swine flu vac!

[billybags]

We have been notified by our doctor to go in and have the swine flu vaccination.We are on the vulnerable list. I have done some research on it and I'm not all that convinced about the injection so I have chosen not to have it. Any one else got concerns?

[Poppylicious]

Blokey had his last Saturday.  There weren't any side-effects as far as we could tell.

*touch wood*

I haven't had it and probably won't, but that's not because I have any concerns.

[monrein]

I chose to have it as I felt that the benefit of being hopefully protected outweighed the risk.  My husband chose to have it to further protect me.

[del]

Hubby and I have both had the vaccine with absolutely no side effects.  Only thing I had was a tender arm for a couple of days, hubby didn't even have that!!  I felt the protection was much better than getting the virus.

[okarol]

There's none available around here so we don't have a choice!
It's recommended for my 14 year old son, but so far no luck!

[Bill Peckham]

I'll get it as soon as I can. H1N1 is a much greater health risk compared to the vaccine.

[paris]

So far, no luck here. Transplant center sent a letter saying they had limited supply, but that was quickly gone.   It is like hitting the jackpot when you can get the shot!   

[cariad]

My kids and I got ours two days ago. I got the injection, the kids got their second dose of mist. My husband had his single dose of mist about a month ago.

I'm not sure I get what the concerns are surrounding this vaccine - it is exactly like a seasonal flu shot, just targeted to only one virus instead of several. You would probably have stronger immunity to H1N1 if you contracted the virus and fought it off on your own, but that could have dire consequences. Billybags, have you discussed your specific concerns with your GP?

[lizabee]

My husband and I got ours at the dialysis center yesterday....my daughter already had the swine flu!  She was sick for about a week but it wasn't nearly as bad as they were making it out to be.  Of course, she is 100% healthy thank God.

[calypso]

My dialysis clinic just got the regular seasonal flu shot in the other day so I got that. Now I have to wait 2 weeks for the H1N1 but they don't have it in yet anyway.

[Marsh]

I got mine yesterday.  I work in a hospital and all employees could get them.

[boswife]

i have concerns but im not sure where they are founded.  I just keep telling hubby i dont think we should have it..  Doesnt matter yet as it is not offered but i wonder how much researsh i should do to get the 'worry' out of me.

[KarenInWA]

I'm getting mine on Saturday at my primary doc's office.  It's the "dead" one that goes in the arm.  I hear the "live" one that goes up the nose is not good if you're not healthy.

KarenInWA

[kellyt]

I got my H1N1 shot last week at my transplant clinic.  It's the first time I've been at the top of any list!       No side effects here.     But they did say for transplant patients "no inhaler vaccination".  Don't know why, though.

[Hemodoc]

The risk of dying from H1N1 in dialysis patients according to a recent study is 5% with about 80% usage Tamiflu which is much higher than the general population.

http://ndt.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/gfp557

The risk of complications from the H1N1 vaccine in some reports has listed the rate at 1-2/million doses given. 

Most authorities would thus place the risk/benefit of the H1N1 vaccine much lower than the risk of adverse outcomes especially in the dialysis population from the virus itself.

I must be quite fortunate.  I got my H1N1 shot about two weeks ago through my dialysis unit.  My wife got hers a week ago through Group Health and my daughter got hers about a month ago while she was pregnant about a week before delivery.  My grandson who is 12 got his two days ago at his pediatrician and my son in law is scheduled this Saturday with the county health department.  I was under the impression that the supply issues were improving but from the comments it sounds as if there are still significant distribution issues.  I am not sure why our supplies here in Idaho sound better than in other locations.

If I was still practicing, my recommendations would be to get the vaccine to all of my patients, both high risk and low risk.  One reason is the herd immunity that helps reduce transmission to high risk patients.  Thus, I would recommend all family members surrounding high risk patients to get their shots as well.  I know that Bill has shown great concern about the pandemic flu in the dialysis population and has written extensively on this subject for over two years.

http://www.billpeckham.com/from_the_sharp_end_of_the/pandemic/

But as with all medical decisions, it is a risk/benefit decision in conjunction with your personal doctors who know your medical facts.

[Hemodoc]

Here is a quote giving the chance of vaccine adverse events at 1/million doses given.  Hope this helps.  I am much more afraid of the H1N1 adverse events than that of the vaccine. I suspect most doctors would concur with this assessment, although I know that not all do.  Once again, discuss with your own medical team and then make an informed decision based on the evidence.

H1N1 Vaccine Risks: A Big Controversy Covers "Life Saving"

Shothttp://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2254909/h1n1_vaccine_risks_a_big_controversy.html?cat=5

[Mimi]

I went to my PP last week and they were out and did not know if they would get more.  They suggested the Health Center, but can't go until Cindy gets back from Memphis.

[kimcanada]

I got mine last week, Nova Scotia has been doing it in stages... my stage... 65 and under, chronic condition, got it at dialysis.  I had a sore arm for a day and thats it.

[Darthvadar]

I got mine three weeks ago... Mum got hers two weeks ago...

I had a bit of a sore arm, very slight headache, and fever... They only lasted a couple of days... Mum had no reaction at all... We both also had the Seasonal Flu vaccination as we do every year...

I had to make a huge fuss to get Mum done... At that time they weren't including over 65's, even those with serious underlying conditions... And even now, they're only writing to over 65's to invite them for vaccination... Most over 65's won't be vaccinated before Christmas!...

I had to make not-so veiled threats of going screaming to the media, and suing if Mum caught it!...

Thanks for the info, Haemodoc... Reinforces my belief that we did the right thing in getting ourselves vaccinated......

Darth...

[billybags]

The reason I bought this subject up was that a lot of our nurses are not taking the injection. I wonder why? Are we all being led like sheep, has it been tested for long enough? Sorry but I need to know answers.

[calypso]

The reason I bought this subject up was that a lot of our nurses are not taking the injection. I wonder why? Are we all being led like sheep, has it been tested for long enough? Sorry but I need to know answers.

Please do not apologize for wanting answers. That is what we are here for, to learn from one another. As to why many nurses are not taking the swine flu vaccine is because they may remember "the scare" of 1976, or perhaps better described as "the debacle of 76" when the swine flu vaccine caused Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) paralysis in some people.

I'm kind of glad my dialysis unit is a little late with these H1N1 vaccines, this means we won't be the guinea pigs. As everyone else gets the shots first I see that there is no mass hysteria over Guillain-Barré Syndrome breaking out again and by now there likely would have been, so it looks like at least so far, the vaccines are safe.

[*kana*]

The reason I bought this subject up was that a lot of our nurses are not taking the injection. I wonder why? Are we all being led like sheep, has it been tested for long enough? Sorry but I need to know answers.

I work in the medical field and the same nurses that refuse the H1N1 also refuse the seasonal flu vac.  Many more nurses/doctors and staff take the vaccine then those that don't, but you only hear about the ones that are afraid to take it.  My theory is is everyone will get this flu, so you have to weigh your options.......get the flu and possibly have complications or take a chance with the vaccine.  I've never had any issues with the seasonal flu vac so I decided to go ahead with that verses getting the flu.  They say it is made the same way and is not "new".     

[djgaryb11]

I got both the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 shot....no side effects or reactions to either...took some effort to locate the H1N1 injection here in Metro Atlanta...but I finally got it...seems like the risks associated with actually getting the H1N1 flu far out way any risk that might be associated with the vaccine...so it makes sense to get the vaccine ...at least it did for me

[Jean]

Got my regular flu shot, but am kind of on the fence about the H1N1, and on tonights news they are saying that the swine flu is immunizing itself to the vaccine. Hmmm, food for thought.

[Melissa]

I just got mine today.  I have had some weird dreams tonight, but do not think it is related!

Billybags - as far as being tested long enough, this is what my Dr. said.  She said that each year new parts are added to the flu vaccine, because each year there are new strains of the virus.  So, every year the regular flu vaccine is "new" , just the same as the H1N1 vaccine is new.  They all go through the same testing time and procedures, so the worry/risk for the H1N1 vaccine shouldn't be more than for the regular one.  She said H1N1 vaccine would have been included in the regular vaccine, but they couldn't manufacture it quickly enough to add in. 
I don't know, but it makes sense to me. 
I had some type of flu last year, and I thought I was going to die....I can really see how things can turn bad very quickly with this virus.  If you're susceptible to the flu anyway, I would get it.
Stay well (-: