I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: Sugarlump on October 20, 2009, 10:45:07 AM
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We have been advised by the Doctor in charge of our unit Not to have the swine flu vaccination as it has contra indications for
dialysis patients yet we're supposed to be on the governments list of most vunerable and needing it first!!!
Which is worse, getting swine flu or having the jab?
Anyone have further information on this? Second wave of swine flu starting to hit the UK now...
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We have been advised by the Doctor in charge of our unit Not to have the swine flu vaccination as it has contra indications for
dialysis patients yet we're supposed to be on the governments list of most vunerable and needing it first!!!
Which is worse, getting swine flu or having the jab?
Anyone have further information on this? Second wave of swine flu starting to hit the UK now...
I was told that the vapor mist flu vaccine is NOT to be given to transplant patients, but I have heard no info about dialysis patients having problems. We don't have the H1N1 vaccine available here in Los Angeles until the end of this week. Here's our local health announcement:
Schedule for First H1N1 Vaccination Clinics Available
Free H1N1 flu shots and FluMist® nasal spray vaccine will be available beginning October 23 at LA County Public Health Vaccine Clinics
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Health Officer, Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, today released the schedule for the first round of Public Health vaccine clinics, which will provide free H1N1 vaccine to residents who do not have health insurance or a regular source of health care, and are in a priority group.
"Increasing amounts of H1N1 vaccine are expected to arrive in Los Angeles County on a weekly basis. Public Health's vaccine clinics will provide vaccine free of charge to residents in the H1N1 vaccine priority groups who do not have health insurance or a regular source of health care," said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director and Health Officer.
"For those with health insurance and a regular source of health care, all of the more than 3,000 healthcare providers in the county who ordered H1N1 vaccine should receive it. Starting at the end of this week, these residents may wish to contact their doctor to find out when the H1N1 vaccine will be available to them."
The priority groups for H1N1 vaccine are:
# Pregnant women
# People living with or caring for infants under six months of age
# Emergency medical services personnel and health care workers
# Children and young adults from six months through 24 years
# People aged 25 through 64 years with chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease, asthma, diabetes, or weakened immune systems
Public Health's H1N1 vaccine clinics will begin on October 23, and will have H1N1 vaccine in many formulations, including injectable flu shots, FluMist nasal spray, and thimerasol-free vaccine. A list of dates and locations can be found on the Public Health website at www.publichealth.lacounty.gov or by calling the LA County information line at 2-1-1 from any landline or cell phone. The vaccine clinic schedule will be released two weeks at a time. Residents are urged to check back often if they do not immediately find a clinic that is conveniently located near them. Vaccine clinics will be scheduled from late October through at least December.
Influenza, more commonly known as the flu, causes approximately 36,000 deaths and more than 200,000 hospitalizations each year in the United States. While the average case of H1N1 is no worse than other types of seasonal flu, some individuals are at a higher risk for serious complications. Since the spring, there have been 57 deaths in Los Angeles County attributed to H1N1.
"The best way to prevent the spread of flu is to wash your hands often; cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze; avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes; and get vaccinated," Dr. Fielding said. "If you are sick, stay home until at least 24 hours after the fever has gone away without the use of anti-fever medications. The same recommendation applies to children who go to school, daycare, or after-school programs."
Talk to your doctor about H1N1 vaccine if you have any of the following:
# Severe allergy to chicken eggs
# Severe reaction to influenza vaccination in the past
# Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)
# Moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (wait until recovering before getting vaccine)
The viruses in the flu shot are inactive (killed) so you cannot get the flu from the flu shot. Some minor side effects could occur, usually lasting only one to two days. These include:
# Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
# Low-grade fever
# Aches or pain
The viruses in the vaccine nasal spray are weakened and cannot cause the flu. In children, side effects are usually mild and can include runny nose, wheezing, headache, vomiting, muscle aches or fever. In adults, side effects can include runny nose, headache, sore throat or cough.
Most cases of H1N1 and seasonal flu can be treated by staying home, getting plenty of rest, drinking plenty of fluids and treating fever and aches and pains with over- the-counter medication, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen (but not aspirin).
Residents should see a doctor if they have any of the following symptoms along with flu-like symptoms such as fever, coughing, tiredness, runny nose, etc:
For children:
# Fast breathing or trouble breathing
# Bluish skin color
# Not drinking enough fluids or stopping urinating
# Not waking up or not interacting
# Being so irritable that a child does not want to be held
# Flu-like symptoms that improve, but then return with fever and worse cough
# Fever with a rash
For adults:
# Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
# Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
# Sudden dizziness
# Confusion
# Severe or persistent vomiting
The Department of Public Health is committed to protecting and improving the health of the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Public Health comprises more than 4,000 employees and has an annual budget exceeding $750 million. To learn more about Public Health and the work we do, please visit http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov or visit our YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/lapublichealth.
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From what I've been reading dialysis patients are being advised to get the H1N1 shot as well as their family members who care for them.
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That's what hubby's PD unit nurse told him as well, have the regular flu shot and H1N1 shot.
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I was informed yesterday at my unit that they are giving us the H1N1 flu shot (well they asked our consent to order it and administer if we want) next week - they will give it prior to dialysis so they can monitor us for any side effects(which seems reasonable). They claim it won't get filtered out by the dialysis process either. I think if they're offering it they consider it safe for hemo patients - at least here.
Given CSL here in Australia has come up with the vaccine I feel fairly confident it will be OK :)
Getting mine next Thursday, so if I stop posting...... :rofl;
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I was told by the dumb nurse at my doctor's office that I am not on the priority list for the vaccine because I am not diabetic. I don't think she knows what she is talking about. I have been trying to get my daughter vaccinated first because she is most likely to come in contact with the virus.
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Sugarlump: Your Doctor may have been referring to the H1N1 live-virus nasal mist vaccine, which will become available a few weeks before the killed-virus injection form.
My neph has told me NOT to get the H1N1 live-virus nasal mist. We ESRD patients can have weakened immune systems, remember. He said to wait till the killed-virus shot becomes available.
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I'm off to dialysis pm today so I'm going to ask for clarification whether thats any vaccines, or the live nasal spray only. There is so much conflicting advice about, particularly recent news item that 4 out of 5 nurses and doctors will refuse the swine jab themselves. If they don't have confidence in having it, should we...
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4 out of 5 nurses and doctors will refuse the swine jab themselves
These same people also refuse the regular flu shot every year.
My clinic says yes to the shot and no to the nasal spray. My sister had a transplant and they are saying the same thing along with her family getting vaccinated.
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yeah and how many nurses and doctors do you see standing out the front of the hospital with cigarettes hanging out of their mouths???
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I was told by the dumb nurse at my doctor's office that I am not on the priority list for the vaccine because I am not diabetic. I don't think she knows what she is talking about. I have been trying to get my daughter vaccinated first because she is most likely to come in contact with the virus.
on the priority list: adults 24-64 with underlying medical conditions. i think we qualify.
also medicare will pay for the standard flu shot in full, no copay! i got mine a walgreens because i wanted it before i left for oregon (staying with my sister who is a 2nd grade teacher) and my center didn't have them yet, the center in oregon didn't have them yet and my doctor's office didn't have them yet. yet safeway, walgreens and walmart got them the first week in september. go figure. until proven otherwise i'm going to assume medicare will pay in full for the h1n1 also.
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There is so much conflicting advice about, particularly recent news item that 4 out of 5 nurses and doctors will refuse the swine jab themselves.
That just reminded me of this classic commercial from 1950:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEBWpIsgYqg