Posts: 8,628
10/20/09 7:18 A

Whether or not we decide to vaccinate ourselves and our family members for H1N1, we do need to be prepared for it to hit. The experts anticipate that 30-40% of the students and employees at the college where I work will be hit. Although the flu symptoms seem to be milder than anticipated, its still possible that my workplace and my family will struggle to function if multiple people are down at the same time. I'm aware of three colleagues' families in which the majority of the members are sick in bed right now, with one person holding down the fort. Thank goodness that one person is a grownup; what if Mom and Dad were both sick? Are you prepared with a back-up plan to keep critical functions going at work and at home? I blogged about this last week. www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_
individual.asp?blog_id=2476397

As for the shot, after much thought I've decided to get the H1N1 and then the seasonal flu shot. I've never had a flu shot, but my asthma was the worst ever this year and I know the complications of the flu could be far worse than complications of the shot.

...Pam

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Posts: 737
10/19/09 11:30 P

My 2 boys have horrible asthma and I recently had a horrible 3 week long episode after 9 years of being episode free. I am very confused on getting it. Of course, my allergist and pediatrician recommends it for all 3 of us since we are in the high risk category...but then I read all the cons of it and wonder if it is worth it. I am torn!! I definitely think that the H1N1 thing is blown WAY out of proportion. Other strains of the flu kill more than that one does. I dunno. I am a delayed vaccination person anyway (we follow a different schedule than the norm) so I just don't know what to do.

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10/2/09 10:40 P

My daughter and I are both high-risk so we must get the flu and pneumonia shots. I have diabetes, hypertension, asthma, allergies, she has the two latter. SHe is in the age group for the swine flu shot too..
SInce flu is only respiratory, and the shot was never a guarantee to prevent any flu, just to lessen the symptoms, theya re lifesavers for us. As it was last spring, I ended up with asthmatic bronchitis, flu, pneumonia, but I would have been in ICU without the shot..
also, since the flu viruses are already dead viruses, it is virtually impossible to "catch" flu from the injection... like getting a shot of koolaid,,
each person is different, BUT I have consulted three pharmacists and two doctors to determine the best timing fo rthe injections.. They all concurred that the later ou get it, the more effective.. everyone that got them early last year, were more severely ill,, like me,, so I am waiting until they give the go-ahead..
I will take airborne until then..

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9/4/09 8:34 A

there has been a lot of decussion on it over here in germany at the moment and acording to a poll of the people who are entitled to get the H1N1 for free only 30%of them will be actually taking the goverment up on the opputunity.i wont be having it but i am still undecided for my eldest son who will be most at risk because of all of his other health problems if he caught the decease full blown so to speak.

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9/4/09 7:51 A

Last year I got the flu shot for being pregnant and ended up getting a mild case of it which I never have before. I used to take them then quit but last year due to my pregnancy they requested me to get one. I am really leaning against it this year and just making sure I wash hands more. I too am afraid of this H1N1 shot as well and think I will opt out for both me and my kids.

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9/4/09 1:28 A

I for gotto get the flu shot this year but i get the flu weather i have the shot or not.

Posts: 8,628
9/3/09 4:42 P

What about the H1N1 shot? It will not be the same as the usual, annual flu shot, will it? They are two separate vaccinations, right?

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9/3/09 3:27 P

i am allergic to the flu jab so haven´t had them since i was young but from what my dr said as well as research they are not much help anyway.the flu jab is made up from the flu strain of the previous year and as it is very rarely that the exactly the same flu strain is there the next year it never gives 100% protection anyway.talk other it once more with your dr,find out if you really need them both or would the one surfice.tell him your concernsand ask him would he give his kids the same treatment he is recomending for you.that is usually a sure way of seeing if it is really nessacary or not.

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9/3/09 12:54 P

Personally, I gave up on flu shots entirely about 5-6 years ago and have found I actually get the flu much less often than I used to (every few years, if at all, instead of yearly). I stopped because I'd begun noticing a rather disturbing pattern: the years I got the flu shot, I seemed to inevitably get really sick (and all too often it was within a week or so of getting the shot)... the years I didn't get the shot, I often didn't get sick at all.

Once that pattern became apparent, I decided I'd rather just eat healthy, get plenty of rest, take my vitamins and medications and take my chances. Having a 50/50 chance of getting the flu via interperson contact seemed much better odds than 100% getting it simply because I'd gotten the shot (and I take the bus to/from work everyday, and work in an office with lots of parents of young kids, so my exposure risk is pretty high).

But everybody (and every body) is different. One persons cure is another's poison, etc. If you are worried about the side effects from the swine flu shot (a very valid concern/fear, imho!), I'd say skip it and get your regular flu booster instead. Perhaps also start tracking to see how you do illness-wise in the years you get the shot versus years in which you don't and make a decision from there in future. After all, getting the flu shot isn't a 100% given in terms of protection anyways... they can only roughly guess at what variants are going to be most active in any given flu cycle and they often get it wrong.

Just a thought.

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9/3/09 12:31 P

I have never had a flu shot, but after a terrible year with asthma, I'm thinking I should. I need more information.

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9/3/09 11:49 A

Have you been offered the new swine flu jab my doctor has recommended it for me it is 2 injections and then he said I should still have my normal yearly flu jab as well, I am confused because on the news a few weeks ago it said you are protected if you have a normal flu jab every year , and it has been saying there are side effects from the swine flu jabs . I don't know what to do the jabs won't be ready until October

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