should i get my son vaccinated from swine flu

Nicole - posted on 10/15/2009

I thought at first yeah im getting all of us flu shots even the H1N1 shot, but now i have been reading up alot on it and i have changed my mind. I think if we just get our regular flu shots and wash our hands often and stay away from sick people then we will be ok. Im also scared to take that risk!

Patricia - posted on 10/14/2009

My mom is a labor and delivery nurse and she said that her hospital is recommending that babies over 6 months get it. She also said that for babies under 6 months the parents need to be the ones to get vaccinated in order to protect the baby. She knows that I am breastfeeding and didn't say anything about it, so I think it is ok.

Alexandra - posted on 10/14/2009

NO!!! I'v ehard a lot and done the research on shots. It's not fair that we've eradicated diseases and then some parents choose not to vaccinate their kids, resulting in pockets of diseases that kill people, that should have been eradicated years ago had people been vaccinated. BUT, that's personal choice.

The research is not there on the flu shots. I work in healthcare and have been eligible for a free flu shot, along with everyone else in my household, for 5 years. I have not gotten one an dno one else in my house has either. My baby is 4 months old and I fully believe in teh regular vaccines, but the flu is something you will either get or not regardless of wether you have that shot. I know there's a big deal about H1N1 right now but come on people...it responds to the same treatment as the regular flu. I understnad some people have died from it and that is sad, but has anyone checked out teh numbers of how many people die of the "regular" flu every year????

As for your babies immunity, anything you have antibodies for your baby will too if you breastfeed. Keep up with teh hand-washing, eating/excersing and lots of sleep if you want to stay healthy for the flu season!!

Rhiannon - posted on 10/13/2009

not before 6months- Best thing right now is just basic hand washing with soap and water.

anyone who comes over have them wash their hands before they entire your house or hold your baby, also for you and your partner parctice regular hand washing. If you're out then carry water-less anti-bacterial soap

Crystal - posted on 10/13/2009

First off our whole family already had the swine flu and it wasn't that bad at all. It was actually the worst for my husband. The baby got it, but honestly the summer cold she got when she was first born was worse. Secondly, our pediatrician said kids under 6 months can't get the shot anyway. And he said he isn't recommending it to his patients anyway. It's so new, and he's not convinced it's even effective. He said for my husband and I to get the regular flu shot and that should be good enough.

It's great that you're nursing because if you get the flu your body will start producing antibodies to fight it off and those WILL go through the breastmilk. My husband and I got a bug when my daughter was 2 months old, and because I kept nursing exclusively she never got it. I also think that's probably why she didn't get the swine flu that bad. My husband got it first, then me. But since I was breastfeeding and taking Tamiflu her symptoms were very very very mild. She got a mild fever (100.6), but she really didn't even get fussy until we gave her the Tamiflu. If I had it to do over I probably wouldn't give her the Tamiflu because I think it made her feel worse. The day I stopped the Tamiflu she was back to her old smiley self! :)

Jessica - posted on 10/12/2009

Yeah I've heard not till 6 months for the regular flu shot, and the swine flu vaccine is really new, hasn't been out long enough and had enough testing on it for me to be comfortable giving it to my child. Personally I've never had a flu shot... and I've never had the flu. I'll take normal precautions such as washing my hands often especially while out, avoiding sick ppl, etc.

I know that breastfed babies get any antibodies you have, and if you get sick they get the antibodies your body makes for that illness. I'm not actually sure if it works the same way for vaccines? You could ask your pediatrician or I'm sure the la leche league has a line you could call to ask!

Christina - posted on 10/11/2009

I agree with you. I'm not letting Rachel get one. I had a hard time agreeing to regular vaccinations so I am not going to let her get anything that hasn't been tested very much.

TICE - posted on 10/11/2009

YOUR BABY IS TO YOUNG TO GET THE SHOT YOU SHOULD CHECK IT TO IT IF YOU GET IT AND BREAST FEEDING IF IT WOULD AFFECT THE BABY OUR NOT.

Rebecca - posted on 10/08/2009

Our ped at Children's Mercy Hospital (KCMO) said that RJ can be vac when he is 6 months old and that she hight recommends it.

Marissa - posted on 10/08/2009

My Dr said that a baby can get a flu shot once they are 6 months old...i would get a normal flu shot once thay turn 6 months old

Krystal - posted on 10/03/2009

I'm not sure about the vaccination passing into breast milk but my understanding is that an infant cannot get any kind of flu vaccination, My pediatrician recommended that everyone else in the house get vaccinated so that hopefully the baby wouldn't get it. Gerber has a free 24/7 hotline for any breastfeeding questions, I have called it several times and they are always wonderful and very helpful. The number is 1-800-4GERBER. Hope this helps.