Swine Flue Vaccine

My whole family will be getting the seasonal flu vaccine as well as the H1N1 vaccine this year. Here's a quick article about it from Parents magazine that just came across my email:

http://www.parenting.com/article/Child/Health/Swine-flu-a...

Please educate yourself with information from such sources as the CDC before making your decision. Everyone has different opinions about this issue, but you should seek objective and factual information and try not to be swayed by fear and uncertainty.

1 mom found this helpful

A friend recently sent me a letter clarifying the concerns and addressing questions on safety and effectiveness. This has certainly clarified the decision I will make for my family.

The entire letter is available for you to read.

www.nosickvisits.com

To Your Health,
L.

1 mom found this helpful

The flu vaccine is new every year because the virus changes every year. This is just a specialized version of them same recipe specific to H1N1. It is not like they developed a whole new type of vaccine to combat this threat.
Go to www.cdc.org for more info. I personally feel that most of us who are wary of vaccines are so because of a lack of broad education. If a person reads all the fatalist fringe websights(I am not saying you do), you should at least see what the CDC has to say about it.

same feelings here. my kids are in kindergarten. i plan on getting them the regular flu shot. my husband and i will get both shots but not the kids. it is very new (still not on the market) and i feel they rushed the production, so i am very decisive on this one. pass for us.

I am not going to have my children vaccinated with this. They keep going back and forth to see if they need one or two. I am not risking their health because they need guinea pigs. I understand that they want to help but I don't like the idea that there is not enough research or long term affects.

Last year, my kids got the regular flu shot and two of them ended up with a full-blown flu. We aren't doing flu shots this year.

They are healthy children and their bodies are strong to fight off a virus.

D. :)

The main issue I had with the swine flu vaccine is that they were fast-tracking it through the system, and that they were using adjuvants to increase the response so that they could immunize more people, many of the adjuvants are untested in the US.

I did just read that the vaccine to be used in the US will NOT have any adjuvants. That being said, if you are planning on having your child vaccinated you want to find out what other ingredients are in it. The regular flu vaccine contains a preservative called Thimerosol (sp?), which contains mercury. Some people are concerned this may be linked to autism or other problems. For the regular flu shot, there is a nasal spray option and a 3-shot option that do not contain thimerosal, I don't know if the h1n1 vaccine will contain the thimerosal or if they will have options without it.

Good luck with your decision.

Absolutely not...I agree w/ Jenn.

There might be some information on naturalnews.com. That's a great site to search!

Thanks for posting this T.! I'm in the same boat - do I or don't I? My son is 19 mos and got the regular flu shot last year at the advice of our dr, however, this year she reccomends the regular flu shot but says she will not be carrying the swine flu vaccine as in her opinion, there hasn't been enough testing and that was it was rushed to the market without proper research on it's long term effects. I'm still on the fence myself about what to do!

Hi T. M
I am not going to have the flu shot and my husband went to MD yesterday and when he said no to flu shot, MD simply said OK with no encouragement to get it elsewhere. I was surprised. So maybe we are too old for the recommendations now. I have not paid close attention since I decided not to have the shot.
Alternative medicine says that flu shots are a bonanza for drug makers and that you should keep your vitamin D levels up and take Cod Liver Oil in high doses.
Check out blogs.healthfreedomalliance.org/blog/2009/07/14/flu-shots-put-children-in-the-hospital.
I am not into scare tactics but I have chosen not to take the risk.
Hope you get lots of opinions
K. SAHM married 39 years== adult children 38,33,and twins 19

I don't know what to do about this either! We do normally get the regular flu shot every year and so far we have not had any problems with that. I guess logic tells me to get this one too. Cases of Swine Flu are popping up left and right and if I ever lost my child due to not trying to protect her against it I would never forgive myself. On the other hand, if she develops problems due to the shot (which of course I hope she won't) then the problems would have been from trying to protect her, not because I neglected to protect her. (or thought I knew better than the doctors) These are just my thoughts.....not meant to offend anyone.

Hi T.,
I don't plan on it. I don't do new vaccines, there isn't any time for adverse reactions to be reported. Thankfully last school year, there were no cases reported in our school district.

Teri, I would not get the shot because it has already caused nerve damage and it contains cancer cells. Here are some links that might be helpful:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/0...

http://www.examiner.com/x-17146-Dallas-Womens-Health-Exam...

Every year the flu shot is new. They tweek it for the new strain thats going around. So this "new" H1N1 Vaccine? no big deal. They are all new. Educate yourself then make a decision. I have 3 kids that have recieved all their shots on time. There is nothing wrong w/ anyone. This autism link I think is ridiculous. I know a women who has 4 kids and all are autistic. AND SHE DIDNT BELIEVE IN THE SHOTS SO THEY DIDNT GET IT!!! I am pregnant w/ number 4 and the benefits outweigh the risks in my book. I am getting it. I have had the flu and let me tell you...its horrible. Worse than childbirth!!! Good Luck!!

I am a nurse and my husband is an MD. My 14 month old, myself, & my husband will all be getting the swine flu vaccine once available. Children under 10 years old, greater than 6 months old will require 2 vaccines 3-4 weeks apart - since during the study trials, this age group did not have as great of an immune response as 10 yr or older recipients. As someone previously mentioned, this is like any other seasonal flu vaccine manufactured. The H1N1 virus only came into being 4/09. The current flu vaccine that is available started production summer 08. If the H1N1 virus was around last summer, they would have included this particular strain in the flu vaccine. Parts of the H1N1 virus were present in a flu in the 50's and the 70's, which is why it is really important for all people less than 30 years old to get the vaccine (they have never been exposed to it). Also pregnant women - since the flu virus is always worse in pregnancy.

I have been getting the seasonal flu vaccine for at least 10 years already - never had a reaction - don't know anyone who has.

Good luck with your decision!

I find it very interesting how trusting people are of the medical community. While I do have doctors I trust or I wouldn't go to them, I still do my own research, get multiple opinions if concerned, and trust my gut.

The FDA has approved numerous meds over the years that have later been pulled off the market because of serious side effects. Just because it is FDA approved doesn't mean that much in my opinion. Someone once said the FDA doesn't worry about the $7 billion they are going to make from a particular drug. They are concerned with the $20 billion they are going to make from the drugs you require to counter the side effects from the first drug.

I have talked to various relatives who are nurses including critical care nurses and they all have said the hype about the swine flu is a bit stretched here. Sure in other countries you have people being more greatly affected by it but in many cases, those people had compromised immune systems. The one pointed out that people die from the regular flu every year too but you don't see people freaking out about that. One of the other ones had personal experience with the swine flu in that last year 3 out of 5 of them had it. She said it was no different from the regular flu except that it was more contagious.

I get my children vaccinated for the flu every year but I am not doing the h1n1 when it is as new as it is much less if it means multiple shots.

BTW, I just got a newsletter from my pediatrician saying the formula for the h1n1 had to be changed and they DID add an adjuvant because they could not produce enough immunity with the vaccine as it was. Just an FYI.

I will just be getting the regular flu vaccine for myself and my family. I spoke with my best friend who is an ER nurse and she said they are not being required to get the swine flu vaccine and the hospital. She thinks it has not been tested enough. I feel if the hospital is not requiring their staff to get the vaccine then I'm not going to either. Many of the people who have died from the swine flu had other immune system disorders. I know many people who have had it and they said it was not as bad as the regular flu. I think the media is making a bigger deal out if it than it really is. It's a personal choice of course but I think the regular flu shot will do.

Hi T.,

I hope I don't sound like a bad mom, but I'm just following the instincts I was given as a mother. The doctor tried to offer both my girls that at there last physical and I declined it. I'm 32 and I've never had a flu shot ever and I'm just fine.

The swine flu vaccine is essentially like any other flu shot, just designed for that specific strain. Every year the flu shot is designed for a different strain that is expected to be dominant during the upcoming season. It's a bummer to have to get 2 shots (Little kids with have to get 3) - regular flu and H1N1, but better than being sick. I had H1N1 last spring and let me tell you it was seriously nasty, followed by a very unpleasant pneumonia. I am an RN and get the flu shot every year, including when I was pregnant.

Listen to your fears in this case by seeking out answers to those realistic questions you have behind your fears. I believe anyway that the fears of this becoming a pandemic are more hype than real. THat is not to say that one needn't be concerned, but no more than w/ any other flu.
Check out the mercola.com site for one such way to educate oneself on protection from any flu.

This is so tough! I am generally cautious about vaccinations in general (my 9 yr old son had very adverse reactions to them), but even I'm getting scared now with all the news hype and terrible stories I hear. I also have a two year old, and I'm a pregnant asthmatic so I'm in two high risk groups! That being said, I'm waiting to talk to my pediatrician and ob about it, and see what they say. So far, neither my son or daughter's school program has an outbreak so we're just washing hands a lot and trying to keep generally healthy. Good luck!!

I'll be getting it, as will both my kids. As a couple of posters below mentioned, it is similar to other flu shots, just focused on that particular strain.

And I want to reiterate, the flu shot does not give you the flu! You just ended up getting a different strain of the flu than what the shot focused on.

I'm from Texas and right now so many of my friends and their kids down there are getting Swine flu - it's just running rampant. I'm willing to do whatever I can to help keep that from happening up here.

Just wanted to give you a different perspective.
I have several members of my family in the medical field, back in Europe. None of them is going to get vaccinated. In Europe, and many other countries, do not trust the new vaccine. They recommend the vaccine to people with weak immune systems, respiratory issues, under 40, etc but only in case of an outbreak in their towns.
Since my 5 y.o. son suffers of asthma, they advised me to take him out of school and vaccinate him as soon as there is an outbreak nearby. Meanwhile he already got the regular flu vaccine.
Same story with Tamiflu. Really bad rap all over the world. Nobody will touch it.

I definitely understand the concern, T.. I am slightly concerned, yet since I know that there have been deaths from the swine flu, I would rather take my chances that some extra protection be provided to my 3 year old. These are the times when my faith and trust in God kicks in. I wish the best for you and your family.

My opinion is NO, NO, NO. I was torn as to whether or not to give it to my kids until I spoke w/ their pediatrician & my cousin. The Dr WILL NOT give it or even carry it in his office because there's to many loop holes in the studies w/ this. If a parent wants it, he will get it and give it, but is very against it until it is fully studied. My cousin, a big wig w/ a pharmacutical (sp?) co, back all of this info up. She says its crazy how many ppl and Drs want it and give it and there's so little to prove it works and that there's no long term side affects. I even opted to back out of the flu shot this year. My kids and my husband got vilatly ill 2 yrs ago when they all had it. Last yr, because I was sick and forgot to schedule them (since I do all of that-lol) they only had slight colds. A huge difference. My son has a team of Drs at CHOP and they agree w/ me. I guess each person is differnt w/ how they handle the flu shot, but I hear nothing but horror stories.

Please be careful and research EVERYTHING (meaning every ingrediant in every shot). Each little thing that makes up these vaccines has side affects. My cousins been w/ this company for over 25 yrs and is at the top of the chain, so I trust her judgement.

Good luck!

This is a tough one! I worry about this too. I have not ever had a flu shot, and have had the flu...it stinks! My two girls have never had the shot either. My ped. never gave them unless the child was "at risk." They have never had the flu. This year he recommended the shots. So I am strongly concidering them. He has children so I thought of asking him if he will give it to his kids. I usually trust him, as he is an excellent ped. I never thought of it as being just another strain of the flu shot, like others here have mentioned. That makes me lean more towards getting the shots. I'm just not sure. It's a difficult decision!

Hi T. ... I just got off the phone with my husband, who works for the major producer of both the flu vaccine and the upcoming swine flu vaccine. As an employee, he'll be getting the swine flu shot this week, and it should be available to the public within the next month or two. It is exactly the same as the regular flu shot--meaning, the side effects (if any) are exactly the same. It's just a different strain. The testing has been comprehensive and rigorous concerning the swine flu vaccine. Truth be told, from the reports my husband has been getting, it's definitely important to get the swine flu shot this year as soon as it becomes available--"they" are estimating that there will be many cases of the swine flu this season, so it's best to protect yourself and your family.
-T

T.- To help make an educated decision for your family, here are some links to the package inserts for each of the vaccines that will soon be available. Please review them and make an educated decision, weigh the risks & benefits for yourself.

http://www.lifehealthchoices.com/images/sanofih1n1.pdf
http://www.lifehealthchoices.com/images/novartish1n1.pdf
http://www.lifehealthchoices.com/images/cslh1n1.pdf

Here is a link to a website that has a Swine Flu timeline to gather up-to-date information: http://www.lifehealthchoices.com/swine-flu-alert-

Good luck with your decision!

I just saw my OB/GYN today and asked if I should be getting this shot as I am pregnant. My doctor highly recommended the shot. I'm going to trust my doctor on this issue.

my ped says yes, and we are most likely going to get it, we already got the regular flu. i did space it out away from other vaccines. the way i understand it (and i would love some clarification on this if there are any professionals out there), but the swine flu vaccine is like any other vaccine in that they are developed new every year in response to whatever particular strain of flu virus happens to be prevalent that year. thats why you can get a flu vaccine but still get the flu, because you can get a different strain. i believe i heard that the swine flu, h1n1, is responsible for 80% of the flu that is out there now. and i think, though i am less sure of this, that the reason that they are wavering about whether you need one or 2 is simply because they dont know if they will have enought for everyone to get 2, and are trying to get by with one so that everyone can get vaccinated. good luck with your decision.