Will you give your kids the H1N1 vaccine? Absolutely!
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009
The consent forms for the school to give my children the H1N1 vaccine came home yesterday and so did the barrage of emails and phone calls from friends. Should I give it to my kids? What are you going to do? Did they rush it? Is it safe? What about the mercury?
My nanny is convinced that the government set the virus out on society so we would be forced to buy the vaccine. Of course, the government is now actually paying for the vaccine so I’m not so sure about that theory but there is lot of suspicion of big government. Even my sister’s pediatrician told her, “Well I am supposed to say for you to get it, but I don’t know if they rushed it. “ Read more about why people are ambivalent to the H1N1 vaccine.
I am a physician, but my biggest job is mother to 4 beautiful children (5 if you count my husband). I have respect for our government but know that they are not perfect nor always forthright. I believe in holistic medicine as well as conventional. My son even likely had the H1N1 virus.
I understand the fear and uncertainty. I’ve been following this story since it began and have looked at as much research that is available and talked to as many experts as I can.
What do I think? GET THE VACCINE!
Why?
Within a one-hour drive of my house there have been 3 deaths of people in their early 20s just in the last few months from H1N1. That is really it for me. Yes, the seasonal flu kills upward of 35,000 people a year but over 90% of those are over age 65. H1N1 affects and kills young people. Click here for the statistics.
Yes, many deaths have had underlying medical conditions but asthma, pregnancy and obesity are pretty common in my neighborhood, and I wouldn’t call those people unhealthy. Some deaths had NO underlying conditions. Sure, H1N1 is milder than the seasonal flu but “mild flu” still means missed school or work for 5 -10 days and a lot of misery. (Ask my son about his “mild” flu) If there is an option for me to prevent illness and death of my children with little risk to them, I’m taking it.
What about vaccine risks? Didn’t they rush it?
Every year the same companies that make the H1N1 vaccine make a NEW seasonal flu based upon what flu is floating around across the world and likely to come here. They collect that information around February for the following fall producing 100 million doses per year. The same manufacturers in the same factories with the same mechanisms with the same safety precautions as every year’s seasonal flu vaccine made the H1N1 vaccine.
The great thing is with H1N1 we still have a match with the vaccine vs. what strain is out there. This is often not the case with the seasonal vaccine because what was out in February may not be what is out in the fall.
What about preservatives Mercury, Thimerosal and autism?
First, You don’t have to get a vaccine with any preservative. The H1N1 nasal spray does not contain preservative and there will be thimerosal free injections.
Secondly, there have not been substantial data to show a link between autism and thermosil but even if you believe it, you don’t have to get it. Click here to answer more questions about thimerosal.
Should I get the mist or the shot?
Depends who you are and what is available.
H1N1 mist is available now and the injections won’t be ready for a few more weeks.
Medimmune makes the H1N1 nasal spray. It is not an injection.
It is FDA approved for healthy people 2 years old up to 49 years of age.
It will be a series of two doses, given one month apart for kids under 10.
It will be one dose for people 10 years of age and up.
It is a live attenuated virus so it cannot be given to immunocompromised people including pregnant women and asthmatics under 5 or active wheezing in the past year.
It is also made with egg product so you cannot take it if you have allergy to eggs as it can cause a severe allergic reaction. The 30+ deaths that resulted from the 1976 “swine” vaccine were mostly from egg allergy.
If you have received the seasonal flu mist you should wait 4 weeks or at least 21 days before you receive the H1N1 mist so that you build a strong immunity to both.
Some people might have headache, muscle aches, fever, and nausea or feel tired. If these problems happen, they usually begin soon after the vaccine and may last as long as 1-2 days. Click here for more information about the H1N1 Nasal Mist LAIV (Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine)
The Injection
Some will contain small amounts of mercury-based thimerosal but others will not.
The most common side effects after flu shots are mild, such as being sore and tender, red and swollen where the shot was given.
Some people may faint after getting any shot.
Pregnant women and children older than 6 months can receive the injection.
You should not receive the injection if you have an egg allergy.
Both the flu mist and the injection have been shown to be effective in building immunity to H1N1 within 8-10 days after the infection.
Click here for more information about the inactivated H1N1 injection
Questions and answers about the vaccine:
http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/QuestionsaboutVaccines/ucm182335.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination
What about Pregnant women?
We know that for pregnant women, the risk of getting seriously ill from H1N1 is about six times the risk of serious illness for people who are not pregnant. It is very important that pregnant women get vaccinated and for pregnant women who are sick before the vaccine available to see your doctor promptly before being treated. Receiving the vaccine will also help protect your baby once it is born as children must be 6 months of age to receive the vaccine.
Click here for more questions and answers for pregnant women.
OK Dr Deb, I want it! How do I get it?
The best advice is to contact your state health department. Here is the link if you live in my state of Ohio. I registered today to be notified when my local health department has the vaccine. They prioritize based on need.
More specific questions geared toward providers click here.
What about other vaccines?
The early data shows that of the people that died from H1N1, about 30% died from complications of pneumonia. Please check to see if you should get the pneumonia vaccine which includes people over 65 and SMOKERS of all ages as well as asthmatics.
You can receive the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 at the same time if at least one is given as an injection. Nasal Mist seasonal and Nasal spray H1N1 should be separated by a minimum of 21 days.
If you think that you had the swine flu, you should still get the H1N1 vaccine unless you have documentation of H1N1 by PCR. (not just a positive influenza test)
It is hard to keep up with all the research and things seemed to be updated all the time. What I know is that the H1N1 is not a hoax, and I will have my whole family vaccinated without hesitation.
Hopes this helps you make your decision.
Dr. Deb
