H1N1 Vaccine...should I or shouldn't I???

1. 61

   megs78posted 14 years ago

   I need some advice here.  We are in the midst of our vaccination campaign and I am being forced to make a decision on whether or not to vaccinate my children.  I just don't know what to do. 
   
   On one hand, I want to protect my children from that flu, but on the other hand, I feel I need to protect them from the vaccination as well because I know so little about it and that scares me.
   
   Any good advice out there?  anyone already vaccinated and experiencing any problems? 
   
   Thanks in advance,
   
   Megs

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      LiamBeanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      You can request mercury free vaccine if that's what concerns you.

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         megs78posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Im not exactly sure what it is that concerns me, that is what the problem is.  i dont know enough about it to make a good decision, or an informed one anyway.

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            LiamBeanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            No one could tell you "yes" or "no" with a clear conscience. The best thing to do is read as much as you can on the subject so you can make an informed decision.
            
            There are a number of hubs on Swine Flu right here. Just look for hubs under the category: health, personal health, cold and flu.

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   2. 69

      Blogging Erikaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      H1N1 is really communicable, miserable, and potentially dangerous (just like "the regular flu").  However, the risks from the vaccine are virtually nil.  Definitely lower than the risks of complications arising from the flu.
      
      Thimerosal is NOT an ingredient in either the single-dose unit or the nasal spray (but it is an ingredient in the multi-dose unit).  If the (very tiny) amount of thimerosal concerns you, then request either the nasal spray or the single-dose unit.
      
      A friend of mine has 3 kids.  His entire family came down with swine flu 2 weeks ago.  His youngest, 3 years old, had to be hospitalized for complications stemming from the infection.  He developed pneumonia, and had to spend 3 days in the ICU. 
      
      Why risk getting the flu?  It kills 36,000 people a year in the US.

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   Mishaposted 14 years ago

   Considering risks of undertested medication and questionable dangers of the illness itself, we will not. Your decision is yours.

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      starme77posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      ditto - I am totally there

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   badcompany77posted 14 years ago

   I am with Misha on this one, I  deff won't be getting it !

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      kmackey32posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yea there's a sign at my work to get it but then everyone was talking that it isn't approved by the FDA so I think I am opting out on this one besides, i'm in my thirties. I work in a nursing home and it seems that all the nurses are always trying to get everyone vaccinated with everything. I run the other way.

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   bloodnlatexposted 14 years ago

   I've talked to a couple doctors about this, and they all told me that they themselves aren't comfortable with it, and aren't encouraging their patients to get it. 
   
   I never get the flu shot anyway, but I won't be getting this one either.

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5. 61

   megs78posted 14 years ago

   Do all of you have children?  i'm only asking so that I know where you are coming from.  For myself, I probably won't get the shot, but when it comes to the kids...I just don't know.  A 12 year old boy died yesterday in Toronto and apparently it was from swine flu and now I'm screwed up all over again.  What to do...

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      bloodnlatexposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I have three boys.  I was talking to their doctor last week about it.  She told me that they won't even have the vac until next month, and she told me that she wouldn't bother with it. 
      
      According to her, the most important things to do if your kid gets it is to treat the fever and keep them hydrated.  She said that it is like other viruses, and just have to run it's course and is running between 4 to 10 days.

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      Mishaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      3 and 5 years old. Actually, 26 too - but he is capable of his own discretion already

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      cosetteposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Wow that's a tough call. Swine Flu is hitting young people the hardest for some reason. I always made sure my son was vaccinated when he was little but...something as new as this vaccine...I don't know if I would permit that. I myself won't be getting the shot but as far as my child if it were me I would probably not. Good luck.

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   readytoescapeposted 14 years ago

   I had my son at his Pediatrician yesterday (unrelated wellness check) and we discussed the flu vaccine, he offered it for my son but when I declined he didn’t even question why. In a short discussion he said the only vaccine available (to him anyway) was the Live virus type he also said most entities (CDC & WHO) are pushing vaccination for younger children, but get this, not so much to protect the kids, but protect their parents.
   
   He said this strain while not completely understood, appears to be attacking the strongest in our society (18 –30) by forcing strong immune systems into overdrive fighting the virus, but in so, its their own immune systems creating more problems than the flu.
   
   My advice (for what it is worth) if your family is not normally susceptible to the Flu (any type) as ours is, (I can’t remember a time when any of us had the Flu) do not take it. If your family history is susceptible then you have some thinking to do. My son’s Doctor agreed.

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   readytoescapeposted 14 years ago

   He also said his best advice for preventiion was hand and face washing, often. Each time you come into contact with something outside your household environment.

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   Daniel Carterposted 14 years ago

   If you choose not to get vaccinated, there are several things you can do to help prevent infection. Readytoescape is exactly right about 18-30 yr old's immune systems going into overdrive.
   
   There are hubs about protecting yourself. Several have written about this, as well as myself.
   
   Viruses can cause a series of events in the body that can lead to strange things like autism, diabetes and other maladies. Statistically it can be verified, but is in reality, a low percentage of people who contract such other conditions from a virus. However, it's still wise to be aware of the facts.
   
   I've had a couple of flu shots, both of which made me sick for a couple of days. After investigating because I was told over and over the you don't get sick from vaccines, I discovered it was my immune system going into overdrive that triggered the fever and other flu-like symptoms. So yes,I got sick. It wasn't the virus making me sick, it was my own immune system's defenses. The information given to me wasn't complete, and was a half truth. So you can begin to see how vaccines can act so completely adversely in our bodies.
   
   Therefore, it's pretty important for us to become educated with facts.
   
   My personal opinion is that education and prevention can be as powerful as the vaccines.

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   jiberishposted 14 years ago

   Here are two pieces of info on the h1n1 vaccine directly from the CDC.  They are in PDF so it takes a minute to load.  Please Read!  The first one is on the Nasal vaccine, the second is The shot.
   
   The Nasal:
   
   http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/do … v-h1n1.pdf
   
   
   The Shot:
   
   http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/do … t-h1n1.pdf

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    megs78posted 14 years ago

    thanks everyone for responding, i appreciate it!  i talked to my doctor today, because my daughter is on antibiotics for streptococcus and she is reacting to them.  while we were talking about it, we talked also about the vaccination.  i asked if she was going tohave it done and she answered 'absolutely, as are my two sons'. 
    
    that kind of surprised me because i was under the impression that most doctors are not getting the shot, but pushing it on their patients.  so then i had to think a bit.  I actually did get my son vaccinated for the chicken pox because i already went through a horrible experience with that with my daughters...and both of them at the same time at the ages of 9 months (over 500 pox) and 2 years (30 or so pox).  because of that experience, I didn't hesitate to vaccinate my son against it even though its relatively new and not actually necessary.  so why not the swine flu vaccine?  what is holding me back?

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    Uninvited Writerposted 14 years ago

    I have no qualms about getting the H1N1 shot at all.

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    megs78posted 14 years ago

    so i just got the news that my niece has swine flu.  we live too far apart for me to worry about getting it, but she is sick something awful.  my sister is watching her like a hawk and making sure she doesnt show any signs of respiratory distress, but she is pretty scared of what can happen.  i think i will go get the vaccine now. what do you think?

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    TimTurnerposted 14 years ago

    The chances of anything major happening to your kids from swine flu is small compared to the risk with the regular flu.
    
    If you get them shots for the regular flu, then do the swine flu.
    
    If not, don't worry about it.

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    Ryan Hupferposted 14 years ago

    This would make for a great question:
    
    http://hubpages.com/answers/latest/

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    Louidam1posted 14 years ago

    I won't be getting the shot and neither are my children.  My daughter was sent home from daycare because she was running a fever and I took her to the doctor today and he said she will be just fine and don't listen to all that media hype about swine flu.

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    ScarletRyan1970posted 14 years ago

    NO!

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