swine flu situation for under 5s worrying me BUT NO vaccine available for them.

[waitingwaiting]

Hi
I've got a one year old and a 3 year old. 3 year old going back to Nursery School tomorrow. I must admit that I am very worried about the swine flu situation for the under 5s.

According to the Daily Mirror (30th Jan)the Swine flu is at epidemic levels for children aged 1-5 and paedriatric hospitals are close to 'not coping' - and the Telegraph (31 dec) also reports the same - Critically ill include 42 children under 5 and flu levels have doubled with that age group.

Okay, I guess parents have very differing views on this but I must say that I am rather concerned...

I've tried absolutely loads of avenues to see if I can get the vaccine for my under 3 year old with No success what so ever.

Boots/supermarkets etc wont give it, they will however dispense it under prescription for GP to adminster But my GP wont do a prescription. Bupa wont do it. In fact everywhere I try wont.

All I want to do is try to protect my family but just dont know how. The flu jabs have traditionally been offered for the elderly as thats the age the flu has affected before, however now we have a different strain of flu which does target the young however no one seems to want to protect the young and offer the vaccine.

It was offered to pregnant women last year and in turn protected the unborn baby, which I had, however now my baby is one years old, its as if its no longer important as no one will be prepared to protect her from the flu, despite the fact that she could be very poorly if she had it. Is it worth risking even one childs life? no. I dont think so.

Anyway, I'm rambling on a bit here, point is I want to protect my children and get them vaccinated but just cant. Anyone else in the same situation? and how do you feel about it? Why is it that all adults can easily get protected, yet children cant?

Many thanks

Nicola

in that report one gp says that pregnant women were not initially included in the campaign. This is factually incorrect.

See The influenza immunisation programme 2010/2011

Note it says: "The national policy for seasonal influenza vaccine remains the same except for the inclusion of pregnant women who are not in a clinical at risk group and have not previously received the H1N1 swine influenza vaccine." This is dated 23rd June but if you look at this page you can infer that this advice was issued on the 28th May.

Right, Doctor Hillary on Lorraine just said not to worry, it's just flu but also that we should go to a high street pharmacy, get the vaccine prescribed and then take it to the doctor to administer. Errr - is this the official advice then?? To echo everyone else - what a mess!

Sorry, I meant is this now the official advice for otherwise healthy under-fives?

If anyone is from Aberdeen there is a pharmacy that immunises children and he is very good so if you would like details, give me a message.

For anyone who lives near Harrow - Harrow Health care centre(a private gp) does it for £25 for adults and children over 1.

I would just want to try and offer some reassurance in the media frenzy over this. I discussed it with my DS neonatologist yesterday. My DS was 11 weeks prem, and is probably going to be asthmatic (when he's old enough to diagnose) however she advised that he was not at increased risk and that she didn't believe that he needed or should be given the flu vaccine even though he may be considered a high risk as in relaity the risk was very low.

That's good enough for me, and personally I would rather the NHS concentrated resources on other vaccines which have more proven health benefits, but which they don't prescribe due to cost (For example RSV which he would previously have qualified for, but now doesn't due entirely to cost)

For those of you who live in or within reach of London the Medicentre at Victoria station is offering flu jabs to children over 1 for £20. I am taking my 4 year old to get the vaccine on Saturday.

I have just booked my two sons aged 8 and 11 in at a private clinic in the Midlands costing £50 each. I cannot get an appointment with a GP for a precription to get the vacine. Then wait for another appointment to have it done. When I called in at the surgery they were very off with me (always are)about this. I had mine done in October in tesco dh had his at the surgery.

hildathebuilder, I hear you on the RSV vaccine. I wish they'd fund that too - dd2 nearly died at 4 weeks.

Very patchy advice going on: our surgery was on the ball about vaccinating my dds (mild asthma in one, laryngomalacia in the other) back in October. BUT I've just met a mum at school who is 31 weeks pg, and had swine flu over Christmas - was hospitalised for ten days on the labour ward - and she was NEVER called for a vaccination. Same surgery. Thankfully, she is well again now. Very confusing.

i too am a very worried mum in fact probably neurotic absolutely love my kids. havent sent them back to school and nursery yet as scared of swine flu got them jabbed yesterday thank god ive had anxiety symptoms for weeks worrying about it!

Didnt realise DSS needed a flu jab, as he's asthmatic, only diagnosed in April. Have rung GP this morning and they have no vaccine left. Was told to take him to a pharmacist.

Have rung round 30 local pharmacies, only Boots has it left and they wont administer or dispense it to under 16's. Am now waiting for GP to ring back to see if they will do a prescription for me to collect and then administer it.

Or alternatively they can contact school and explain why DSS wont be going again before March.

He was hospitalised last year with a chest infection, four days of steroids and breathing mask. Really dont want to risk that again .

It is a worry, my son has laryngomalacia and all illnesses go straight to his chest, he has also had RSV twice, very seriously when he was 10 months old, but my surgery are refusing him the jab.

What are we to do though? Surely we can't stay in until the flu season's over???!

could you not stress the implications its having on your health and you need to be well for your kids and if by giving your kids a jab would make you feel better and reassured knowing your kids are ok?

ive been that stressed ive been online grocery shopping so dont have to go in public places!

I'm worried about dd (18 months old) especially as she was very premature. Rang the surgery and was told she won't be eligible for the jab as they are only vaccinating under 5's with asthma.

we should go to a high street pharmacy, get the vaccine prescribed and then take it to the doctor to administer. Errr - is this the official advice then??

how does this work if there are no supplies left though?

We've been told by our surgery that pharmacies are refusing to take prescriptions for under 16's so the doctor won't write them.... Spoke to two pharmacies and they said they would take them but unfortunately their stocks are pretty much gone and don't know when they will get more.... Argghh!

decaff, my dd2 was given the jab due to her laryngomalacia, although she's had surgery and has all but grown out if it. I'm shocked that your surgery won't - shows how patchy the system is

weren't all under 5's offered swine flu vaccination last year? (mine was, though we didn't take it.)
i believe i read that less than 25% took it up.

Talk of keeping children off school/nursery is rather an over-reaction.

The flu 'season' is pretty much until March, and with global travel people can carry flu viruses year-round. Life needs to go on!

The best way to keep your family healthy and flu-free is to encourage good, thorough handwashing with hot soapy water.

Use tissues and catch it, bin it, kill it.

Avoid obviously unwell people but most people with proper flu (seasonal and H1N1) are unlikely to be out and about in schools, nurseries, shops etc as they are ill and will most likely be at home in bed!

Flu vaccination is an important part of public health and illness prevention, especially for those with underlying medical conditions. However MOST of us (and our children) don't need a flu jab so please don't panic if you can't get the vaccine.

However I agree it's all a bit crap - we only have a few vaccines left as we've had a great take up here. We can't get any more - I'm not sure why there is a manufacturer/supply problem. We're having to turn away people that are eligible which is bad. However many people that were eligible didn't come and get it when we started the programme in October and now want it due to the media reports.

Ok, well I've spoken to my surgery now and they will not be offering the vac to under-fives unless government advice changes. So I'm still wondering why the media is urging us to vaccinate under-fives?

I am going to see if I can myself done on the high street today as I don't fancy all of us being ill at once . .

FWIW, my surgery does have vaccine in stock. I will find out later if there's any left on the high street.

Well for those that cant get hold of the vaccine, you may want to take comfort from learning what's actually in it:

Egg proteins: including avian contaminant viruses

Gelatin: a callogen derived from pigs bones -can cause allergic reactions and found in salmon mousse and a cocunut flummery. Trifle too.

Polysorbate 80 (Tween80?): can cause severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Also associated with inferility in female mice.

Propane-1, 2-dial esters of fatty acids - found in Pot Noodle and Pop Tarts.

Formaldehyde: known carcinogen also used in Bailey Irish Cream.

Triton X100: a strong detergent
resin known to cause allergic reactions and nervous ticks and funny walks in mice.

Gentamycin: an antibiotic

Thimerosal: mercury (not Freddie)

princessdeb, thanks for the tip, i have booked my 2 year old in for saturday at medicentre.

maybe it's unnecessary for healthy little ones but DH and i already paid for our own vaccinations in October so it only seems fair we should protect our son too.

i had flu twice in one year a couple years back and it was so awful i am getting vaccinations every year until the memory fades! DH actually had it free at work.

Where did you get that list from ILPA? Not from this drug information leaflet: here which gives the ingredients as:
Sodium chloride
Anhydrous disodium phosphate
Sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate
Potassium chloride
Potassium dihydrogen phosphate
Calcium chloride
Water for injection

Attribution, please, ILovePeterAndre.