H1N1 - Peek your opinion Please

I am planning on getting this vaccination for my 2 year old but my son is not old enough yet.  The statistics of children dying in the US are pretty scary.

Do you recommend getting this shot?  I am afraid but more afraid of not getting it.

[Victoria01]

You need to get all the facts and do some research to make an informed choice. I chose not to get it for me and my family because of it being so new and not tested enough for my peace of mind. But like I said, it's your choice and you have to do what you think is best for your family. Good luck with your decision. It's a tough one.

[Lance06]

My doctors told me to most DEF get it because I am pregnant. I will also be getting it for my 8 month old daughter.

[peekawho]

I will get it as soon as it is offered in our area.  Of course I can't tell you what to do in your own situation.

If I were you, I'd follow whatever recommendations your own pediatrician has, and don't be swayed by scare tactics that you will see sprinkled liberally throughout this entire website.   For goodness sakes, there are people here who believe that vaccines of any type are a government conspiracy.

Is it 100% safe?  There are no medicines or vaccines that are 100% safe.  NONE.  Not even Tylenol is 100% safe, yet we pop those without thinking twice.

The risk to small children from the flu is MUCH higher than any known risk from the shot.

I'm high risk, so I'm certainly taking both the regular flu shot, and H1N1 when it is available to us here.

I've had the regular flu once, and was in intensive care for 3 day.  And I "only" had asthma as a risk factor, and mild asthma at that.  No way I'm taking chances after that.

[cantwait4baby]

Thanks peek, I agree with everything you said.  I am so afraid of the shot but much more afraid of not getting it.  My 2 year old just got her flu shot last week and our doctor does recommend the H1N1 for her as well.  It is not available yet but they will call as soon as it is.  My son is only 5 months old so he cannot get it yet.  The CDC recommends everyone who cares for a baby under 6 months get it but they will not give to me with a shortage because I am not high risk.  

I sure hope this passes quickly.  The news is so depressing with all these little babies getting sick.  

[mami1323]

I heard the vaccine is a dead virus so the risks are low when getting the vaccine.  My pediatrician says definitely to get it.  

[AnnieBrooke]

Please also keep in mind that all flu shots, not just the vaccine for H1N1, are created under tight timelines since they have to react to each year's flu.  (In other words, last year's flu shot doesn't help against this year's flu, a vaccine has to be developed each year.)  If you are too put off by that to get a flu shot in general, that is one thing, but if you are thinking the shot for H1N1 is somehow more hastily done, I saw the Surgeon General in an interview saying that is not so; all flu shots are all developed the same way.

The first flu shot I took was when I was pregnant, on my perinatologist's recommendation.  If they allow a pregnant woman to take it, it is hard to believe it is a dangerous shot.

I agree with Peek's advice on this.  Don't let Internet lore dissuade you; any vaccine you get or have your kids get should be on your doctor's advice.

[cantwait4baby]

I am so glad I came on to ask this, I pretty much knew I was getting this for her but now I feel even better about it.  I just have to hope and pray my youngest stays safe since he cannot get either shot.  :(

[tiredbuthappy]

we are all getting it, and anyone who wants to be near my newborn must get one as well. Since i am nursing, i will wait for the injection instead of the mist.

statistics are scary, and i feel the risks of not getting it far outweigh the risks of getting the shot, especially with young ones in the house.

[tatorbug40]

really Annie?  I did not know that...  it actually makes me feel better about getting it for the kids-  I was worried about it because I thought it was produced so quickly-  but it sounds like that is common practice, and they are experienced at mass producing on a quick timeline!  Thanks for posting that!

[tatorbug40]

sorry, forgot the e at the and of your name above!

[Quinns momma]

I am 6 months pregnant and once it is available in my area I will be getting it and so will my 2 year old daughter. I am not taking any chances with the well being of either of my kids.

[AndiJ78]

My doctor suspects I have H1N1 (I am on quarantine, they want me nowhere near the clinic,lol) and I am now experiencing the second wave of this dreaded flu. I can tell you in no uncertain terms that had this vaccination been available 2 weeks ago before I picked this up in San Francisco, I would have gotten it without thinking. I have felt miserable for the better part of 2 weeks and am now feeling even worse.

If anyone has the chance to get this, get it.

[AnnieBrooke]

That is why the remark in the interview stuck with me.   If I recall correctly, the flu vaccine manufacturing process is that the (I think it is three) labs who make it have to wait until this year's flu hits somewhere, then grow the vaccine in the lab, and then get it out, all in time for the most of the flu season, and that is how flu vaccine is made because there is no other way to do it for an illness that is different every year.  By now, the labs know how to do it as well as it can be done for a changeable illness and under strict time constraints, and the process is always watched and publicized.  N1H1 has people frightened, but it is still a flu, and she was plainly saying its vaccine has not been developed more hastily than any other flu vaccine.  Since I have never personally had anything but gratitude for being able to get a flu shot (no side effects, sore arm, etc.) I am not more worried about the vaccine for N1H1 than I am about any other flu shot.  The only tough part is that it takes a certain number of weeks for one's immunity to develop to peak protective effectiveness, it's not like you get the shot one day and are safe from N1H1 the next day.  (I assume it's like that for all flu shots but don't know.)  It's kind of ironic -- I presume that there will be a contingent nervous to even get the shot, and an equally large contingent that, once they decide to get it, are indignant it doesn't work immediately.  :)

[tiredbuthappy]

andi- hope you fell better soon! my coworker was also sick for 2 weeks with it :/

[cantwait4baby]

The downside is that our age group is not considered the most "at risk" so we will be last to get it.  I was hoping that since I had a baby under 6 months who cant get it that I would be at the top of the list but my doctor said no, they must give to the "at risk" first.  Pregnant women, kids, sick people with weakened immune systems.  My daughter will get it but I have to worry about my son until he is old enough.  :(

[hopefulmommie]

The h1n1 flumist nasal was not available at my sons primary care, only the seasonal flu shot. He is 26 months, his pediatrician said he is in the high risk group (2-4 years) and that the local health department was giving the h1n1 flumist only for this age group. So, he got it a few days ago, and even though it may be controversial, I am happy to know that he is protected. He will have to go back in 4 weeks to get another dose to have full immunity. There have been 2 pediatric deaths already in GA, so I am really concerned as any parent would be.

[tiredbuthappy]

11 pediatric deaths last week alone. and countless children hospitalized. it may be mild for some, but can be deadly for others. and they do not all have underlying conditions.