What are you doing about the H1N1 Vaccine?

[mlrw70]

I was just wondering what if you were getting the H1N1 vaccine for yourself and your family. I am just not sure yet and was looking for some more opinions.

[lovely1m]

My son's doctor mentioned that we won't even have it here until mid-October and only Public Health will get it. I have no idea.

[amandabarugh]

We're not getting it or the regular flu.

[MissKim]

Not even sure it will be an issue here. Kansas is only get 16000 vaccines, our metro area will only get 2000 of those, and first up will be pregnant women and children 6 months - nine. Since my oldest is almost 10, none of us are on the priority list. I have this feeling that by the time we *can* get the vaccine, we'll have had it.

Having said all that, I probably wouldn't do it for any of our family, even if I could. I get my regular flu shot faithfully because I teach pre-K and am exposed frequently. However, I feel the swine flu vaccine is just too rushed and too new and I don't want to take chances with my family. We're going to practice good handwashing, etc. and hope that gets us through.

[Stacey42]

We're not getting it or the regular one. We never get the regular one. I'm not concerned with the newness or anything, I'm just not convinced either of them really necessary in my family's situation. If we were in a different place health wise or I worked outside the home & taking time off for illness would be financially difficult I might feel differently.

[Sharon Kay]

Well I live in KS so sounds like from what Kim says...might not be a choice. ...and we're definitely over that age...and I'm def NOT pg! lol

If there was a choice I would call the pediatrician's office and ask for their advice. I trust the doctors there...I have been with their office for 17 years and trust their judgement.

[mlrw70]

I work with kids too, so am definitely in the thick of it. Plus DS attends school with me so that concerns me even more. It just worries me that we will get the vaccine and it will make us sick or we won't get it and then we get the actually flu. :confused:

[lauren grier]

no. we don't get the regular flu shot either.

[msteiner99]

We won't be getting it. We don't get the regular flu shot either. I had made an appointment for my boys to get the seasonal flu shot tomorrow, but I ended up canceling the appointment.

[MamaBee]

I've been debating about it too... what I don't like is that my kiddo (who is 2) would have to get 3 shots... 2 for the swine and 1 for regular flu... and I think that is way too much for a little body. And besides, with the regular flu, they never get the right ones selected for the season and I still get sick! :p

[nanienamou]

not getting it here. We never get the regular flu shot either.

[Leila]

We're undecided on the H1N1 vaccine, but we're all getting the regular flu shot this year. I have several medical conditions that when combined classify me as "immunocompromised," so it's just a wise move for us all to get that shot. We'll have to wait and see with the other though.

[jessica31876]

No Im not getting either the H1N1 or the regular flu vaccine.

[SmallMoments]

No, I'm not. It's already making its way through our school system. Luke's been sick for a couple of days, which is most likely H1N1. So we really won't even need it if/when it gets here.

Joel is getting one for free through his school.

[BrattyMeg]

Not getting it or the regular flu shot here either

[Kara]

I'm really torn about this. I've already gotten the seasonal vax, although I don't every year. and I'm usually pretty cautious about vaccines. This year, we have a newborn who will be entering daycare at 3 months old, in late December or early January and I'm worried about her getting something. Obviously, she can't get either vax. My boys are 2 and 4 and in daycare, and always getting sick with something, but I don't know whether the H1N1 vax will be available before the peak of the illness. I will probably get them the seasonal vax.

[DawnMarch]

I'm almost positive we've already had the H1N1 at our house back in early July, but I think we will probably all get the vax anyway. My son has seizures when he gets very sick and we don't want to risk that.

[pewtertm]

Nope, not here. DH gets a free flu shot every year at work, and Rachel gets a flu shot with her other vacc's (happy birthday kiddo), but I never get one. As far as H1N1 goes, I don't think any of us will get one.

[SeattleSheri]

I will vaccinate our HH if we have access to the vaccine. I don't see the risk in using an inactivated flu vaccine (which they all are). The incidence of GBS is only 1-2 per million vaccinations, which is far lower than the ~0.5% mortality rate from the flu. Statistically, you are FAR more likely to have ill effects from the flu, than the vaccine.

[Susan Bartolini]

Yes, we will get both. My son is immunocompromised, so I really don't have a choice. I'd rather him get the vaccine than struggle with a potentially fatal illness. No brainer.

Susan

[ColleenSwerb]

As a young healthy individual, I think flu shots are a waste. I don't get the regular one and I won't be getting the H1N1 either. If I were a teacher, or worked at a daycare or somewhere else where I would be highly involved with kids and much more exposed, then I would consider it.

[WalkersMommy]

We won't be getting it. My son got the regluar flu shot earlier this year when he was getting his 15 months shots, but I don't feel comfortable getting the swine shot for myself or my family. Like it has been said here, I think it's too new.

[Emmy]

I have never had a flu shot, nor have any of my children. Heck we don't even do all the "regular' vaccinations. Do you feel the huge BUT coming? um, yeah. I'm a little worried about H1N1. My youngest son has reactive airway and is probably one more incident away from being diagnosed asthmatic. I am pregnant with twins and my resistance to illness is terrible right now - plus I have several underlying health issues related to my pregnancy (thyroid issue, gestational diabetes, recurrent infections, and now pre term labor issues). So I am feeling very very at risk. I'm really still on the fence about what to do.

[isaacsmom]

Yes, we are going to get it.

My son is in the high risk category due to a history of meningitis, seizures and he currently has cochlear implants which make him more susceptable anyways.

Also, my hubby works in a heart hospital and they are pretty much required to get it. I work in a medical clinic and it has been strongly advised that I get it as well.

So for us, there wasn't much to debate over. We've all already had our regular flu shots!

[kresta]

Even though Swine Flu is everywhere around here right now, we won't be getting it or the reg. flu vaccine. I'm fairly sure we've all been exposed even if we've not actually had the virus. People I know who have had it have been sick for a couple of days and then they're fine. And they've said it's not even as bad as a normal flu. None of us in our family have any health concerns that would make a difference.

[rochelle789]

We are right in the middle of several highisk populations. I teach college-level courses and have close contact with young adults. I have one daughter who is in kindergarten and one who is in daycare. If we can, we'll be getting the shots.

[nikkiARNGwife]

We've all gotten our regular flu shots. I'm still undecided on this one...I think if my kids were in daycare/school or had any health issues I would be more apt to get it, but other than church on Sundays, we aren't really around other children that much ...they're world is very small right now lol..just us and the grandparents mostly. And when we're out and about I carry germ-x and lysol wipes everywhere. But like I said, I'm still undecided.

[amandabarugh]

I will vaccinate our HH if we have access to the vaccine. I don't see the risk in using an inactivated flu vaccine (which they all are). The incidence of GBS is only 1-2 per million vaccinations, which is far lower than the ~0.5% mortality rate from the flu. Statistically, you are FAR more likely to have ill effects from the flu, than the vaccine.

Not all are an inactivated vaccine. Most are, but not all.

[nun69]

we will all be getting it...Dh and I work in the same hospital and as staff we are required to get it...plus once you have seen those sick people walking around with masks on, it is enough to make you want to be cautious...and with my kids being in school and the 2 little ones in daycare, they will be getting it as well....just FYI, I have gotten a flu shot every year that I have been in the Navy {or as long as they have been giving them} and I have NEVER been sick from one~

the risk of my kids being a little sick from getting a flu/H1N1 shot totally OUTWEIGHS the risk of one of them actually being sick with flu or H1N1~

[Julie Billingsley]

My youngest son gets the regular flu a LOT. Last year he got the flu about 6 times during flu season. This year he is having the regular flu shot and if it is available I'll probably have him get the H1N1 shot too. Logan is six and I asked him if he would rather have a shot (and he hates shots) to not get sick or to maybe have the flu again like he did last year. He is excited about the shot now. LOL It was just so awful around here for months and he missed so much school last year.

[mummytothree]

None of us are getting it or the regular flu shot either.

[nesser1981]

We'll get the regular one. They forced you to in the Military, so I've gotten it the last 10 years and never had any issues. We'll probably go this week and get it. Not the swine flu one though. Its too new.

[juliemarie]

No, I don't do the regular flu shot either.

[Amber1279]

I don't vaccinate at all anymore (once I did a LOT of reading)... so it is an easy answer LOL

[newfiemountiewife]

no. we don't get the regular flu shot either.

^what La said. Tony is the only one of us who has ever gotten a flu shot, and also the only one of us that ends up with pneumonia almost ever year. We are also doing the handwashing/sneezing in the arm/staying home when sick thing.

ETA that neither of my kids or myself has any allergies or asthma, or are prone to sickness. I do not know if it will be required that Tony get it or not (He's RCMP).

[Kat Stokes]

We are getting ours through the fire dept. I'm being told that a lot of doctor's offices around here aren't even getting any of it. I got my regular flu shot today... my arm hurts. :(

[kristine]

I probably won't bother, but I will let the kids take it if they are adviced to. It was on the news the other day that the vaccine should hopefully be here within the next couple of weeks, and I know that the government has ordered enough for everyone, so I'll se what the official advice is. They said that people who are pregnant in the third trimester (someone died from it a couple of weeks after giving birth, she got sick whilst pregnant), and other high risk groups should take it straight away, but I didn't hear anything about the rest of the population.

[MelissaL88]

When I had the boys in at the end of August, our pediatrician said that the H1N1 vaccine wouldn't be available until late October and by then it will have already been here in full force - which is is! (I live in Houston). So, the kids got the regular flu shot and I have no intention of getting them the other. DH & I got our regular flu shots through my work a couple weeks ago and we're also going to give the H1N1 vaccine a miss.

[1girl1boy]

Nope, not getting it. The regular flu yes. Swine flu no.

[tkelley]

We prob will. I am pregnant (due b4 it releases) and my kids are 22 months and 3 years. They get sick all the time (at leasts it seems that way) and I am nervous for my newborn who cannot be vaccinated. I'm not thrilled with the newness, but I cannot live in a box for 6 months either and I want what is best for the family as a whole. I'll talk to my pediatrician about it when baby is born.

[jannylynn]

We all will be getting it. We are going to do some international travel and I don't want to risk us getting sick with H1N1 or regular flu! In fact I took DD to the doctor today and they were almost out of the regular flu shots. He prioritized us because of the travel.

But he also told me that the H1N1 *might* only be administered in schools. We homeschool so I'm not sure that we will be able to get it.