Is anyone else stressing about swine flu

[cockneysparrow1977]

im not sure if it's just me but is anyone else worried about their little ones catching swine flu??? I'm freaking out about my 2 and a half year old catching it, she had the single swine flu jab last year which I paid for privately but the department of health aren't vaccinating healthy under 5s this year the first year it came about they offered it to all under 5s then last year it was
Hit and miss as to weather your surgery would give it some surgeries did if they had surplus supplies! I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place at the moment cos after the deaths last winter I'm concerned with her starting preschool catching it and them on the other hand I'm worried that the vaccine might harm her! I've also read on the net that some flu vaccines contain tiny traces of mercury so I am going to call the manufacturer today to check that out! Is anyone else vaccinating healthy little ones I know a few ladies who have vaccinated little ones with underlying health problems but I feel like the majority of mums I have spoken to aren't vaccinating!
I feel like I'm driving myself mad over this decision i talk myself into it and then I talk myself out of it! Sometimes I feel like I'm not cut out up be a patent as I worry too much ;(((

I think worrying too much just comes with being a parent :) We're not vaccinating our two boys. When it was first appearing 2 years ago I was a bit worried about it but after two years I think there are enough facts and figures out there that show that it isn't as dangerous as it was initially thought to be and the chances of a healthy child dying from it are actually very small. If you're worried you could give him a good vitamin supplement to boost his immune system. Vitamin D is very good at protecting against flu and then just do the usual hand washing etc.

Floradix kindervital is a good multivitamin. It's a liquid and can be taken in juice but my boys actually like the taste :)

To be honest, I hadn't even thought about it until I read your post title.

I'm not anti-vaccination, but I wouldn't consider vaccinating them against flu. If they get sick, I'll look after them and make sure that any complications are treated accordingly.

In my first post I was referring to the flu first appearing not the vaccine! :)

There was no single swine flu jab for anyone on the NHS last year.

It is a component in the seasonal flu vaccine - which has never been available to under 5s.

The main reason for the single jab was the emergence of the disease off-season. This no longer applies.

Single swine flu jabs are no longer manufactured. Do make sure you check expiry dates.

If your DD had the swine flu jab last year then they are still protected unless there is a different strain around this year. The jabs are redone every year because the influenza strains out in the wild change and mutate, so the manufacturers want to ensure best coverage (and also make a bit of money too).

If you want to help prevent your LO getting flu then you can do things like ensuring a good diet - lots of fresh stuff, Vitamin D is remarkably good at boosting the immune system, so at least 10-20 minutes outdoors every day if you can, and as a pp said, good handwashing and hygiene should be taught.

Your fear of flu has probably been exaccerbated by the media. The actual risk of your child dying from flu or getting serious complications is miniscule, unless they have a previous condition, in which case you should speak directly to your GP (not the receptionist!) about getting a flu jab.

i feel like you, and no amount of people telling me the risk is minimal will help. Best case scenario is my dd doesnt get flu ( I am not just worried about swine flu but other flu as well, as I dont want my baby sick for a few weeks if I can help prevent it), but as she is starting nursery at the height of flu season I figure there is a good chance of her catching it. My other children are vaccinated at the doctors because they have asthma, but as they rarely diagnose asthma before 2 I cant see how they know that she is not in an at risk group!! Dr Christian Jenson recommended all under 5's are vaccinated this year so i am following his advice and sourcing privately. Still nurotic about side effects of the vaccine though!

Lucybrad: how old are you other children? Were they ok were did you read about that dr recommending under 5s are vaccinated? I'm damned if I do
And damned if I don't cos I'm driving myself crazy either way :( apparently some strains contain a small case of thiromisal but the private gp practice I gave consulted have said there is no thiromisal in the Gsk vaccine fluarix, god knows! The majority appear not to be vaccinating so that isn't helping my decision either as feel like a nouritic mother :(
My daughter starts preschool at the height of flu season too hence why I'm panicking!
I'm going to speak to my gp tonight so am going to ask her opinion but obv she will be governed by the department of health :(

Cockney I know plenty of GPs who haven't and won't be vaccinating their own children against flu so I don't think their opinion is just governed by the dept of health. I'm not sure what anyone could say to reassure you really - I think it's something you just have to come to terms with yourself. Maybe try to work out what it is about it that is scaring you so much and try to rationalise it.

Hello I do apologise for the hijack. I just noticed some vitamin enthusiasts here. I'm just about to start what will no doubt be an ill-attended thread in Gen Health asking for vitamin advice and I wonder if anyone has the time would they mind having a look. Thanks.

Sorry Cockneysparrow, best wishes with your vaccination decision.

www.thisislondon.co.uk/health/article-23991924-dr-christian-jessen-get-your-jabs-for-the-flu-season.do

final paragraph.

Cockney my boys are 7. My DD has been offered fluarix privately. The boys had fluarval (sp?) in the GP's

I don't think that people who decide not to vaccinate against swine flu are part of an 'anti-vaccine' group. Iirc the majority of medical professionals didn't get the vaccine either. I also question the 'significant number of child deaths comment'. The majority of the deaths were people in 'at risk' groups with underlying health conditions not healthy children. I think there were 15 deaths in 'healthy' under 18s in 2009 out of approx 550 fatal cases. I think the risk was calculated at 6 in 1,000,000 - there was an analysis on the NHS website.

Lucy thanks for article interesting! If you don't mind me asking how old is your dd?
Fluarix is the vaccine that I've been offered and it doesn't contain mercury I've researched it!
It does seem that were in the minority wanting to vaccinate I just wonder if once the flu season gets underway properly if were going to have the same pandamonemia that we had last year :( it's such a difficult decision isn't it if I don't do it I'll be paranoid the while winter that she's gonna get swine flu and if she was in an at risk group then I'd definitely do it I think although I'm in the minority that are vaccinating I'll prob get it done xxx

My DD is 9 months old. I think a lot of health decisions in the country are dictated by money. The problem we have now, is that she has been exposed to chicken pox this week, and so I need to check the doctor will still vaccinate her! bloody typical lol. There was also a leading virologist ( from st barts if I rememeber correctly) who wrote an article in one of the papers in the last month or so, who said if he had his way everyone in Britain would be vaccinated against flu. My husband is a bit more cynical and says maybe he is sponsered by GSK!

Lucy: lol that is something that my husband would say maybe they are sponsored by glaxosmithklien :((( was your daughter in direct contact with the person who had chicken pox? Hopefully not but like you say best to check if they will still vaccinate! My dd had chicken
Pox when she was 15 months old was fine of she does gondown with it would recommend baby piriton did wonders for my daughter! Let me know how you get on and if you don't mind could you let me know the name of the private clinic your using for your dd! My daughter cane down with with a cold on Friday so will have to delay vaccinating until she is fully recovered from this cold :(((

Also I vaguely remember reading that article too if I can find it I will oust the link on here xx

The full minutes of the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations are published online. They are the one's who make the decisions about this, and every immunisation on NHS.

If you want to see the actual reasons to the decisions, it's readily available.

Cockney - have spoken to GP who said fine to go ahead with jab as long as she is not displaying a temperature or other signs of illness. She is booked in for tommorrow pm. I will let you know the name of the place after I have been (paranoid mother emotion!)