Thimerisol Free for Under 2

[Anonymous]

Does anybody know if the thimerisol free shot is available anywhere yet? Not the mist, since that can't be used under 2 years. My impression is that pregnant women and older children are able to get this at the various area clinics but not the Sanofi Pasteur single 1/2 dose that is required for under 2 years. In particular I wonder about the Alexandria clinic tomorrow, since this is the first Alexandria clinic that has the shot and not just the mist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anybody know if the thimerisol free shot is available anywhere yet? Not the mist, since that can't be used under 2 years. My impression is that pregnant women and older children are able to get this at the various area clinics but not the Sanofi Pasteur single 1/2 dose that is required for under 2 years. In particular I wonder about the Alexandria clinic tomorrow, since this is the first Alexandria clinic that has the shot and not just the mist.

Where is the Alexandria clinic? I can't find it online for some reason. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

OP -- I just called Alexandria (from http://alexandriava.gov/news_display.aspx?id=26888), and they said they do NOT have the thim-free shot. The guy who answered said they put in a request for it, but it might be another couple weeks til they get it. He said they don't know when they'll get it.

[Anonymous]

I have decided to wait on getting my 14 month old DS vaccinated until the thimerosal free shot comes out. I have called numerous places, all say they will get it in eventually, they just don't know when.

[Anonymous]

Me, too. I'm a SAHM, and we've been limiting our activities in public and with other kids, so I feel OK waiting.

[Anonymous]

OP here. The Alexandria clinic is at the GW Middle School on Mt Vernon Ave (near Old Town) at 9 AM on Saturday. Here is the link: http://alexandriava.gov/news_display.aspx?id=26888.

To the poster who called, Thanks! We have decided to wait a couple of weeks before going for the thimerisol vax but it sounds like the story may be the same in a couple of weeks. I just want DD vax'd (including booster) in time to travel for Christmas.

[Anonymous]

I'm with 16:13 et al!
Good to know I'm not alone.
Thanks for sharing the results of your call, 16:06.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The Alexandria clinic is at the GW Middle School on Mt Vernon Ave (near Old Town) at 9 AM on Saturday. Here is the link: http://alexandriava.gov/news_display.aspx?id=26888.

To the poster who called, Thanks! We have decided to wait a couple of weeks before going for the thimerisol vax but it sounds like the story may be the same in a couple of weeks. I just want DD vax'd (including booster) in time to travel for Christmas.

Wondering (and worrying) -- what makes you think the situation might be the same in a couple weeks? I was hoping my ped would have it by Nov. 15....

[Anonymous]

OP again. Quite frankly I think I'm just getting nervous and looking for a reason to bite the bullet and just give her the vax now. We stay at home and aren't going out, like others said, but I just know I'll feel better when its done. At the same time, the sensible part of me wants to wait for the thimerisol free. Anybody else feeling conflicted?

[Anonymous]

I was very conflicted and have literally lost sleep over this! I stay at home too. I have decided to wait for the thimerosal free vac, as long as I need to. First, my DS is not in daycare, and I have stopped taking him to mall play areas, gymboree, etc. Second, I am not petrified of the swine flu, aka, if he got it, I truly do believe he would be fine. It's just not something I want him, or I to have to go through. There really is no right answer, I think you just have to go with what feels right for you. I am now at peace with my decision, so I feel a lot better about it. Hopefully the thimerosal free vaccinations will come out soon!

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to give another perspective - I did get my DC the first H1N1 vaccine this week. Another DCUM poster pointed out that, if you wait 4 weeks for the thim-free version, then you have to get the second shot 4 weeks later, and the vaccine is not totally effective until 2 weeks later. That puts you in January. Because the H1N1 flu is already rampant (coworkers have it, consultants coworkers and their children have it, etc), I felt better getting DC the first shot so he has some immunity now. I am planning to seek out the thim-free for the booster because I anticipate that it will be easier to get at the end of November.

[Anonymous]

also, to put things in perspective, a full dosage of the mercury containing vax still has less mercury than a tuna fish sandwich. and your child would only be getting the half dose i believe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:also, to put things in perspective, a full dosage of the mercury containing vax still has less mercury than a tuna fish sandwich. and your child would only be getting the half dose i believe.

Are you the same poster putting this on every board about thimerisol? As someone pointed out, eating mercury in a sandwich and having it *injected* into your body are something different. And the mercury in tuna fish and the mercury in the shot are different kinds of mercury. So overall, a poor analogy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just wanted to give another perspective - I did get my DC the first H1N1 vaccine this week. Another DCUM poster pointed out that, if you wait 4 weeks for the thim-free version, then you have to get the second shot 4 weeks later, and the vaccine is not totally effective until 2 weeks later. That puts you in January. Because the H1N1 flu is already rampant (coworkers have it, consultants coworkers and their children have it, etc), I felt better getting DC the first shot so he has some immunity now. I am planning to seek out the thim-free for the booster because I anticipate that it will be easier to get at the end of November.

This is why I decided to get the currently available version of the vaccine for my DD and myself (pregnant). A friend of mine who is a doctor put it this way, "You have to weigh a serious, proven risk against a theoretical, unproven risk." I also spent about two hours at the crowded pediatrician's office trying to keep my DD's hands away from her eyes, nose, and mouth as I waited for her well-visit... and decided that I was on the verge of complete germaphobia...