Hi! I'm hoping for a little help here. I have a dd17 that goes to a boarding high school. In the next couple weeks they are going to be vaxing most of the students (pop 400 but not all residential). I was reading the debate about shedding from the H1N1 and it has me concerned as her school listed the nasal spray as an option. I did not plan to have her vaccinated as we've never gotten flu shots or contracted the flu; but will her not getting the shot put her at more risk to get the flu if the rest of the girls in the dorm get the nasal spray??? She wouldn't get the nasal spray as she has slight asmatha (uses inhaler for gym/sports only). I'm not sure if her roommate will be getting the vac or not; many of the dorm students are international and I believe the school strongly pushes for them (possibly requires) to get vaccinated. Thanks for your opinions!
I would not worry about it. The shedded virus is supposed to be attenuated. If your daughter is healthy and has a normal immune system it is extremely unlikely to be serious. The virus itself is mild in the great majority of people. The concern with shedding (imo) is with immune deficient individuals. Did you read the link about the seasonal vaccine making it 3 times more likely for an asthmatic person to be hospitalized? http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090519172045.htm The H1N1 vaccine is produced in the same manner as the seasonal vaccine, it is monovalent though instead of trivalent like the seasonal.
The debate was more about the fact that it occurs, not that it is dangerous to the majority of people that it is shedded onto.
I just got my test results back today and was confirmed H1N1 flu.. i am a severe asthmatic as well, and strangely enough, it didnt' really make my asthma any worse... just lots of coughing and my lungs were really sore for about 4 days, but i was vigilant in using my inhalers, and took extra squirts of it, and went to the dr as soon as i suspected anything. I actually felt worse when i had bronchitis in july. My 3 unvaxed kids all came thru it well too..only had the fever and aches for a couple days, and tired, and all bounced back within the week. I really didn't give them the med the dr prescribed because it made them sick to their stomach. They all got the standard care when ill..forcing fluids, ibuprofen for uncomfortable aches, and lots of rest. And proper nutrition too. I still cant help but wonder if this flu affects fully vaxed kids totally different than totally unvaxed kids. The kids dr was telling me of how horrible it is in some kids to where he had to hospitalize them.
You may want to review the morbidity figures on H1N1 at the CDC site. If you do not vaccinate, please make sure she practices excellent universal precautions! This illness can have a severe effect on young people, unlike traditional seasonal flu.
