My 2 cents on H1N1 from a non-vaccinator

 I have definitely been following the debate on this H1N1 vaccine.  I have researched both sides and have decided against it for myself and for my family.  

Here is one of the best articles I have read that supports anti-H1N1 vaccine.  

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/11/03/What-We-Have-Learned-About-the-Great-Swine-Flu-Pandemic.aspx

I definitely respect each person's decision.  However, I believe we are being scared into this and when all we look at are the CDC and the WHO websites, we are only getting a one-sided view.  Of course the CDC is going to tell us all of the scary stuff, they bought millions of vaccines and need to use them up.  

All I am asking is that we all make informed decisions - weigh both sides and try to keep from buying into the media fear-fest before you make the decision.  

I vaccinate my children according to my doctor's recommendations - they have never gotten the flu shot, however.  - So I am not anti-vaccine - I just think that when we vaccinate for everything that could possibly make us sick, then we set our immune systems up for failure.  Not to mention, we have absolutely no idea what the long term side effects are on young children and babies in-utero. - The vaccine is less than a few months old, and we are being told there are no side effects... really?  how do we know?  There hasn't been enough time.

So, I am sorry if I made anyone angry.  I really do respect each indivduals choice to vaccinate or not.  I just believe we need not panic and stop and think for a minute... consider both sides before you decide.

momofboys:

try to keep from buying into the media fear-fest before you make the decision.

Actually, it's not the media that's made me reconsider getting the shot for my family; it's personal stories from friends and online message board friends whose families have suffered devastating flu complications.  I really wasn't going to bother with the shot but I've honestly heard about 4 horror stories in the last week alone...

 i have to say that i have about 5 docs as clients.  as well as about 8 nurses.  none of them are getting it.  one nurse told me last night there are 11 kids in the children's hospital with reactions to the vax.  including several on respirators.  she told me to "please not get it". it seems you may be damned if you do, damned if you dont. 

It's definitely a personal decision and I debated with it for a while until I started to see cases of healthy young adults / kids / pregnant women getting sick so fast... It's just devastating!! I don't think I could live with myself if I let this happen to my family so we all went and stood 4 hours in line to get the vaccine. Am I scared of the possible side effects? Sure!! But after seeing what this flu can do I decided that the benefits outweight the risks. I hope I was right. And I hope that everybody here that is against the vaccine don't regret their decision later either

Our whole family got the vaccination on tuesday. We waited in line for 5 hours to get it as our baby was only 5.5 weeks old, and I could not even imagine her getting sick, or one of my boys (4 & 7). We debated and pondered for quite some time, and we are glad that we went for it.

charliecats:

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

 

no you were not asking for a debate and so I didn't "quote" you.

However the woman I did quote was stating that if we (meaning us as mothers) didnt' vacc were basicly not providing protection for our children and that was harming our children because of our beliefs... well that is a double edge sword and asking for "debate".

YOU as a non vaccinating mother, I would think would  appreciate that someone like myself who DOES vacc... may question what is in these vaccinations and how they can, in the future harm us and our children (specially those who are pg) the person I orginally quoted stated she wasn't starting a debate but in the same breath suggested that those who don't vacc against h1n1 maybe be being negligent in not doing so...

It is a personal decission and not everyone is going to agree (again as you would know being a non vaccinator). But that said.... just because someone who is anti vacc deciding to vacc against h1n1, doing so isn't a reason for everyone to jump on the bandwagon. Just like I "try" to understand why someone wouldn't vacc their children from life threatening diseases that do exsit and have for hundrends of yrs, I would hope that others would try to understand why some of us who do believe in vaccinating may be apprehensive. Not because of ignorance but because of the very reason actually so many people are adamant NOT to vaccinate their children at all. This isn't hostility. It is trying to decide what is best for our own families..... I am not a sheep... I can't follow just because someone who doesnt' vacc decides to for h1n1. AND I do know people who have had h1n1 (in real life and been exposed to them)and I TOO know the ingender friend who's son got it and it terrifies me and makes me pray hard her little boy is going to be ok. I am not dumb. I know bad things happen.

Again I will state (even though I have twice already but it seems to be ignored) I am on the fence... I have not been convinced yet it is a big enough threat to take the chance to expose my children to a brand new vaccination. I have and will state again... that if h1n1 suddenly took on the type of pandemic proportions such as the Black Death (Black Plague) you are damn straight I would vaccinate my children and myself and deal with the consequences later.

I am not hostile... I am just seeing myself on the other side of vaccinations that I never was on before.... kind of like you.

dream:

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.

I'm not debating, just asking.... If it doesn't seem risky enough for you to get vaccinated because you don't think it would affect you badly, and you are pro-vaccinations, wouldn't you feel terrible if you ended up getting H1N1 and accidentally gave it to someone who did end up dying?  I think that's the point of CC's post.  Just a question.  It is totally your choice to get vaccinated though.

Oh, and btw, it's the same formula as in the seasonal flu shot.  You wouldn't be a guinea pig.

Sailormoon ~ You only have to get it once (kids under 10 have to get a booster after 30 days though, I think).  The only reason why the seasonal is given each year, is because it's a different strand each year.

I can finally get the vaccine through the university today, and I'm so ecstatic!  I've waited at 3 separate places, and taken off work just to find out they've shut down the lines before the clinics opened.  Now, I just have to find a place for DS to get it.

Just want to add that I was also intially worried about getting the vaccine, but I ended up getting it (the thimerasol-free version) because of many reasons. I really weighed this decision and in the end, it seemed like the best option.

Tryin4Pink:

dream:

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.

I'm not debating, just asking.... If it doesn't seem risky enough for you to get vaccinated because you don't think it would affect you badly, and you are pro-vaccinations, wouldn't you feel terrible if you ended up getting H1N1 and accidentally gave it to someone who did end up dying?  I think that's the point of CC's post.  Just a question.  It is totally your choice to get vaccinated though.

Oh, and btw, it's the same formula as in the seasonal flu shot.  You wouldn't be a guinea pig.

Sailormoon ~ You only have to get it once (kids under 10 have to get a booster after 30 days though, I think).  The only reason why the seasonal is given each year, is because it's a different strand each year.

I can finally get the vaccine through the university today, and I'm so ecstatic!  I've waited at 3 separate places, and taken off work just to find out they've shut down the lines before the clinics opened.  Now, I just have to find a place for DS to get it.

actually you are right you are not debating you are judging.

To say I could give the h1n1 to someone and they may die is like saying I could get the flu and someone could die. h1n1 rarely kills. Just like the common flu rarely kills... but it can.. so can anything actually.

I don't vacc for the common flu either. And I don't think OP orginal post has anything to do with what you stated. Because if it did she would feel that way about all vaccinations since in essense vaccinating period is in effect controling the spread of diseases that do kill. On a grand level.

And honestly the debate with regards to being a guinea pig... well IF it wasn't "new" and questionable there would be no point to this discussion at all. Next yr from now I may very well say I will vacc my kids.... but then there will be a yr of exposed people already (the guinea pigs) who will have either had no effects or had effects walking around.. or not walking around. But then again I may not. Who knows. I am still on the fence.

I have strong feelings about the responsiblity of parents to vaccinate their children from life threatening diseases.. not for just my children but for all children who they are exposed to. So I don't take not vaccinating my children lightly. But you are correct, it is my choice for my family. I don't judge you for being thrilled to be vaccinated, so don't judge back. I am sure there are many parents who feel the same as me, but just don't wish to get into a debating argument and so keep quiet. I almost did. In real life my reply is, I am on the fence. Because I am for the reasons I keep stating.

I am on the fence.

 I think the biggest thing we have to remember is that you can ALWAYS find articles to support YOUR beliefs.  For every pro vaccinate article there is a con vaccinate article.  

K.D.G.:

 i have to say that i have about 5 docs as clients.  as well as about 8 nurses.  none of them are getting it.  one nurse told me last night there are 11 kids in the children's hospital with reactions to the vax.  including several on respirators.

this really shocks me, I have not heard of any reactions to the vaccine in our hospital let alone kids on vents from it.  I have definately heard of kids on vents from  H1N1 but not from the vaccine.   Hmmm something to ponder.

becky3:

I have not heard of any reactions to the vaccine in our hospital let alone kids on vents from it

it is certainly not on the news here which bothers me.  but i know this nurse well and believe her.

momofboys:

I have definitely been following the debate on this H1N1 vaccine.  I have researched both sides and have decided against it for myself and for my family.  

Here is one of the best articles I have read that supports anti-H1N1 vaccine.  

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/11/03/What-We-Have-Learned-About-the-Great-Swine-Flu-Pandemic.aspx

I definitely respect each person's decision.  However, I believe we are being scared into this and when all we look at are the CDC and the WHO websites, we are only getting a one-sided view.  Of course the CDC is going to tell us all of the scary stuff, they bought millions of vaccines and need to use them up.  

All I am asking is that we all make informed decisions - weigh both sides and try to keep from buying into the media fear-fest before you make the decision.  

I vaccinate my children according to my doctor's recommendations - they have never gotten the flu shot, however.  - So I am not anti-vaccine - I just think that when we vaccinate for everything that could possibly make us sick, then we set our immune systems up for failure.  Not to mention, we have absolutely no idea what the long term side effects are on young children and babies in-utero. - The vaccine is less than a few months old, and we are being told there are no side effects... really?  how do we know?  There hasn't been enough time.

So, I am sorry if I made anyone angry.  I really do respect each indivduals choice to vaccinate or not.  I just believe we need not panic and stop and think for a minute... consider both sides before you decide.

Just wanted to let you know you are not alone in your thinking.  I totally agree with your post and was actually thinking of quoting Dr. Mercola myself until I read your post.

dream:

And more people die of the common flu than h1n1

That's very true, but 2 things you need to keep in mind:

1. H1N1 probably hasn't peaked yet, so we don't know what the 'real' death tolls are going to look like on a year-to-year basis

2. The deaths are completely different poplulations. Most of the people dying from the seasonal flu are elderly or immuno-compromised. Most of the deaths from H1N1 are healthy, young people, particularly pg women (who, yes, I realize are technically considered immuno-compromised as well). IMO, there's a big difference between someone who's 85 in a nursing home dying of the flu and a perfectly healthy 5 y.o. playing soccer one day and being on a ventilator the next. Sometimes it's less about the number of deaths and more about whether you or someone in your family is at particular risk, kwim?