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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be dubious about the swine flu jab?

64 replies

wolfear · 13/12/2009 17:41

I'm supposed to be taking DS (2.5) for the jab tomorrow but have some niggling doubts. He's had some problems with his chest since he was a baby and in one of the higher risk groups. If he didn't have these probs, I don't think I'd consider letting him have it.

What's praying on my mind is the fact that they haven't been able to test for any long-term side effects. DH feels that in DS's case, the pros far outweigh the cons.

Thoughts please? Need to make up our minds before tomorrow...

OP posts:
Thingiebob · 13/12/2009 18:46

2.5 Year old nephew had it the other day due to having asthma and is fine apart from a sore arm which made him miserable for a bit.

pooter · 13/12/2009 18:48

Im pregnant, asthmatic and have recently had the swine flu jab. Yes my arm has swollen up and is painful, yes Im a bit concerned about exposing my unborn child to mercury, but on the whole, i am more worried about the effect that swine flu could have.

My brother worked with someone who died from swine flu at the beginning of the whole thing, he was a healthy adult in his early thirties. I know how scary my asthma becomes if i get ill and i owe it to my toddler and unborn child to minimise the risk of my death - to me that means getting vaccinated. I see it as being similar to getting the seasonal flu jab.

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 13/12/2009 18:49

My dd and I had the vaccine - she has asthma and although I'm not hugely pro-vaccine (havent done MMR for example) and I felt that we were getting something untried, I decided I would rather take what seemed to me to be the small risk of a vaccine than the higher risk of swine flu.

I still believe I made the right decision - she had a sore arm briefly and was fine, whilst I felt terrible the next day and my arm was sore/hot for the next month. But I'd rather that than swine flu.

Hope it helps.

AuntieMaggie · 13/12/2009 18:54

I've had both flu vaccines. I would be a bit suspicious about people having time off work for it as the nurse said that thy hadn't had any reactions. I've still got a sore arm but thats about it and if it means I don't end up seriously ill it's worth it.

All the evidence supports the theory that a second wave is expected of SF and that it could be far more serious.

lazyemma · 13/12/2009 19:02

"...which is imho far too new, with unknown long-term effects and, perhaps most importantly, is a live vaccine.

Even the briefest glance at the wealth of information available online about the vaccine would have told you that this is wrong, it is not a live vaccine, it is made from an inert protein from the H1N1 virus rather than the whole thing.

It's everyone's decision to make for themselves really, but I think people have a responsibility to arm themselves with as much accurate info as they can, especially when it's not just their own health but their children's health in question. I'll be having the vaccine (I'm pregnant) and my 2 1/2 year old will be too. She was admitted to hospital last year with breathing problems after a mere cold so I'm not taking any chances. In making my decision, I'm balancing the known serious risks of H1N1 in the under 5's and pregnant women, versus the unknown risks of this particular vaccine, combined with the knowledge that many hundreds of thousands of pregnant women and children can and do receive the seasonal flu vaccine every year with no ill-effects.

lazyemma · 13/12/2009 19:04

oh, and I think the reason the march didn't attract more publicity is that there were only about 80 people there. Really - if there was any mileage in trying to shit us all up as much as possible, I'm sure our lovely media would have grasped the story with both hands, so I really doubt there's any sort of "suppress stories about people worried about the vaccine" conspiracy going on here.

Vallhala · 13/12/2009 19:08

Biggirlsdontcry, you're right, the SF jab isn't a live vaccine, sorry. I've been doing a lot of reading up on all manner of vaccinations recently and its clearly addled my brain. I still wouldn't touch it, but then as I said, I wouldn't touch any vaccination.

Many apologies for my mistake.

biggirlsdontcry · 13/12/2009 19:20

i must admit though vallhala i agonised for weeks weather to get the dc's vaccinated or not , glad that its done now though

lou33 · 13/12/2009 19:26

noddy , same here, no probs with other one, this one is really tender still

MaggieAnFiaRua · 13/12/2009 19:35

it's not live, it's attenuated

secretgardin · 13/12/2009 19:37

dd and i had ours the other day. she was absolutely fine, but my arm was quite swolen and sore for a couple of days (felt like someone punched it really hard), but fine now. dd has asthma badly, so i didn't think twice about her getting one. ds and dh will be going for theirs as well.

Original poster
wolfear · 13/12/2009 20:01

I love mumsnet!!!

Thanks all for the responses. DS has been diagnosed with a viral-induced wheeze and gets admitted to hospital almost everytime he gets any kind of virus (7 times in the last 18 months). After reading many of your stories, this is a no-brainer really. We'll be going in tomorrow.

OP posts:
Original poster
wolfear · 13/12/2009 20:02

How long does it last BTW?

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Undercovasanta · 13/12/2009 20:10

Just wondered whether the people who have already had the jab got a letter from the doctors about it, inviting you to have it?
I have obviously read that its available for under 5s but don't know if the GP/HV will contact us or if we have to contact them?

biggirlsdontcry · 13/12/2009 20:12

wolfear good luck

undercovaasanta i had to ring them to make the appointment as i wanted all three of us to have it done together ,

Original poster
wolfear · 13/12/2009 20:13

I got a letter offering it to both DSs (under 5s), but not me.

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doobry · 13/12/2009 20:17

Try reading this from the New Scientist and look at the pie charts at the bottom of this page from the BBC

OhChristmasTEEOhChristmasTEE · 13/12/2009 20:40

Someone has probably already said this, but I am too tired to read the thread.

The H1N1 jab is the regular flu jab adjusted for H1N1. Next year the seasonal flu jab will probably have H1N1 in it.

Every year the flu jab changes, depending on the flu that is in the 'air'.

Get your child the jab.

jaggythistle · 13/12/2009 23:14

Beat me to it OhChristmasTee.

I blame the media for perpetuating the "untested vaccine rushed through" story'

MillyR · 14/12/2009 10:59

I had the jab on Friday; I have not been ill.

noddyholder · 14/12/2009 12:01

I have been very achey since I had it and tired too.Anyone else?

MillyR · 14/12/2009 12:13

I was told by the nurse that there was a high chance of getting aches and feeling tired from it.

LeninGrotto · 14/12/2009 12:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
wolfear · 14/12/2009 12:42

Yes Lenin, but they're reluctant to formally diagnose asthma before a child is 4 apparently! We've seen three different consultants and have just had another referral to yet another paediatrician. He doesn't get puffed out or wheezey at all when he's active, it's only if he gets near something he's allergic to, like dogs and cats, or when he gets a virus. We keeping getting the 'he'll grow out of it' line.

Anyway, he had the jab three hours ago and appears to be fine. He cried, but the nurse was so brilliant - he called santa to speak to DS and told him how brave he'd been. That put the smile back on his face. He seems absolutely fine and I feel like I've done the right thing.

OP posts:
LeninGrotto · 14/12/2009 12:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.