as concerned for my children as anyone else) I have visions of  the "safe" drugs such as Thalidomide and diethylstilbestrol.... no I believe vaccinations save lives... but I don't have blind faith in medicine just yet and the h1n1 doesn't seem risky enough for me to subject my child to something that may be more harmful... MAYBE more harmful.

Dream...I was not asking for debate, nor will I do so. Your post, with all of it capitalizations, come off a little angry, and looking for a debate. I made this post simply to post a different side of the H1N1 vax from someone is not "anti-vax". I generally consider myself a "non-vax".

For those who were questioning the saftey of the H1N1 vax, the common thing I hear is that it was "pushed through too fast". It sure was. Those government folks and drug companies were hustling to get this vax out.

Here is my understanding in laymans terms...

The contents of this vax contain the same as the flu shot, except this time, instead of the "seasonal flu virus" it contains the "H1N1 virus". It is a dead virus, which means you cannot catch the virus from the shot. The other liquids around this dead virus is the same stuff as what is in your regular flu shot.

Except in the ones which contain an adjuvant, which is a product used to "speed up" the effectiveness of the shot. Some people worry about squalene. I have listed the link to the World Health Organizations (WHO)'s page on it below, which lists that the link to Gulf War Syndrome is bunk. http://www.who.int/vaccine_safety/topics/adjuvants/squalene/Jun_2006/en/index.html

All in all, people have to do what works for them. I posted this thread to give a different perspective, from someone who generally does not subscribe to vaccines for personal reasons. And felt this one vaccine merited a different response from me and my family.

CC

All six of us had swine flu in my house in June -- including a baby six months old.  We were confirmed by a swab for Type A positive.

The doc told me yesterday that the CDC recommendation is that unless our swine flu was confirmed via hospitalization and bloodwork (not just a swab) that we should still be vaccinated.  We are certain that we did have the swine flu, but went with the vaccination for the three youngest and the oldest will have vaccine testing due to an egg allergy next week.

Also keep in mind, that for the H1N1 requires a booster 30 days+ later, so you need to track it down not just once, but twice.