H1N1 Vaccination - Carol Stream,IL

I have 1 child with Asthma, so I and my other 2 kids are getting the vaccine on Monday.

Just a note about adjuvants from the Kane County Health website:

None of the H1N1 vaccines currently distributed by the U.S. government contain adjuvants.

All H1N1 vaccines used in the United States are licensed by the FDA and are made in the same way as seasonal influenza vaccines are made. Currently, seasonal flu vaccines in the United States are also made without adjuvants.

If needed, an adjuvant is a component that can be incorporated into a vaccine to help to generate a stronger immune response to the vaccine and help prevent disease. Squalene is a compound found in many natural sources, such as olive oil, that can act as an adjuvant and is used as an adjuvant in vaccines in many countries.

The evaluation of any vaccine by the Food and Drug Administration considers the safety, effectiveness, and the immune response and includes consideration of all components of the vaccine.

I was in the same position one week ago. I couldn't decide what to do because I kept hearing conflicting information. Then on Sunday my 4 year old who has asthma came down with cold symptoms. On Tuesday, I came down with flu symptoms (body aches, low grade fever, and a bad feeling in my chest). I had already known several people with H1N1, so I went immediately to urgent care and received Tamiflu. Shortly after taking the 2nd dose, I was already feeling better, and today I feel MUCH better! My daughter's ped. does not believe she has H1N1, but gave her Tamiflu anyway as a precaution because I had it, and she is also feeling much better. They say that coming down with the flu is the best way to build immunity to it (I'm not saying to catch it on purpose!) But now I feel like it's a treatable illness, so I am not going to have my kids get the vaccine. If anyone starts having symptoms, I will get them on Tamiflu right away- it worked SO well! I'm not comfortable enough with the unknown risks of the vaccine, so I'd rather just treat the illness if they get it (which is what some docotrs are recommending). Hope that helps with your decision!

It is a new vaccine that has not been thoroughly tested. My daughter received a new vaccine in 2000 that caused a lifelong neuropsychiatric and autoimmune disorder called PANDAS (you can read about this in my other replies if you click on my user name.)

Here is some info on just ONE of the adjuvants in the vaccine:
http://gozounlimited.polls.newsvine.com/_news/2009/09/16/...

Please feel free to contact me if you would like more info or want to talk.

M.

I have a 2 month old daughter who has already been hospitalized for a virus when she was 3 weeks old. I am getting vaccinated as well as my 2 year old son. I just want to be able to say I did everything I could to keep my kids from getting this flu. A friend of mine's son just got the swine flu and I am afraid of how fast it is spreading. I can understand the hesitation to get it, though. Good luck on what you decide!

I've spoken to 2 pediatrician in different practics with kids my kids age - they say get it - even if you can only get 1 dose. If my kids had asthma, I would have left it at that and done it.

My kids don't so, I was against is all the rush to market hype until last week. A family member in the DC area with an infant made some calls to government folks involved with some of this. They are all on board & vaccinating their kids. They say not as rushed to market as we have been led to believe - just another variation of flu vaccine that they deveop every year. But do whatever research you need to feel comfortable.

My children are school age (so the thermisal issue is really past) and I always get them the flu shot. I decided to get them vaccinated if you can find it. It took me an hour & half of calling to get an appointment last night... better than my girlfriend who pulled her kids out of school and waited 7 hours yesterday!

I am completely annoyed by parents who send their kids to school without waiting the 24 hours fever free/antibiotic rule. I felt like I needed to do this to protect my relatively healthy children. My child even missed sports practice when I had a conflict because the carpool offered contained family members under the weather and I didn't feel my child should be in that contained environment for 1/2 hour or less.

Also, you might want to avoid doctors offices right now if you can help it. Scary there are so many sick kids (call first if you go for a well visit to make sure you should come). I went to get my flu shot at an internist yesterday and it was uncomfortable there as well.

I've never been paranoid like this. My children mean everything to me which is why it was so hard, but I feel I am making the right decision for my family.

It is a personal decision and we need to respect whatever each person decides is right for them.

I can't reiterate enough that we should all make sure we take steps to keep ourselves and/or children out of public if we are experiencing flu like symptoms regardless of what we decide. Oh yeah... and wash your hands too --- drill this into the kids over & over again!

FACTS: Under age 10, you need 2 H1N1 doses 21 days apart. If you get the flu mist & the H1N1 mist than you also need to space out, but you can get one shot & one mist or both shots without spacing.