Am I crazy if I don't get my 4 year old a shot

[Anonymous]

DH and I work full time, and our pediatrician hasn't had either shot available yet. Well, they did have H1N1 for a bit but only for those under 3. Am I crazy if I don't get either shot for him? I know it's a risk, but how much of one? He is in a daycare so he does pick up things from time to time.

FWIW, I live in Alexandria and could try to go somewhere and wait hours on line, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Not at all. You should read this.

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200911/brownlee-h1n1

[Anonymous]

No one knows how much of a risk. I haven't vaccinated my kids yet, but probably will. I am just waiting to see how this unfolds at the moment. If they don't get shot, that does not mean they will definitely get the flu, or if they get flu, that it will be serious. Of course you never know though which is so scary. On the same note, if you get vaccine that doesn't mean you definitely won't still get the flu, although I would assume it certainly lowers the risk. I have heard of many people (that i know, not some random stories online) getting the shot and then getting the flu shortly thereafter, and not a mild fever and chills- I mean the flu blown flu, home from school for a week, pneumonia etc.

That being said, majority who get shot get no side effects, but you do need two for full protection, so it will be about six weeks until your child is fully protected, assuming they have the booster and you get it.

If you have no worries about the vaccine and your only issue is you don't have time, I'd probably get it- find a clinic or something. If you aren't comfortable with vaccine for whatever reason, you could talk to you ped and see what they think.

No one knows how this will play out- will it come back in another wave? will it be worse? will it peter out due to people being exposed and vaccinated? will it be alongside seasonal flu or take over seasonal? It's all up in the air. I am in a limbo right now too -waiting to see and then decide on giving my DS seasonal and/or H1n1 which I would never do at the same time (just my personal thought) DD has had seasonal.

Lots to consider! Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Uh-oh 2nd poster-- you are questioning the vaccine? Get ready to be attacked ; )

[Anonymous]

Here's a follow-up to the Atlantic article:

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?s=atlantic

[Anonymous]

I just spoke to a nurse today who administers the H1N1 shots at local clinics. She said that she was not getting it this time around b/c she doesn't trust it . . . yet.

These comments - coming from those in the field - do make me nervous, as I am still on the fence, although leaning more toward no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just spoke to a nurse today who administers the H1N1 shots at local clinics. She said that she was not getting it this time around b/c she doesn't trust it . . . yet.
These comments - coming from those in the field - do make me nervous, as I am still on the fence, although leaning more toward no.

I'd ask her based on what? Specifics, not just a "gut" feeling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Uh-oh 2nd poster-- you are questioning the vaccine? Get ready to be attacked ; )

Why try to start something? If you care enough to post, at least give the poster your point of view. You sound like the fight is more important to you than the vaccination decision itself.

[Anonymous]

Yes, you should get your son the shot. Yes, yes yes.

[Anonymous]

We're not getting it & feel content with our decision based on our analysis of risk. We're just going to drive more carefully.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you should get your son the shot. Yes, yes yes.

No really. That's helpful.

[Anonymous]

penguinsix wrote:We're on the downward trend of the second peak of this virus, but it is only December and if you look at the course of other pandemics there have been three or four waves, with the latter ones usually being the most deadly. http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jun/01/health/he-closer1?pg=2

Scientists think the spring swine flu epidemic may be a "herald wave" of what's to come. In 1918, a milder wave of flu cases occurred in late winter and early spring, before the deadly pandemic surge in the fall of that year. In 1957, Asian flu was causing unremarkable illness in China, before landing on American soil for the summer outbreaks and a severe winter season.

Simonsen has studied past pandemics and says that a pattern of multiple waves is common to all of them also. The 1957 pandemic flu had three waves in the U.S. over five years, with a large number of deaths in the winters of 1959 and 1962. The 1968 pandemic flu had two waves in the British Isles over consecutive years, with 15% of the total number of deaths occurring in winter 1968 and the remaining 85% in winter 1969.

There is another good piece here (for some reason the LA Times has written a number of stories on flu prediction, fwiw) http://articles.latimes.com/2009/oct/22/science/sci-swine-flu22

Moreover, CDC researchers have been studying the 1957 Asian flu pandemic to understand the current pandemic better, she said.

In that case, there was an early wave of the disease about September and October, "like what we are seeing here. They had another big wave after the first of the year. And so I think that as vaccine becomes available," it is important to vaccinate as many people as possible.

Schuchat and other officials also have emphasized repeatedly that only 5% to 10% of the American public has contracted the virus. That leaves the vast majority of the public still at risk and needing vaccination.

Whether or not to get the shot is about balancing risks. You are in a day care (high risk for getting something) but the H1N1 numbers are in decline (lowering the risk they might catch it). What is the risk of a side effect from the vaccine (very low) vs. what is the risk of the flu (and how that will impact you) vs. what is the small risk of a serious complication from the flu (and how that will impact your child). You post sort of implies that you've both been pretty busy, so I would gather if there was a sick child at home, taking care of him for 7-10 days would really throw your schedule into turmoil. And of course, if your child was one of the small percentage of kids that had a serious side effect from the flu, visiting the Pediatric ICU would be a horrendous event (an example: http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/SwineFluNews/front-lines-h1n1-stretching-scarce-hospital-resources/story?id=8927335).

If you don't really have a problem with the vaccine, the question is kind of akin to "do you drive without the kid in a carseat?" Let's be honest, the chances of you having an accident are somewhat minimal (less than your chance of catching the flu I'd say). Would you feel comfortable running down the street one block with the kid out of a carseat? Maybe. What about to the nearest grocery? Umm. On I-395 in rush hour? Yikes.

It's really just a game of math. My view, and one I followed personally, is that the chances of my kids having a serious side effect from the vaccine was LESS THAN the chances of my kids having a serious side effect from the flu.

Or I can just quote the pediatrician who some anti-vaccine folks hate with a passion. "The choice not to get a vaccine is not a choice to take no risk. It’s just a choice to take a different risk" - Paul Offit, (http://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/10/ff_waronscience/)

Good luck with your decision. Feel free to come back and ask any specifics about clinics or the vaccine and posters can try to help you with more information.

p.s. the lines have died down at many clinics, and at certain places in DC (where they do not check residency) many folks have reported walking in, signing a form, and walking out with simply no wait at all. If you do go to a clinic, avoid the first hour or so as that seems to be the craziest.

Ya know, a lot of people don't like Offit, but feelings about him personally aside, I think that is a VERY astute comment. As long as people know the risks, that is fine. I think some people think if they avoid any vaccine, then they are safer bc they are avoiding the risks of teh vaccine. BUT they fail to realize that they are incurring other risks as well, and may or may not fully appreciate them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Ya know, a lot of people don't like Offit, but feelings about him personally aside, I think that is a VERY astute comment. As long as people know the risks, that is fine. I think some people think if they avoid any vaccine, then they are safer bc they are avoiding the risks of teh vaccine. BUT they fail to realize that they are incurring other risks as well, and may or may not fully appreciate them.

I don't think you give people enough credit. Surely there's no-one stupid enough not to realize they are balancing risks when making this decision? I doubt it. Or am I misunderstanding you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just spoke to a nurse today who administers the H1N1 shots at local clinics. She said that she was not getting it this time around b/c she doesn't trust it . . . yet.
These comments - coming from those in the field - do make me nervous, as I am still on the fence, although leaning more toward no.

I'd ask her based on what? Specifics, not just a "gut" feeling.

Don't we all go with the gut feeling after doing research and weighing both sides? I've read about the hives, and realize that these side effects are rare. And I know there are cases of healthy adults suffering from H1N1. And suddenly it's evolved into a Tamiflu-resistant strain. So yes - the vaccination is definitely helpful.

But regardless of this information and the studies done so far and the fact that it's created in the same way, I still have my doubts when I think of my kids. I've known many children so far who have suffered through the H1N1 virus - one with a severe case of asthma - and all have recovered quite well. And the fact that my pediatrician is NOT pushing the vaccine and didn't intend on ordering it until parents were practically banging at the door for it keeps me on the fence.

Sometimes your gut is wrong, but in most cases, it's not. How many times did I kick myself for NOT following my instincts? way too many

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just spoke to a nurse today who administers the H1N1 shots at local clinics. She said that she was not getting it this time around b/c she doesn't trust it . . . yet.
These comments - coming from those in the field - do make me nervous, as I am still on the fence, although leaning more toward no.

I'd ask her based on what? Specifics, not just a "gut" feeling.

Don't we all go with the gut feeling after doing research and weighing both sides? I've read about the hives, and realize that these side effects are rare. And I know there are cases of healthy adults suffering from H1N1. And suddenly it's evolved into a Tamiflu-resistant strain. So yes - the vaccination is definitely helpful.

But regardless of this information and the studies done so far and the fact that it's created in the same way, I still have my doubts when I think of my kids. I've known many children so far who have suffered through the H1N1 virus - one with a severe case of asthma - and all have recovered quite well. And the fact that my pediatrician is NOT pushing the vaccine and didn't intend on ordering it until parents were practically banging at the door for it keeps me on the fence.

Sometimes your gut is wrong, but in most cases, it's not. How many times did I kick myself for NOT following my instincts? way too many

I think it's equally common for people to regret not following outside advice when something bad happens to them. But emotionally I think we punish ourselves more in those situations when we fail to follow our instincts, and we feel less culpable if the injury happened due to our unwillingness to follow advice or data. I know that I do it to myself, but I do not think it is logical.