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?

Funnily enough I booked DS vaccine this morning after couple of weeks of ignoring letter and dithering. It's in two weeks time but I'm still not sure I will go through with it. I just feel that I don't know enough, and the problem is I don't know where to start getting balanced, independent advice.

I had swine flu, was very ill, ended up with pneumonia and lung problems for two months afterwards. I have no underlying health problems and am not pregnant. The idea of the kids going through that terrifies me, but so does idea of giving them something I know nothing about except what have read in papers.

I have had the jab, it was fine not a thing wrong, 17 yrs dd1 had the jab,dd2 who is 11 has not had the jab - but has had swine flu

it was horrid so would much prefer the jab that be sick

Wannabe - you said 'there is a difference though between vaccinating people who are in a vulnerable category (ie who have underlying health problems) and vaccinating an entire population.' - yes there is, but the current wave of vaccination is not for the entire population - it's for the under fives because swine flu has had more serious effects on that part of the population than others.

I'm really torn on this. DD1 (9) hasn't had the vaccine, nor been offered, and has recently been diagnosed as asthmatic so just don't know wether to push for her to have it or not, reason being is DD2 (2) had it when it first started and was poorly for a couple of days, took tamiflu and recovered very quickly. I then got it and was knocked sideways with it for 6 weeks, literally could not do a thing for the first 2, then had a chest infection that lasted another 4 and I am a healthy 37 yr old female with no underlying health issues, have never smoked (so would expect my lungs to be in pretty good condition!).

This parenting malarkey is a minefield!

Both girls have had all other vaccines so not sure why I'm so undecided about this one!

Northernlurker, yes i have read it and my first post states "in my area"

i'm still undecided on whether ds will have it or not but as i haven't had anything through from my gp yet i don't need to decide now

I think the fact that my doctor is adamant that she is not getting her 3yr old twins vaccinated was also a factor in my decision.

17 months, already done

Whether you choose to have yours vaccinated is none of my business

Just had DD 3.6 vaccinated today. I had vaccine at 16 weeks pregnant. No brainer for me - cannot face guilt I would feel if I did not get DD covered and she was ill (or died). I had sore arm and headache. DD c/o sore arm but playing happily.

Mine had it at 3 and 4, DH had it too. I'm not eligible, but anyway I had swine flu in the autumn and it took me months to get over.

I feel so lucky to have two healthy children and that I have a responsibility to non-vaccinable children to minimise the chance of my children making them ill.

Just had letter from doctors inviting my Ds 2.3 years to go. I am going with my gut feeling and not having it done - luckily my DH is happy to go with my decision.

I had a letter from the GP too inviting my 22mo old. After much thought - we decided not to go ahead.

I've had the invitation to vaccinate my two year old daughter and she is not having it, its not been researched enough for my liking, personal choice though?

Mine will be having it

I used to have a flu jab every winter

never did me any harm

is there evidence of any harm the vaccien couses?

My 2.6yo DS had it last week. My 4yo nephew had swine flu before Christmas and was very very ill in hospital - he's an otherwise perfectly healthy boy.

My DS has never had any sort of flu before, so I've no idea how well/badly he would cope with it.

LOL at the idea of 'hard core jabbers' Leonie. A bit hysterical, no?

My head hurts.

What to do, what to do?

I have personally spoken to two people on a neurology ward who had Guillain Barre Syndrome.
doctors have agreed most likey caused by the swine flue injection.

But I want my youngest,and the others to be protected.

Gah

Both my DSs have had it. DS1 is 3.9 and DS2 is 11 months.

They were both a bit off colour a few days later (DS1's glands were up and DS2 got a bit of a rash) but other than that they were fine.

My thinking was thus:
If I give them the vaccination then years later there are side effects, then that is not my fault and I took the best available medical advice at the time. I could live with that.

If, however, either of them contracted swine flu and ended up in intensive care or, god forbid, died, then I wouldn't be able to live with the decision I had made not to vaccinate them.

But every body feels differently and I don't necessarily think it's irresponsible not to have it if you don't want it.

DS 16mths yes I have let him have the vaccine and so has everyone else I know.

DD2 who is nearly 5 has not had the jab.She has had every other vax going,but I just don't feel happy about this one-it has been rushed out and after listening to a Dr who specialized in communicable diseases being interviewed and him saying that very few of the frontline staff in his hospital [Coventry I think] had taken it up,made me a little cautious.I've spoken to a few parents who feel the same way.

I'm genuinely curious as to what people think the "long term effects" of this particular flu vaccine might be? I'm also wondering if people had the same gut feelings about the new(ish) vaccine for pneumococcal disease?

My DS is nearly six months old and Im hoping to get a letter through soon, he will be having the vaccination.

I go with what the Department of Health recommends.

We have all been vaccinated. I want to protect my own children and others!

Gaelicsheep, I've spoken to two people on the same ward, over the same time period, who were both on ITU for an extended period before being moved to a Neurology unit. Both were very, very ill. They have both been told they will have long term problems as a result. They were unlucky.

And I only came across them because my mother was ill with a totally unrelated condition.

I would probably have vaccinated without too much heartache.

But I can't now.

Which makes my decision to vaccinate/not vaccinate harder, because I have always vaccinated.

I have always researched and felt ok with our choices. Now, faced with the potential problems I am unsure.

I don't know what to do either. Letter arrived this morning for DS (18 months). We don't know what the long term effects are and the vaccine could make him ill in the short term but if he caught SF and was very ill or died I would never forgive myself.
My SIL is a nurse and is 20 weeks pg and her OH is a surgeon and they haven't had it and won't be. They don't feel it's been tested enough and don't know about the long term effects.

DS 2.2yr old myself 32 weeks pregnant. both had invites both NOT being vaccinated.