Free Swine Flu vaccines offered by school district...

[RosemaryCinNJ]

I live in a big district..many schools, students...Yesterday my 9 yr old came home with a note that the school district will be offering free swine flu vaccines for parents who request it and sign a release..They expect vaccines mid Oct.
This would only apply to my 9 yr old and my 17 year old sons in school..Is anyone getting this vaccine when it becomes available for your D kid or non D child (ren)??

[Denise]

our endo insists we get this when it becomes available. Our county is vaccinating school children first. Yes, I do believe our whole family will get the vaccine.

[Illinifan]

Our military allergist/immunologist recommends both the swine flu and regular flu vaccine for both of our kids: Zach because he is D and in the high risk age group and Tyler because he's a college student. He is not recommending the swine flu vaccine for my wife and I because we are past the high risk age group. However, my wife comes into contact with a lot newborns and he changed his mind and said anyone who is a care provider for babies and little bitty kids should probably get the swine flu vaccine. It is SOP that we all get the regular flu shot because of Zach's D.

Mid Oct to get the swine flu vaccine into a big school district seems optimistic. It'll be interesting to see how much of it actually gets produced in time to do any good and who'll be getting it first.

[heamwdevine]

We will absolutley NOT be getting it.

[czardoust]

i would have to think real hard on that before saying yes. my inlaws will probably get it for their kids because they have already had it run through their house. we usually all get the regular flu vaccine because Kat gets it. but i dont know....about the H1N1 vacc, my gutt just says no and i have to go with that. :)

[madde]

my gutt just says no and i have to go with that. :)

That's how I feel.

[bgallini]

From what I read, I think many school districts will offer it for free. I will get the shot for my boys...well, Alex will have to get it on his own at school but he says he will. And I'll probably take Neal to the pharmacy or somewhere where I can be with him. He hates shots and I have to say, I had a bad shot experience in school when I was probably 7 or 8 and don't want him to copy me (I got one shot and went back to sit down and fainted b/c I was going to need a 2nd shot.) (Oh, It wasn't the school's fault....just me.)

[Mikker]

Talking to our doctor this morning, I was given the impression, that to begin with, the vaccine would only be available from your health care professional, only for people within the 'high risk' age range, and only those that are considered to be 'high risk' patients. Of course... D qualifies.

She also told us that she would be surprised if it wasn't December or later before enough doses had been produced to start general vaccinations. She said she had just attended a meeting with our states health department, and they had said that they had expected to receive 500,000 doses in mid-October, but that number might be significantly reduced.

[Kaylee's Mommy]

I haven't made up my mind about the swine vac. yet. The regular flu one they will be getting, as they do every year.. something about this new one bothers me.. It is made the same way the season flu vac is made, but it does have more thermisol in it.. its been tested (not nearly as much as other vacs are tested before our kids get them) and those that have had the vac aren't having any problems.. A friend of mine is a school teacher, he said that his school nurse is recommending everyone get it, especially those that are high risk, if they don't its POSSIBLE to get both the season flu and the swine flu at the same time, she said that your body will not be able to deal with that.. Honestly, I really don't know what to do.. Kaylee has an endo appointment at the end of this month, I"m going to talk to the endo about it more. My kids do get all the 'regular' vaccinations, but I limit what they can get each time.. But there is something in my gut telling me NOT to give Kaylee and Jaylin this one.. and that really bothers me.

[RosemaryCinNJ]

Amanda goes to the endo on the 22nd and I will see what he says..and of course read more about this Thermosol you mention..Thank you all for your replies.
Amanda will too get the reg flu shot of course as she does every year. And my boys too.

[andeefig]

Completely undecided. I'll ask Max's endo in a couple weeks.

I hate to say it, but I'm more concerned with ME getting it right now. Being 20 weeks pregnant, they really want me to get it, but what the heck is it going to do to our unborn baby???? Thalidamide, anyone??? They told pregnant woman in the 60's that it was safe to take for morning sickness, and look what happened. I just don't trust all the additives and not at all knowing what it will do 5, 10 years down the road.

[frizzyrazzy]

Completely undecided. I'll ask Max's endo in a couple weeks.

I hate to say it, but I'm more concerned with ME getting it right now. Being 20 weeks pregnant, they really want me to get it, but what the heck is it going to do to our unborn baby???? Thalidamide, anyone??? They told pregnant woman in the 60's that it was safe to take for morning sickness, and look what happened. I just don't trust all the additives and not at all knowing what it will do 5, 10 years down the road.
I agree..at this point you're at greater risk than max...keep that bambino safe and cozy!

[andeefig]

I agree..at this point you're at greater risk than max...keep that bambino safe and cozy!

And that's the big "??????" am I keeping the baby safe by getting the vaccine or by NOT getting it and not worrying about any potential side effects in the baby's future....

[hawkeyegirl]

Yes. My kids will receive both vaccinations.

[Kaylee's Mommy]

Completely undecided. I'll ask Max's endo in a couple weeks.

I hate to say it, but I'm more concerned with ME getting it right now. Being 20 weeks pregnant, they really want me to get it, but what the heck is it going to do to our unborn baby???? Thalidamide, anyone??? They told pregnant woman in the 60's that it was safe to take for morning sickness, and look what happened. I just don't trust all the additives and not at all knowing what it will do 5, 10 years down the road.

yes, this would worry me as well.. adding all those additives to your body.. yikes.. Thats a really hard decision..

[twicker1]

I really don't know what to do about the swine flu vaccine. :confused: I've read here about the concerns some of you have about it, and they make sense, but then again, I don't know what I would do if he didn't get the shot and something went terribly wrong. Well, if something went wrong due to a decision either way. I could call the endo, but I'm sure they will just tell us he needs to get it. It's really up in the air for me.

I'm waiting for the Health Department to get the regular flu vaccine in, because it will only cost me $12 there as opposed to $25 anywhere else.

[joy orz]

Well probably all get both flu shots. We did regular flu last year and will again this year.

We had schools in the neighborhood close last year due to h1n1 and that just brought everyone out to the playground and library together anyway, so it's not like the sickies stayed home. :rolleyes:

[RosemaryCinNJ]

Completely undecided. I'll ask Max's endo in a couple weeks.

I hate to say it, but I'm more concerned with ME getting it right now. Being 20 weeks pregnant, they really want me to get it, but what the heck is it going to do to our unborn baby???? Thalidamide, anyone??? They told pregnant woman in the 60's that it was safe to take for morning sickness, and look what happened. I just don't trust all the additives and not at all knowing what it will do 5, 10 years down the road.

[B]I agree with you for not wanting to get it..(the swine flu vaccine) oh jees is Thalidamide in it too?? I didnt know that!! 20 weeks awwwww..I cannot wait to hear the news when this little baby is born! Yeahhhhh!!!

[Tena]

Went to a pump class today and both the CDE and the pump rep insisted that Emily needs both Flu vaccines. I do know that at the school where I work (1st and 2nd Grade), we have already had several confirmed cases of the swine flu.

[funnygrl]

I'm required to get both at work.

[frizzyrazzy]

And that's the big "??????" am I keeping the baby safe by getting the vaccine or by NOT getting it and not worrying about any potential side effects in the baby's future....
I know! I wish I knew. which is the safe option that's a horrible question.

Your ob wants it - but does she normally say flu shot for everyone?

[hmmmcormick]

I'm just going to tell you all what Morgan's pediatrician told me yesterday. He said swine flu is hitting pregnant women and those with respiratory issues hardest. He said that there is no concern about this vaccine being rushed because it is basically made exactly like the regular flu vaccine. It's just like every year the reg. flu vaccine covers more and more flu viruses because they change the vaccine. And, about the thimerasol issue, he said you get more mercury eating a can of tuna than from the flu shot. This dr. has been Morgan's pedi. since Morgan was born. I trust him with my most precious posession. Morgan will be getting the swine flu vaccine if we can get it.

[twicker1]

Thank you Holly. I am glad to hear a more detailed explanation from a doctor's perspective, other than "you need to get it".

[bgallini]

It will be possible to get the h1n1 vaccine without the Thimerosal in it. It's very possible, IMO, that the vaccines being given at schools, though, might have the Thimerosal in it.

This is from the cdc website:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/statelocal/qa.htm



"Q. How much Thimerosal-free vaccine will be available?
A. It is anticipated that enough thimerosal-free vaccine in pre-loaded syringes will be available for young children and pregnant women."

[bgallini]

[B]I agree with you for not wanting to get it..(the swine flu vaccine) oh jees is Thalidamide in it too?? I didnt know that!! 20 weeks awwwww..I cannot wait to hear the news when this little baby is born! Yeahhhhh!!!

I don't think the vaccine has thalidamide in it. I think she was just using that as an example of a drug that was thought to be safe and wasn't.

[MamaC]

Tom will get both - he's already been sporting a deep cough the last couple of weeks and fall is the worst time for his respiratory system (plus the right lung has never gotten back to 100%).

If I can get Jenn to do it, she will have both as well (college student). She ALWAYS gets something respiratory going as soon as soccer season ends, and she's in no position to lose class time at this point.

[Beach bum]

I'm just going to tell you all what Morgan's pediatrician told me yesterday. He said swine flu is hitting pregnant women and those with respiratory issues hardest. He said that there is no concern about this vaccine being rushed because it is basically made exactly like the regular flu vaccine. It's just like every year the reg. flu vaccine covers more and more flu viruses because they change the vaccine. And, about the thimerasol issue, he said you get more mercury eating a can of tuna than from the flu shot. This dr. has been Morgan's pedi. since Morgan was born. I trust him with my most precious posession. Morgan will be getting the swine flu vaccine if we can get it.

Thank you Holly for the detailed explanation.

[heamwdevine]

there is also aluminum & formaldehyde in the shots and the fact that they are giving the pharmaceutical companies an out so that they can produce it really, really quickly is scary. i've been in pharmaceuaticals my whole career and i know how the process goes. you don't want to skip corners with something like this.

a vaccine i read about actually caused cancer and was proven. it was grown in monkey cells which harbored a virus that caused the cancer and of course it's something that is too late once we learn about it. we don't know what is happening when we grow all these vaccines in these avian and other animal cells. they harbor viruses we don't know about yet.

I am not against vaccines just wish doctors would give patients the chance to make an educated decision, not one based on fear mongering and scare tactics.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://drtenpenny.com/Documents/the%...--%20short.pdf

[andeefig]

[B]I agree with you for not wanting to get it..(the swine flu vaccine) oh jees is Thalidamide in it too?? I didnt know that!! 20 weeks awwwww..I cannot wait to hear the news when this little baby is born! Yeahhhhh!!!

No, no thalidamide in it....just referring to the moms who were told it was safe to take in the 60s and low and behold, it really screwed up the babies into adulthood.

[frizzyrazzy]

pregnant women are the first on the list:
he committee recommended that vaccination efforts initially focus on 5 target groups: vaccination for pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, persons between the ages of 6 months through 24 years, and people ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher risk for novel H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.


something else I just notice that I had never paid attention to before - I cannot use thimerisol in contact lens products but I never thought to ask about it in the flu shots...

[momandwifeoftype1s]

Connor will get both vaccines. One interesting thing is that our endo said you have to space the regular flu and the H1N1 flu shot apart by one month. The regular flu shot will be available here at the end of September or beginning of October. The H1N1 flu shot will be available at the end of October. So, if Connor gets the regular flu shot at the beginning of October, he wouldn't be able to get the H1N1 shot until the beginning of November. So there's the problem.

[tiffanie1717]

I'm required to get both at work.

Just for the record, I think that's totally wrong. Nothing that is injected to someone's body should be required!! It should be a personal decision!


We're not getting the swine flu vaccine, for all the reasons everyone has mentioned. We've had trouble with the regular flu vaccine as well - getting sick from the shot. So we're aren't getting any.

It's something I struggle with every year because our endo is very pro-flu shots. I don't want to be a bad parent, but I just am unsure about them! And if there is a different strain of flu it doesn't protect you anyway.

[bgallini]

Connor will get both vaccines. One interesting thing is that our endo said you have to space the regular flu and the H1N1 flu shot apart by one month. The regular flu shot will be available here at the end of September or beginning of October. The H1N1 flu shot will be available at the end of October. So, if Connor gets the regular flu shot at the beginning of October, he wouldn't be able to get the H1N1 shot until the beginning of November. So there's the problem.

The seasonal (regular) flu shot is available now...at least here in VA at pharmacies. I got the shot today. (another woman there said her dr's office didn't have it yet).

[sarahspins]

Our pedi's office was pushing flu vax on us back in mid-August, so they definitely had them back then!

[momandwifeoftype1s]

The seasonal (regular) flu shot is available now...at least here in VA at pharmacies. I got the shot today. (another woman there said her dr's office didn't have it yet).

I think it's available if you want to pay out of pocket at Walgreens or other pharmacies here. If I want to go through our GP or endo, we have to wait until they have it available. Multiply the cost times 3/4 of us in our family who are at risk - too much to pay out of pocket. We'll wait. It probably wouldn't be a be deal for most of you. We wait until it's cheaper. I should have clarified that in my earlier message though, so thanks for the heads-up.

[funnygrl]

Just for the record, I think that's totally wrong. Nothing that is injected to someone's body should be required!! It should be a personal decision!


We're not getting the swine flu vaccine, for all the reasons everyone has mentioned. We've had trouble with the regular flu vaccine as well - getting sick from the shot. So we're aren't getting any.

It's something I struggle with every year because our endo is very pro-flu shots. I don't want to be a bad parent, but I just am unsure about them! And if there is a different strain of flu it doesn't protect you anyway.
I think it's totally appropriate for health care workers to be required to get the vaccine, but I would also get it regardless. The flu is no joke, and I'm not taking my chances. I see people on ventilators half-dead (or full-dead) from it every season. I don't want that being me, and nor do I want it being anyone else because of me opting not to get the flu vaccine.

Health care professionals are long required to have various vaccinations. I had to prove immunity to everything from ruebella to varicella before starting nursing school.

[LantusFiend]

I'm a student teacher working with 140 7th graders and I got vaccinated against seasonal flu and pneumonia in August; unless we find out something awful about the H1N1 flu vaccine, I'll be getting that shot as soon as I can after my endo office gives me a call, which the endo said will probably be in mid to late October.

[bgallini]

I think it's available if you want to pay out of pocket at Walgreens or other pharmacies here. If I want to go through our GP or endo, we have to wait until they have it available. Multiply the cost times 3/4 of us in our family who are at risk - too much to pay out of pocket. We'll wait. It probably wouldn't be a be deal for most of you. We wait until it's cheaper. I should have clarified that in my earlier message though, so thanks for the heads-up.

I guess it depends on your insurance. Ours pays 100% of it at certain (many) pharmacies but I don't think they'd pay 100% at the Dr office.