Non-Vaccine Support

Hi everyone! My name is Julie & I have to daughters, Luciana who's almost 4 & Carolina my 10 month old. As of right now I'm on the fence about giving tis shot to my girls, especially so to my 10 month old. Backtrack to Carolina's birth, my 10 month old. She was intubated for 7 weeks following her birth. She aspirated meconium, had pulmonary hypertension, & somehow on top of all that managed to develop pneumonitis as well. Needless to say, she was very, VERY sick; literally on the verge of dying. Her lung x-rays looked horrid all throughout her stay at the NICU. Se had multiple chest tubes due to pneumothoraces (sp?) & b/c of the amount of time she was on a ventilator she was diagnosed with chronic lung disease upon leaving the hospital. Now I find mself literally freaking out b/c I'm deathly afraid that she'll catch either the swine flu or the seasonal flu. Given the length of time she was intubated & the fact that we almost lost her on several occasions, I'd say she's doing remarkably well at this time. Knocking on wood here, she hasn't been sick since she left the hospital, & that's nearing 8 months now. We've all had colds at some point or another but she's managed to have dodged them. This might also have something to do with the fact that she was receiving a monthly synagis shot up until last month, though. A couple of weeks ago she ran a fever for a couple of days & I thought the worse but it turned out to be roseola. I'm scared to death though as to how she'd be able to handle the common cold, let alone the swine flu or seasonal flu.

Some more background: Big sister is not in preschool, although we do attend a lot of playdates where many of the kids do attend school, & Carolina comes with us. She is breastfed, although she does eat table foods as well. I was actually wanting to postpone the intro to solid foods but she had other plans, haha. She LOVES to eat & feed herself so at one point or another I was forced to give in! However, she was solely breastfed ever since she's been in the hospital. I was fotunate to be able to keep up my supply while she was in the hospital with a little help from my 3 y/o :) Hmmm, I'm not sure what else would be relevan to tell.

Like I said, I'm freaking out. WHile she was in the hopsital I saw a few cases of the flu wherein the kids were not doing well at all. Of course, I don't know much else about them except that they were pretty sick. I guess I'm just afraid that if she catches either of these she'd end up in the hospital. I'm actually deathly afraid of her being in the hospital again, period. I don't think I'd be able to handle that as it's bad enough I've been having panic attacks lately. We live to Disney World at the end of the month to celebrate my 3 y/o's b-day & I'm thinking I need to vax her before then.

Do any of you have any feedback, input, words of wisdom as to why I should or should not vax my 10 month old? How effective are both of these vaxes?And if I do decide to do so, should I have my 3 y/o & myself vaxed? Thank you all SO much in advance for any info you  may have for me!

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The seasonal flu vaccine has been shown to be no more effective than a placebo in children under 2 according to this: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/333/7574/912.pdf

http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab004879.html

The H1N1 vaccine is made the same way.

I can't tell you what to do, the prospect of complications is scary but the vaccine is not effective, contrary to media's opinion. 

I also thought I would add that the h1n1 vaccines have not been tested for efficacy, effectiveness, or safety in children.  http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182401.pdf (page 8)

 http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182242.pdf (page 2)

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182404.pdf (page 7) this vaccine was studied in 19 children between 6-23 months, that is not in anyway a large enough sample to tell you anything.

More reading:

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200911/brownlee-h1n1

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-ullman/the-questionable-efficacy_b_311621.html

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090519172045.htm

I would definitely want in hand a copy of the studies done in children with similar health histories as your child(ren) before deciding to give this vax or not, studies showing the safety and effectiveness of this vaccine in children with similar health histories.

In my case, we are not vaccinating our "high risk" child, he's 10 yrs old and has one lung.   The RSV shots were recommended for him when he was an infant but I declined those as well.

This vaccine is brand new and I would proceed with great caution.

Christine

Hello! I too, am torn.. i always post about being torn on what to do as well-LOL

I have one son who is 12 months, and he is currently on a alternative/delayed vax schedule. He has not gotten a regular flu shot, or H1N1 shot. I don't think he will be getting any of them. I never got a flu shot as a child, or did my DH- and we are fine.

Last yr, and THIS yr, my DH and I both got the regular flu shot hoping to prevent US from getting sick, therefore hoping not to get Hunter sick.

I stay at home w/ him, and DH works out of the house.. we rarely go on playdates, and prob. won't until Jan, or atleast the flu season is on the decline.

I clean/disinfect our home regularly, and wash, wash, WASH our hand very frequently. I keep hand sani in the car for when getting back from the store or whereever.

I try to be positive and hope for the best that we will survive just fine :)))

Try NOT to read the news stories about H1N1, they are there to 'scare' you into getting vaccinated.

JMO

Hunter Rockwell

10/12/08 @ 5:39   p.m.

8 lbs 2 oz--21 1/2 inches

The love of my life!!!!!!!!