h1n1 shot

Jennifer - posted on 11/02/2009

I am 33 weeks pregnant and I got my H1N1 shot a little over a week ago. My son and husband got their H1N1 vaccines (in the nose) exactly a week ago. It was highly recommended by my doctor that for the safety of myself and the baby, we were to all get vaccinated. And obviously I value my doctors opinion tremendously! He is wonderful. He says that it is only going to get worse with the upcoming winter. But it is a personal decision. For me, I would much rather take the risk of any side effects from the vaccine over getting the flu and the possiblity of death.

Katt - posted on 11/02/2009

Being pregnant and having asthma I would for sure get it. I have herd countless stories of pregnant women getting h1n1 being so sick, they had to take the baby and the baby not living. My daughter also has asthma and I got it for her a week ago neither her or I had any reaction to the shot and all my friends and their babies haven't had a reaction either.

Naadine - posted on 11/01/2009

what i have been hearing the most, and what does make strong sense, is that this shot is being distributed, when the strain of flu changes every year. so techinically it is a year behind. no LONG TERM trials have been done either, so this could turn out like it did in the 60's, and have horrible results for pregnant women. its just a very unfortunate decision, regardless, though, I have gotten the shot only because i have a 4 month old. others i know, never a shot in their life and they've never gotten the flu. you just never know, and i dont want to scare you in any way.
its just one of those things, common place. good luck

Katherine - posted on 11/01/2009

My husband and I believe we have made the right decision for us and our boys not to get the shot! Between Health link, the health unit, and drs nobody had the same story. No one had the same list of ingredients that are in the vaccine! I am still breatfeeding and no one could give me a straight forward whether it was going to mess with my breastmilk. But in the end it is your decision to do whats best for your family!!! Good Luck!!!

Melissa - posted on 11/01/2009

Ive done some reading on the vaccine because I to am hesitant to give my 2 year old a vaccination that has entered circulation so quickly.They could not have possibly had enough time to make sure it was completely safe like they are able to do with other vaccines.Its almost as if they just rushed it into circulation in order to apease the public.However I know that the nasal h1n1 vaccine is a live virus and under know circumstances would I allow someone to administer my daughter a deadly live vaccine,but the h1n1 shot is a dead version of the vaccine wich seams to me as the "Safest" route of administration.I personally have decided to get the shot as well as very one else in our house who is older and has had the time to build up there immune system will also recieve it rather then take any chances as far as side affects.I hope I could help a little I totally understand your dilemma.

Jolene - posted on 11/01/2009

My husband and I have decided not to give our 6 yr. and 2 yr. old sons the H1N1 shot. I had asked my pediatrician if I should give it to them he told me that he can't tell me whether to give it to them or not. But he told me that he was not going to give it to his children. He told me that the shot did not get tested fully. My 2 yr. also has asthma but I am not so concerned about the H1N1 with him. He had gotten his regular flu shot and had a severe reaction to it...I am afraid he will also have a severe reaction to the H1N1.

Melissa - posted on 11/01/2009

thanks to all of u it is still a very hard decision since I have about half against the h1n1 shot and the other half is for it. I guess it is just a really tuff call and it is mine to make but at this time I am still so unsure thanks to all of u and if you get any more info let me know

Kayla - posted on 11/01/2009

The h1n1 shot is not the live virus. Since your 5 year old has asthma, they will have to get the shot and not the mist. My daughter has seasonal asthma and they would not give her the mist. Since you are pregnant, it might be a good idea to get it. Getting the h1n1 shot might actually help your unborn baby build up immunity to it. Just depends on if the vaccine goes through the placenta to the baby. But they do recommend it for pregnant women. My mom is a nurse and this is how I know all of this. She recommends it to everyone as do I. The virus has killed so many people and I totally want my child and myself protected. Just do what you think is best for you and your children. That's what I did.

Ashley - posted on 10/30/2009

my dr doesnt just recommend vaccines for everything. he will not vaccinate my children against chicken pox but he is def recommending the H1N1. I have taken what he's said into consideration and we are getting it. My son is 18 months and was on 2 puffers last winter plus we have a 4 month old. my son, bf and i will be getting it. my bf will be up at 6 am and in line waiting to get us our wristbands to go back and get it at a certain time. we've already tried twice but were turned away because of the lines so we are hoping tomorrow we will be able to have it!!

Cassandra - posted on 10/30/2009

talk to ur dr

Lindsay - posted on 10/30/2009

Thimerosal in vaccines is ethylmercury, which is quickly metabolized and excreted from the body. Methylmercury is the dangerous form. You would get more mercury in your bloodstream from eating a tuna fish sandwich than from the vaccine.. As far as the link between thimerosal and autism goes, I don't want to start a battle, but there are European countries that have completely removed it from their vaccines (and have for years) and yet their diagnosis of autism has risen just as quickly and steadily as the US which has not banned it in all vaccines.

Emily - posted on 10/30/2009

http://search.mercola.com/Results.aspx?k...


Everyone take a look at these articles. Think before you run out to get it.

Erica - posted on 10/30/2009

Well my sons doc wont give him the H1N1 vaccine...(my son is autistic) The vaccines currently contain thimerasol, which has been linked to autism, she says not a good idea to give it to him since he already has issues. So none of us are getting the vaccine. Its a personal choice, but im not sure u really need it. My daughter also has asthma and im not really worried about it. Good luck with ur decision!

Theresa - posted on 10/30/2009

I wouldn't call the website posted above - http://swineflu.mercola.com - unbiased! It's totally an anti-H1N1 vaccine website! How can anything so completely one-sided be trusted?? They even have anti-vaccination posters?? wow! now that's just alarming! I'd like to know what mass-conspiracy (government or otherwise) has so infected the news media that I've heard nothing of most of the website's highlighted articles? especially the one that says getting the seasonal vaccine increases your chances of contracting the H1N1 flu. That seems pertinent!! I wonder if that includes those of us who have been vaccinated against both? See, solves that problem!

Also, I'd be careful of un-truths out there... like vaccines destroy your immune system. That's simply not true... they help your body build a response against the disease by giving it a small dose of the virus that causes the disease in a form that won't actually make you sick. Your body makes antibodies and this leads to immunity. And once this has happened once, your chances of getting the illness decrease with subsequent exposure or at least the symptoms won't be so bad. It's a great thing. Let's make sure we have our information correct!

Lindsay - posted on 10/30/2009

I will be getting the vaccine(I'm 16 wks pregnant) as well as my 21 mos old daughter (who was a 27 week preemie). We're actually getting it tomorrow morning. Here's what I have found about the flu/vaccine:



It is made exactly the same way as the seasonal flu shot, just with a different strain of the flu virus (swine flu). The injection is made with a dead virus and it therefore cannot reproduce. I have gotten the seasonal flu shot with both of my pregnancies and had no complications from it. If the H1N1 epidemic had hit even one month sooner, that strain would have been included in the seasonal flu shot, and you wouldn't even need the extra vaccine.



Getting any flu while pregnant is extremely dangerous. Pregnant women are 50% more likely to suffer a complication from the flu or a secondary infection (such a pneumonia or bronchitis) which will limit the oxygen your baby gets. I was also shocked to read that pregnant women who get the flu(any flu) in the 2nd and third trimesters are 50% more likely to go into pre-term labor (50%!!!). My daughter was born at 27wks due to pre-term labor and I don't want a repeat with this baby.



Also, until the swine flu epidemic Tamiflu was not prescribed to pregnant women due to not knowing it's effects on the baby, but now pregnant women are being given Tamiflu if they even "think" they have been exposed to H1N1. I would much rather take my chance with the vaccine (which has been tested on pregnant women-as the seasonal flu shot) than take Tamiflu without knowing what could happen.



A pregnant woman's immune system is already compromised (so the body doesn't reject the baby) and is working to keep two people healthy, so why push it's limits. No flu shot is given to babies under 6 months old, but tests have been done that show if a pregnant woman gets a flu shot, she then passes those antibodies on to her unborn baby. You would be protecting yourself and your baby.



Even if you get vaccinated, but not your children, you can still bring the virus into your home (or someone else too). The virus can live without a host for up to 3 hrs...that means on clothes or skin.



Hope this info has been helpful!

Valerie - posted on 10/30/2009

please go to http://swineflu.mercola.com before you decide to get the shot. I have 3 children and they will only be given the vaccine over my dead body!!!

Theresa - posted on 10/30/2009

I think it is important to educate yourself by reading medical sites on the internet, legitimate ones like the government flu website or mayo clinic and then, since your are pregnant and your child has asthma it is highly recommended that you DO get the vaccine, simply because if you or your son were to get sick, your symptoms would generally be more severe and your recovery could take much longer. Complications would also arise and you or your son could develop pneumonia or need to be hospitalized. There are many misconceptions concerning the vaccine and once you get those cleared up you realize that the H1N1 vaccine is made just like the seasonal flu vaccine which is proven both effective and safe. There is always a chance you or your son might be the rare person who experiences severe side-effects to a vaccine, but that chance is minuscule compared to your chances of contracting the illness and developing a severe form of the flu regardless of the outcome. A pregnant woman's body is working hard to support new life and so her immune system struggles with illnesses that would normally not become severe. And your son's chances of developing pneumonia related complications due to his asthma if he gets the flu are very real and of great concern. It only makes sense for both of you to receive the H1N1 vaccine if only as a safety buffer, even if you believe you could avoid becoming ill. As we all know though, little kids don't always wash their hands or avoid sneezing on each other, so it would be best to protect him the best you can.
Please do not be alarmed by false rumors of the H1N1 vaccine's safety or effectiveness! It's not worth risking your health or the health of your son over! Good luck and good health!!

Jenifer - posted on 10/30/2009

I'll get the H1N1 shot for me and my 13 month old if it is ever available here. The vaccine shortage seems to be pretty hard on my area. Its just like the seasonal flu shot. But to be honestly I'm more surprised that you have doctors (I'm assuming your OB and your child's ped) who won't give you any guidance on this issue, even though you've asked. Personally, I'd be finding new doctors - what good are they if they won't give you medical advice?

Desiree - posted on 10/30/2009

i wont get the h1n1, i dont feel that they know enough about the effects it has on unborn babies. i got the flu shot back when i was 16 and got very sick. i'm a high risk pregnancy and dont want to take the chances of getting sick. im home all day anyways due to being on bedrest, and wash my hands frequently. i think i should be fine.

if you are taking your prenatals, and are careful in crowded places and take precautions i would say you shouldnt get the h1n1. but i am not a doctor and i also don't know how your immune system is, also you have another child that has asthma, did you get your 5yr old vaccinated?

Carol - posted on 10/30/2009

my son and I actually JUST got our shot today.
I also would recommend it, you take a chance of having a reaction to the shot (fever, pain, flu like symptoms) but in my opinion, I'd rather lay in bed for half a day with my son, than lose him to a flu.
again, your doctors are right, its totally up to you, but I would suggest it.
there have been flu shots for years, the formula isnt much different, they just target different strains of the flu.
for people to say it'll do more harm than good to get it arent really looking into it properly.
do all your research first and make your own educated decision

Tara - posted on 10/30/2009

I got my 2 y/o daughter the shot ... From what I have read the chances of harm from a vaccine are slim. I f something was going to happen to you from it .. supposedly it would happen any where from a few hours to 24 hours. I has been about 4 days and Madison is fine. I guess you just gotta choose chance getting h1n1 or chance getting a reaction from the flu. It's lose lose I guess.

MAYTE - posted on 10/30/2009

I DO THINK YOU SHOULD GET THE SHOT SPECIALY IF YUR SON HAS ASTHMA IM GIVING IT TO MY 6 YR OLD HE TO HAS ASTHMA AND MY OTHER 2 BOYS I HAVE A 3 MONTH OLD WHO CANT GET IT AND IM PARANOID WHAT IF SHE GETS SICK...MY HUSBAND AND I ARE GETTING IT TO...THERES SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED HERE IN HOUSTON..SO IT SCARES ME MORE...I ALSO HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS WHO HAVE GOTTEN THE H1N1 FLU ALREADY AND THEY WENT THRU HELL ONE OF MY FRIENDS SAID THE WORSE PART IS WAKING UP IN THE MORNING WITH A FEVER OF 103..I DONT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN TO MY MY LOVED ONES..BUT ITS UP TO YOU...I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU MAKE A DECISION..

Elizabeth - posted on 10/30/2009

Personally, I'm just waiting for it to come out here. Flu vaccinations are built every year, so I think the formula is probably pretty stable and reasonably safe, but there was a panic about it, and with that comes concerns about quality given the speed of belting it out. Check out http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/qa.htm to see if you feel safe about getting it.



The symptoms are sudden onset, and it's not easy to tell how someone is doing when they have it. I read a newspaper article about a 15 year old kid who recently died of it in Canada, and 24 hours before that, the parents had no clue their son was on that path: http://www.nationalpost.com/life/story.h...



This being said, I understand that was a rare occurance. I do not know if there have been respectable reports that getting the vaccination are damaging. Can anyone provide a link? Note: I found several that I felt were suspicious against immunizations in general - nothing from a news source and so on.

Kristen - posted on 10/30/2009

As a fellow pregnant women and stay at home mom of 3, I weighed the pros and cons heavily. Being pregnant and having a child with underlying conditions, as we both do, I highly recommend getting the shot. My doctor really encouraged me to get the shot to stay healthy for me and the baby. I hope it is available for you and your child, for I only got mine yesterday and my kids are STILL on a waiting. Good luck on your decsion!!

Natasha - posted on 10/30/2009

My family has decided not to get the shot. We feel it hasn't been tested enough. The way I see it is your taking a chance by not getting it but you are also taking a chance by getting it. I would rather get the flu and build up immunities because those immunities could help fight off the next bad flu that comes around. Its a very hard decision. Do what ever you think is right.

Rachel - posted on 10/30/2009

From what I've heard giving the h1n1 shot does more harm than good. It's a hard decision but I'm not getting the shot and not getting it for my 14 month boy either. The best thing to do is wash hands often, drink lots of fluids (tea is supposed to be very good), and gargle with salt water. Hope this helps!