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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to keep my child in so she doesnt catch flu?

23 replies

thenightwalker · 17/01/2011 00:18

My daughter is almost two and hasnt been vaccinated for swine flu. I was offered it last year but cant get it now as its not offered to healthy children (as im sure u all know)

Has anyone had a child who has definately had swine flu and has been fine?

Am i worrying too much?

Is there any way i can get her the vacine? and would you?

Thanks

OP posts:

anonymosity · 17/01/2011 00:27

You can get her the vaccine if you go to a private clinic. Basuto clinic in Fulham (Basuto road) does all vaccinations required for overseas travel etc. There is also one between Oxford and Regent streets.

We had swine flu in July 2009. This year we've had the jabs.

You can't keep her in indefinitely, that's not healthy either (though I do understand the impulse...)

hester · 17/01/2011 00:28

How long are you intending to keep her in? For ever?

Neither of my children has had swine flu, neither has been vaccinated. It didn't occur to me to keep them in. Which is not to say there's no worry, but most children survive swine flu just fine, and it seems to me just one of many risks we are forced to face every day.

I think it may be worth talking to your GP or HV so you can get some perspective on the risks, and so put your mind at rest. Sorry, I do think you are worrying a bit too much.

WilheminaAteHer · 17/01/2011 00:28

Many people get it but show few or no symptoms. Some get it with mild symptoms, some severe. Very, very, very few end up hospitalised.

This is based on research amongst a group of children.

It's highly unlikely that your DD will end up horribly ill even if she does catch it.

DurhamDurham · 17/01/2011 00:29

Keeping her in isn't v practical, how long would/could you do that for? The thing about the news is we only here about those poor children who die from swine flu, not the countless who had it and made a complete recovery. To minimise the risk 100% you'd have to put her in isolation. Nobody comes in to the house and nobody leaves. Imagine how bored and unhappy she would be then.
Just live your life as you normally would.

MadamDeathstare · 17/01/2011 01:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Deciduousblonde · 17/01/2011 01:19

As has been said, only people with underlying health problems need worry.

If your daughter caught swine flu (which is actually not much different from any other flu)she would probably be fine.

Keeping her indoors, however, is not going to do her immune system any good whatsoever. I wouldn't worry, but if you really feel it's needed then get the vaccine privately.

WilheminaAteHer · 17/01/2011 21:42

"The thing about the news is we only here about those poor children who die from swine flu, not the countless who had it and made a complete recovery." Exactly, Durham. The news is heavily, heavily biased in favour of sensation and what's going to draw an audience. You can never get an accurate picture from these kinds of reports.

Kewcumber · 17/01/2011 21:44

my son (and I) had swine flu last year he worse than me but he was fine afetr a nasty illness lasting about a week. It was like a combination of flu and stomach upset. Like the otehr I don;t get that you can keep her in forever.

RJRabbit · 17/01/2011 21:50

OP, £15-20 is a small price to pay for peace of mind. Have her vaccinated privately if you're worried.

TheUnmentioned · 17/01/2011 21:53

ds had influenza a (not h1n1)-we had been stuck in for weeks pretty much with dh only just managing in to work - he brought it home, we all got it.

You cant live in a bubble.

TheUnmentioned · 17/01/2011 21:54

we were stuck in due to snow.

Sirzy · 17/01/2011 21:54

There are always going to be risks to health for children and adults, you can't hide away from everything or you would go mad! Unfortunately you can't protect children from everything in life.

As others have said the chances of her getting it seriously enough to be a problem are very very slim, the chances of her getting it at all are slim.

slartybartfast · 17/01/2011 21:55

but the vaccine is not 100%.
all the same, you can't keep her in. it is impractical and unhealthy

BluddyMoFo · 17/01/2011 21:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Piffle · 17/01/2011 22:02

My 8 yr old dd had swine flu last year, was admitted but was ok
This year she got pnemonia and needed breathing assistance and IV but although it took ages she is better now

Bluebell99 · 18/01/2011 16:51

RJRabbit - it is pretty difficult to find somewhere to get a child vaccinated as Boots and Bupa and pharmancies won't vacinate under 18's or under 16's. I recently contacted a private GP that offers swine flu jabs and he wanted £160 to vaccinate my two children. He emailed me again last week and the price has gone up to £200. I am horrified that a medical practice would make money out of people's fears like this.

kepler10b · 18/01/2011 16:58

YABU. there are plenty of risks out there in the world you can't protect your daughter from all of them. you are causing more harm than good by keeping her in. would you avoid going in a car because there might be a crash? avoid eating because you might choke? avoid walking outside because you might get attacked.

the risk from swine flu is still very tiny. also what would you do if you caught it? you wouldn't know at first so you easily pass it on to your child. are you going to avoid all human contact too?

they have a saying in my OH's country that goes something along the lines of "they love their children so much they will break their legs to stop them going outside and hurting themselves". being wrapped in cotton wool carries a high risk of suffocation.

Lamorna · 18/01/2011 17:12

It is impossible to guard against everything so just live life as normal.

SantosLHalper · 18/01/2011 17:22

Whilst I understand your worries you can't protect her from every germ. Children need to catch things to develop an immune system.

tholeon · 18/01/2011 18:15

I do understand your fears. My son was in intensive care last year (not because of swine flu!) and I'm keeping him away from toddler groups etc at the moment - more because of the thought of wanting to keep him away from the stretched hospital system at the moment than anything else.

However I've just read on another thread that apparently only about 1% of the population caught swine flu during the last outbreak, of which something like 0.026% died - which puts things in perspective a bit. The info came from the NHS choices website. Most of those who died were in high risk groups, and hadn't been given antivirals on first becoming ill. It was before they had a vaccine available.

RJRabbit · 19/01/2011 10:25

Bluebell, there are plenty of private places not trying to cash in on this - I got my son vaccinated last week for £20 at one of three local places I found. But maybe that's because I'm in London and there's more around?

SkyBluePearl · 19/01/2011 11:06

My daughter had swine flu and was fine. I was really ill though!

SkyBluePearl · 19/01/2011 11:07

ps)really glad we have both had it now.

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