H1N1 vaccine - thoughts?

sweatshirtgirl · #1 October 15th, 2009, 05:37 AM

Hi all,

I've been asking everyone I know what their thoughts are on the H1N1 vaccine. If you get your BFP in the next few months, will you be getting it?

My OB just got some in yesterday and I'm on the list. I guess I'm less scared about what the vaccine could do to me vs. the complications I could have from getting the swine flu. I've got 2 school age kids at home too, and they both have a history of asthma so that scares me.

Coley · #2 October 15th, 2009, 05:49 AM

I dunno. I'm still on the fence about this one.

I don't have kids to bring germs home and all... so I'm gonna chew on that one for a bit.

slpliz · #3 October 15th, 2009, 05:59 AM

I will absolutely get it if I am pregnant. I know we don't know what the long term outcome might be but the doctors say any risks are outweighed by benefits. I'd rather know that I'm protected so that I will be safe, not get sick and potentially die and not be able to take care of my two kids now!

Both my kids have already been vaccinated also.

sweatshirtgirl · #4 October 15th, 2009, 06:08 AM

I know it's a personal decision for everyone, but I'm glad to hear of someone else so "excited" to get the vaccine, lol. Most people I've talked to are so negative about it. Makes me feel better that others are confident about getting it.

One woman on my local MOM's Club message board listed so much false stuff, things I've never heard of - like they are using leftovers from the 1976 swine flu vaccines to give to people now, 33 years later! I had to laugh at that one.

I know there are some more serious concerns though, like mercury etc... which does scare me. But my girls will also be getting it when the pedi gets them in. I don't want to take any chances.

Bayamount · #5 October 15th, 2009, 06:11 AM

im kinda scared of this vaccine. with 4 kids around here, and studies to show if it really works and has no really bad side effects, i am very worried. ill probably wait for the first batch of people to go get it, see what happens.

slpliz · #6 October 15th, 2009, 07:28 AM

As far as the mercury issue, they are using thimerosal as a preservative for the H1N1 shots. So if your children are older than 2 and don't have asthma issues, you can avoid that by getting the H1N1 flu mist. I did that for my son but my daughter had to get the shot. If it puts your mind at ease at all, despite the anecdotal reports linking autism to vaccines with thimerosal, ALL independent research studies (independent of parents and pharmaceutical companies) have found no statistical evidence or causal links that thimerosal in vaccines is related to autism. I am current on the research because I am in my final year of a PhD program with an emphasis in autism.

sweatshirtgirl · #7 October 15th, 2009, 08:23 AM

Thanks! My girls have gotten their seasonal flu shots every year (and all other vax) so I'm not terribly concerned about the autism aspect, but I know others are. I *just* found this article too, if anyone is interested. It mentions pregnancy.

Top 10 Worries About the Swine Flu Vaccine - Page 1 - MSN Health & Fitness - Cold and Flu

erleigh · #8 October 15th, 2009, 08:40 AM

I'm on the fence. My doctor suggested I get the vaccine if I'm going to become pregnant. However, think (but I'm not positive) that I've already had H1N1 and I hate to get a vaccine that could be iffy for something I'm already immune to. So...I dunno.

ETA: I also have 2 kids in school and we seem to catch everything that goes around. It's all over my DD's school. I figure the odds are pretty high that if I didn't have it already, I'll manage to catch it before I get the vaccine. I think it takes between 2-4 weeks after the shot to provide protection?

DeepSouthMommy · #9 October 15th, 2009, 08:43 AM

Well, I won't be getting it because of the unknown factors of it. One, they've never made or used this combination before, Two, there are no studies of it to see what kind of effect there may be and Three, there are no long term studies on this.

As far as your mom's friend, it sounds like she's mixing up a bit of information. Back in the 70's the flu shot had some problems which are only today becoming evident. Paralysis being a big thing that was caused by it. (They have long since changed how the shot is made and the chance of paralysis is almost non-existent now.)

And I just wanted to say that the thimerosal part of the shot doesn't worry me unless your child is getting several vaccines at once. That's why when we have children we will choose to vaccinate them with one virus at a time. The MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) shot is the worst of all vaccinations because you are covering 3 at a single time and I believe that it's that combination that should be of concern to parents regarding autism. (Just my opinions though, I do not want to start a debate with anyone!)

Arya · #10 October 15th, 2009, 08:47 AM

I really don't know what I'm going to do. I'm scared to get it, but I'm also scared that I'll get the flu and die from it. Here, they keep saying on the news how young women (mean age of 32) are the ones who die the most from the flu. Scary

sweatshirtgirl · #11 October 15th, 2009, 09:22 AM

Michelle, if you read the article I posted, it might make more sense. It's apparently no different than getting the seasonal flu shot. It's made the exact same way. The seasonal flu shot is slightly different each year, but not different enough to be concerned. And that one is considered safe for pregnant women, with long term studies etc...

What stood out to me was that the risk of getting the GB syndrome (that people got from the 1976 shot) is greater when you get the actual FLU, than getting it from the vaccine.

Anyway, I'm not trying to sway people one way or the other or start a debate either, just want everyone to have all the "facts" before making their decision. I know it took me MONTHS to research and finally be able to trust getting it!

It's funny though, I never got the flu shot with my other pregnancies, and never was worried. I think the media really is making it seem worse than it is (or just bringing more attention to it than the regular flu in other years). Plus I'm a mom of 2 now, so I have more fears than I did when I was "younger" lol.

Admin-pattyandthemoos · #12 October 15th, 2009, 09:35 AM

I have never gotten any flu shot so I would probably skip it. My kids homeschool and I work from home so I am probably not exposed to as many germs as other people. Plus, I think germs are good for you. Maybe I am crazy but I think it makes for a stronger immune system.

sweatshirtgirl · #13 October 15th, 2009, 10:03 AM

Michelle, just reread my post, didn't mean to sound condescending...sorry if I sounded rude!!! lol

MountainMomma · #14 October 15th, 2009, 10:15 AM

I won't get it. I don't get the regular flu shot either though. I did one time and that was enough for me. In 1997 when I was pregnant with my daughter I let my doctor convince me that I HAD to have a flu shot. That year I had the WORST case of the flu that I have EVER had! I was so sick (sorry, tmi I know) that I broke blood vessels all through my face and upper body because of the force of vomitting so much and so hard. my eyes filled with blood and my skin had what looked like a rash but was just blood coming to the surface. I also when into early labor about a week and a half before Christmas with a baby that wasn't due until mid-April! Thankfully they were able to stop the labor, but I spent the rest of my pregnancy on meds to keep me from having her and having lots of other complications that I don't think I would have had if I hadn't gotten so sick.

slpliz · #15 October 15th, 2009, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeepSouthGirl

And I just wanted to say that the thimerosal part of the shot doesn't worry me unless your child is getting several vaccines at once. That's why when we have children we will choose to vaccinate them with one virus at a time. The MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) shot is the worst of all vaccinations because you are covering 3 at a single time and I believe that it's that combination that should be of concern to parents regarding autism. (Just my opinions though, I do not want to start a debate with anyone!)

Isn't the MMR vaccine just one single shot though? I don't think it is three separate vaccines - I think it is one shot for all.

sweatshirtgirl · #16 October 15th, 2009, 11:04 AM

I think you are right, slpliz. I remember my oldest needing 3 shots, but now (since 2003) it's all in one I believe, which is better I would think.

It does bother me a little that my kids will need 2 H1N1 shots...and they've already had 1 seasonal flu. That's a lot of mercury. Then again, they eat tuna, and a certain amt of that is safe. And I had tuna every day for lunch when I was a kid and I turned out ok, I think! lol.

AlanaIris · #17 October 15th, 2009, 11:18 AM

I won't be getting the vaccine, pregnant or not. And I'm not getting it for DS either. I haven't even had a regular flu shot since like, high school...or maybe even middle school. I'm with Patty, I think germs are good for you, lol. Both DS and I have really good immune systems and we don't go out too much, so I'm not really worried about it.

slpliz · #18 October 15th, 2009, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweatshirtgirl

It does bother me a little that my kids will need 2 H1N1 shots...and they've already had 1 seasonal flu. That's a lot of mercury. Then again, they eat tuna, and a certain amt of that is safe. And I had tuna every day for lunch when I was a kid and I turned out ok, I think! lol.

When we had the kids vaccinated last night, they told me that they weren't going to have enough to do a second round dose for everyone in a month. They said that at least the kids were getting this one so they'd be about 70% covered. If they get enough in for round two then they'll call us to com back!

DeepSouthMommy · #19 October 15th, 2009, 02:22 PM

Lori, you post did not sound rude or condescending in any way.

But I will say this, I posted about this not that long ago and I included a link to the CDC's website where they themselves tell you that the H1N1 is not made in the same manner as the regular flu shot and that they just started doing ANY kind of testing of it's safety for pregnant women at the end of September and that it would be months before they had any real answers. So that's why I'm skipping it, because the people who make it have said that they don't know if it's safe.

Our local news had a story about GB syndrome and they said it was due to the vaccine, not the flu itself...I guess that proves again that you shouldn't believe what you hear on tv.

Slpliz, the MMR shot is one single injection, but it's three different vaccines all mixed together. So you get a triple whammy of thimersol because it's used in the making of each individual vaccine. (Now this information is based on what we were told by a doctor, if someone knows different about how the vaccine is made, by all means share the info because I'd love to know for certain!) That's why it's believed that immunizations are the main cause of autism. Not because the immunizations themselves are bad, but because they mixed those three and give them all together now. Autism was not such a widespread problem before they started giving the MMR. (And I know that more is known about it today so people recognize it more easily, but they were still able to study past cases to find that the numbers did increase.)

jenine · #20 October 15th, 2009, 03:09 PM

I don't think I will get it for some of the reasons already mentioned. I am not really afraid of H1N1 and if I'm pregnant I'd be much more afraid of the vaccine given how new it still is.