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

I've been to the private clinic today to get the combined vaccine for myself and DH, and despite what they said on the phone about not vaccinating under-4s they agreed to give it to my 21 month DD too! I am so relieved.

The doctor did say that as she had already been vaccinated for swine flu last year she was already protected against it as long as the virus did not mutate from H1N1 but they gave her the combined vaccine anyway to protect her from seasonal flu.

It was £150 for the 3 of us, so quite steep but for the peace of mind it is worth it.

New letter from Dept of Health out today
says GP surgeries can try getting Pandemrix from their PCT today or order direct from 10th Jan. For those with kids / relatives in at risk groups why not see if the surgery will be holding a clinic after that date when stock arrives?

Healthy under 5's remain not an at risk group.

My DD1 has been vaccinated (Kidney problems) and asked if DD2 could also be vaccinated, told no as she is healthy, makes me feel guilty, what if anything happens to DD2, i feel awful that one has had it done without the other, i have tried everywhere too, with no avail:(

I dont understand why surgeries have not ordered enough to cover the patients they have in at risk groups? Perhaps this is why they didnt bother coontacting DSS, saved them some money.

I dont think it's fair to expect an at risk CHILD to wait when there is vaccine available at other surgeries and on the high street.

Yes, I would like DS (12 months) to have it, but my GP won't do a private vaccine.

There's no point trying Boots because I knew they wouldn't do it, they wouldn't give me the standard flu vaccine last year when I was pregnant. I even had problems getting it at a Medicentre from the doctors there.

I think its appaling, because last year they were vaccinating under 5's so I think now the government is just trying to save money. What annoys me even more is not being able to get it privately. Its a safe vaccine, so either Boots should do it or the GP. I don't care which, I don't care how much it costs, I just think it should be available one way or another from somewhere.

Zebedee - where are you in the country? I have just got my DD done by a private GP. I found them by googling "travel clinic" as someone on this thread advised. The official line was no under 4s, but when I gently persisted they suggested asking the doctor for advice, so I did and he questioned me for a couple of minutes on my reasons, and was happy to do it. £50 but worth it.

Surgeries DID have enough to cover the at-risk groups, but lots of people didn't take up the offer of a vaccine. Then GPs vaccinated healthy people who wanted the vaccine.

Then this media storm broke, and then the demand went through the roof. Until the media decided it was a problem, GPs couldn't give the vaccines away! Now they're in the wrong for not ordering enough!

GPs are prohibited by law under their contracts with the Department of Health from offering private services to patients, like immunising the healthy under 5s.

I've booked my eldest son and I in for monday. We're off to a private clinic in Manchester, £12 each. It's the doctors mentioned a couple of pages back.
The GP there said it would be beneficial for me to have it as it would be passed through my breast milk to the baby. They said they had reduced their prices as demand was so high. Another practice in Didsbury wanted £60 EACH!
My eldest son has chest problems, otherwise he's a healthy boy but an upper respiratory infection hospitalised him last year, so I'm not prepared to take any risks with his health, last year he was called for the vaccination.

It is not OTT. I have had 2 pupils with swine flu. Both have been ventilated and one has been left permanantly damaged. Sorry to be blunt and give bad news but it has made me ever more determined to get information out there.

I am trying to get it for my DS 6, who has allergies due to it affecting the lungs and for me as I work with vunerable children and had it last year.

Nowhere has it left privatly and they won't do under 16's privatly at pharmacies either.

First ever post! So here goes. I'm a forces wife who's husband is soon to be going away. Normally not a problem except I've spent a week in bed over Christmas completely floored with the flu and totally incapable of anything except self pity! My worry is if this happens when hubby goes away I'm in trouble as I've no real support network. I've been trying to source vaccinations for both me and the kids but for me everywhere is running out and for the girls no hope in hell is what I've been told! So I turn to the women on Mumsnet for advice and I turn to Mumsnet and ask "Is it not time to start hassling the government and indeed the press on this subject and ask for a blanket vaccination of all school kids who, let's face it, are the biggest carrier group! And also point out that the current vaccination protocol seems as just and as fair as the child benefit cuts! " I look forward to your advice ladies!

Why can't everyone get the flu vaccine if they want it - is it particularly expensive does anyone know??

zebedee flu vaccine was ordered last summer based on anticipated numbers. I understand the manufacturers don't make it to excess so now there is a production/supply problem in that there is no more vaccine. Demand has outstripped supply, especially as so many people that don't normally receive it, or aren't eligible for the vaccine have had it this year.

For the first time ever we have used all our supply of flu vax up before the end of January. In addition it was difficult to calculate anticipated numbers of vaccine that would be required for pregnant women as most of them weren't pregnant when we placed our order.

Hi mums, I have an under five too and am concerned about the numbers of young children critically ill (and dead) due to swine flu, but I just want to say that keeping children away from school and playgroups and imprisoning them in the home isn't the answer - they could get into a serious in the kitchen instead, for example, out of boredom! Ok, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but really keeping them off school for 2 months is not going to be healthy. Whether you choose to push for a vaccine or not, I think the most useful measure is for them to go to school, but to keep them at home and rested (bed rest, if needed, or just playing in their room), well fed, and lots of fluids, at the FIRST SIGN of flu symptoms or are unwell in any way (overtired, fever, listlessness), taking them to see a doctor is concerned. Keeping them away from school is not going to prevent swine flu being caught. Vaccinating parents is also not going to stop their kids catching it. (although it might help the parents - but that's a different matter). Swine flu isn't SARS, many cases are mild and you do get time to get better. The main danger is making kids endure a long school day or do sports when they are ill. Hang in there everyone, don't get too stressed, we have enough to worry about already.

P.S. I mean "serious accident in the kitchen" (line 3) and "see a doctor if concerned" (line 6). My first time posting and trying to edit!

cezzer1 - I sympathise, we moved fairly recently and support is minimal too. Just bear in mind if your husband got ill at the same time as you, you'll still need some support. Sounds like you need to be a bit pro-active (even a bit pragmatic) and look through your address book for one or two buddies who could be your "flu friend", like they recommended last winter. Could be a friend who doesn't live locally (but can drive or take public transport) or even someone who doesn't know about looking after kids. You don't need someone who's a close relation or a supernanny type, just a decent, reliable person who doesn't mind running a few errands and being a spare pair of hands. Even someone who could buy a takeaway if they don't cook is adequate, get you paper plates and cups, and bung your clothes into the washing machine (or laundry/drycleaners if gets too much). We forget that we can manage with lower "standards" or adapt if we don't have 2 pairs of hands available at time of illness.Also speak to another mum at school now to swap numbers to do car pool if you are too ill to drive your kids to school, even if you have to approach someone you don't know very well. Offer to return the favour if they themselves are ill whether or not they need you. I do hope the vaccine situation will improve (I suspect the push will come from NHS intensive care consultants rather than the public)but just to remind you vaccines aren't 100 per cent protective anyway. Hope you are recovered and hope all goes well for you all.

Two out of 3 of my dc routinely have a flu jab due to underlying conditions. DS2 because he has chronic asthma, and DD because she has cardiac problems. This year, the surgery didn't send out a letter asking for them to go an get a flu jab.

I was offered one for myself at an antenatal appointment in December, and took it (not only am I pg, but I am also asthmatic, an ha bad pneumonia less than a year ago). I asked then about jabs for the dc, got told they had none available until after Christmas.

Went back this week to get them appointments for the flu jab, only to be told that my GP surgery had ONE childs' vaccine left...and it was up to me to decide whih of my two 'at risk' dc to vaccinate. How awful a decision is that??

I decided to give it to DS2 as he is only 7yo, and DD is almost 13yo and is 5ft3 tall, so there is (maybe) more of a chance of me getting her vaccinated if I pay at a pharmacy/ supermarket as she is 'grown-up' size! So far though, my local Tescos have refused to vaccinate her, and so have my local Asda pharmacy. Today I am spending my day phoning around pharmacies to try to find somewhere willing to vaccinate her.

It's not even that I'm particularly worried about the swine-flu in particular, it's just that they are both in groups that are at greater risk even from 'normal' seasonal flu. I am willing to pay the £10-£12 it costs in the supermarket to get DD vaccinated, but I'm not being allowed to, and I can't afford to pay the extortionate prices on here to get a private doctor to do it, no matter how much I want her protected, as DP only brings home £250 a week...can't afford 90% of that for a blooming jab.

Loudlass - what a horrible choice for any parent to have to make, I'm shocked!!!! Could your DD pass for 16? If so Sainsburys and Boots will do it, I think Tesco will only do over 18's. Where do you live? There are quite a few places in LOndon offereing it, I have rung around a lot of place sin my area (South West) and found a travel clinic offering it as well as a private hospital. They are getting new stock in GP's surgeries next week though so you may be ok to get it at your doctors then, good luck

Unfortunately, I don't think she would pass for 16yo, she is quite 'young looking' in her face IYSWIM. I'm in the SE, about an hours' (expensive) train journey from London.

I have just found out that schools in my area have not had any guidance from the LEA or the NHS about H1N1 'Swine' 'Flu. This is staggering as I would have thought that they could take action to limit the spread e.g. giving out strong messages that staff and pupils who are unwell (and some only get this one mildly and yet are able to infect others) should stay at home.

Also the simple 'handwashing' message must be coupled with 'try not to touch your face' as it is this second step that conveys the virus picked up by touching surfaces to the preferred ways in to our bodies - nose and eyes! Frankly I am stumped to figure out why they omit this vital second part of the advice - the Red Cross website does mention it. It makes sense of the handwashing and the 'use a tissue' message.
Perhaps practical parentpower can take up the full message and make a difference here!

Let's hope that the civil servants get their act together on this at both NHS and LA levels...

DD's school sent home a message saying they were being extra careful about handwashing/using tissues and have brought in hand gel too. They also reminded us to keep children with any flu symptoms off school

Loudlass, how awful for you, they could have at least told you, when (or if!) they get more, that your daughter will be 1st in line. I have appointments for my 2 tommorow, in the medicentre in ldn, I know this to far for (I'm i n Milton Keynes and have had to borrow the extotionate train fare there) but there only charging £20 each, not to much more than boots, but maybe you could find a medicentre or travel clinic near to you? Hope you find a way of getting your d vacinated x
what has angered me the most is that my ds and dd where both in the at risk group last year and now there not my gp even had an argument with me about the lenth of time it was since they had the sf vac. In oct 2009! I felt so angry and felt very patronised. He was telling me this at the same time as writing a perscription for the wrong medication for myself that I had to point out would interfere with long term meds that am on ! Talk about instilling a sense of trust in there work !
I also was never called in for my jab as preg' but luckly for me , went along to ask in oct.

I called the surgery about getting my 3 year old vaccinated and was told that as she's not in a high risk group they wouldn't give it to her! She goes to nursery and I'm so worried I've kept her off. I feel especially guilty as I've had vaccine as 33 weeks pregnant! I know I can't keep her off forever, it's an awful situation! Was told by receptionist at surgery that as soon as we have a Swine flu pandemic my little one can have the flu jab, think this was supposed to comfort me

I'm trying to find anywhere that stocks the flu vaccine in the North east - specifically Newcastle/Northumberland.

i have been given private prescriptions for my two under five year olds, but can't find the vaccine anywhere!

Does anyone know where I can get one??

Thanks very much

x

Does anyone know any private clinics in the SE that is offering flu jabs for children?

At the moment I think we will have to travel to London to get this done.

Fanjolina - there is A GP surgery in Guildford Surrey that is vaccinating children at a cost of $40 per vaccine and they may need two.

Its called Surrey GP.