to consider not immunizing ds against swine 'flu?

[deliakate]

And can we do a poll - who is and who isn't and what are the ages of your dcs?

I'm not anti-vax, by any stretch.

But I can certainly make my own mind up.

Dd is 4 and won't be having it. I'm pro-vaccine generally but have decided that the risks don't njustify the jab in this case.

Sassybeast - did you read the comments following that article?

Sassy, no they aren't high risk, but I wouldn't give it anyway, for various reasons.

I have a 3yo and 5yo.

Obviously only the 3yo will be offered it.

I have asked two friends who are GPs, mid-thirties with same age (or younger) children themselves. Both of the GP's said their children will definitely be getting vaccinated.

Which made me think very seriously as I value their opinions highly.

So DD2 will be getting done as soon as she is well enough.

Yama-I haven't read it for a while as mine were done a whila ago but it was a good starting point for me. Wasn't a decision we made lightly by any means - I cancelled the first appointments and then re made them but I feel now as if we made the right decision at the time.

Up and running - thanks. I have older kids who don't fall intio the risk groups so hadn't really thought much about it for them.

3 girls, 4.1, 2.5, 0.9. All will be jabbed asap.

Am not a vaxer. We are "high risk" for other things due to our situation but I've held pretty firm.

Son coming up for 3, I am pregnant, and DH has asthma. Technically all of us in high risk groups - but only DH has been invited to have the jab. Although he is registered with a different GP surgery, I am a bit that me & DS haven't been invited, as it makes me think the doctors don't actually believe it to be so critical - otherwise we would have been specifically called in, no?

Anyway, personal research makes me feel on balance that I am not going to do it.

Like Fanjolina, I asked BIL and friend's DH who are both GPs. They are both doing their kids, and one mentioned that a child from his practice had been in intensive care with swine flu.

That was good enough for me. DD (2) was done last Friday- the first available appointment, and had no side effects. I can't say I didn't wobble on the way in, but I have to trust the professionals on this one.

well only 22 % of nhs staff have had the vaccine in our area which speaks volumes to me !!

OCD have you got a source for that ? It's an interesting one as I know the uptake amongst colleagues has been really high (not sure of the exact numbers, it's just aneecdotal )

I will be getting dd3 done (2.9) I'm also enquiring about 9 year old dd2 (CHD). I have to say I was a bit doubtful about the need - until a friend of my in-laws caught swine flu. He was in ICU for two months, put on ECMO (500 miles away from home) and is only now coming round. He can only eat soft foods at the moment, was on dialysis (kidneys ok now), has no muscle strength. Hopefully he will fully recover but it will take at least a year I think. He was absolutely healthy before the swine flu. It knocked out his lungs in a truly horrifying manner. I've had the vaccine myself (NHS) and am quite happy for them to have it.

23mo and 3.9 yo. Not going to have the vaccine.

(My GP doesn't have stock of it anyway yet).

Sassybeat, i do indeed have a source

www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/news/NHS-staff-refusing-vaccine/article-1759296-detail/arti cle.html

never done a link on here before so i'm hoping it has worked

ooops, try again

www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/news/NHS-staff-refusing-vaccine/article-1759296-detail/article.html

OCD - have you actually read your source? It's 22% of North Lincs and Goole only. It actually mentions national take up being over 50%!!! Local take up will have been influenced by the times that the vaccine was offered, the location and of course the staff who were offered it. In our Trust it's been front line only up till last week. So the percentage of total staff wasn't that high but the percentage of those eligible at first actually having it was high. Iyswim?

"there's a lot of misinformation and hearsay out there. Where have we all got our info ( and formed our ideas from? the telly and the newspapers at thestart
-who have scared everyone IMO."

And of course the info re swine flu and its perceived risks have been aquired from reputable sources? oh no that was the media too.

I have a 7 yo and he will not be having the vaccination. Apart from the potential for the vaccine not being tested, my view is that given I wouldn't vaccinate against seasonal flu, I see no reason to vaccinate against swine flu.

Normal healthy people die of seasonal flu too. Yet we don't see this panic to have everyone vaccinated.

Also it's recently been claimed that only 10% of children who have had swine flu have displayed any symptoms at all, so it's possible people could be rushing out to vaccinate children who have already had sf and who therefore don't need vaccinating.

My DS is very enarly 2 and hasn't had it.

My reasons were that the vaccination scheme just seemed very rushed-through and I couldn't find enough independent information about it.

FWIW, my two children have both had ALL the other vaccination offered, including MMR. Something just held me back on this one though.

Dd2(3) and dd3 (7 months ) had it fine two weeks ago. No side effects.

Am glad I've had them done.

Wannbe - there is a substantial campaign every year to get those in the most vulnerable groups vaccinated against seasonal flu. The swine flu thing certainly did feature some media hysteria - but that doesn't mean it isn't a dangerous illness. The near tragedy we have seen in our circle has shown us that. I think that does change your perspective. I always thought it was safe - thats why I had it. Now I think it's needed too.

Don't base your decision people on a conviction that there won't be a third wave. All viruses are tough - this one may well be back. Personally i don't think it will be bad but i'm not prepared to let my vulnerable youngsters run that risk.

The Cub had his and he's fine, he was a very brave boy and hardly cried at all.

DaddyOTOHWasAMessTiggaxx

DS just turned 2 had it last week. He didn't cry and have a absolutely no side effects.

We are being offered them for free when the NHS clearly feels there is a need for them. I wouldn not risk a young child getting swine flu, it's as irresponsible as not giving them the MMR

I don't understand people's totaly reluctance to help themselves. The NHS wouldn't pay for millions of totally useless vaccines would it?