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Original poster

9yr old asthmatic dd2 been called to have swine flu jab....do i?

64 replies

cutekids · 04/11/2009 08:49

Anyone else's kids had it yet?
How was it?
Were there any after-effects etc?

OP posts:
Original poster
cutekids · 04/11/2009 08:57

Anyone else's kids had it?

OP posts:
flashharriet · 04/11/2009 09:15

Am waiting to hear when asthmatic dd2 (6yo) will be called. I'm pretty sure she's going to have it but would also be interested to hear anyone else's experiences.

The whole thing's horrible isn't it

comewhinewithme · 04/11/2009 09:24

Dp ia having it and I think dd will too am scared of jab but scared of swine flu too.

mosschops30 · 04/11/2009 11:16

Not sure about childrens side effects, but I had it Monday. Felt fine all day but was shattered by 7pm, went to bed, but had a dreadful night with chest pain, aching, horrendous arm pain (worse than normal flu jab).

GP said that most of the staff at the surgery had felt similar, almost like being beaten with a big stick.

Feel much better today, so obviously just first 24-48 hours is the worst. As with normal seasonal flu jab

OhYouBadBadKitten · 04/11/2009 12:38

I am waiting for dd to have it. Am very very keen that she gets it cos a virus really provoked her asthma a few weeks ago and it was horrible.

Original poster
cutekids · 05/11/2009 10:17

well,I have to ring up today so one half of me is telling me to go for it.just a little bit nervous though.it's really scary isn't it?

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MoreCrackThanHarlem · 05/11/2009 10:27

Dd is just recovering after having SF for the past fortnight. She has ended up with a nasty chest infection as a consequence, and has coughing fits lasting up to an hour where she can barely catch her breath, it was really quite frightening.

She is not asthmatic, and is otherwise healthy, so I can only imagine the effect of SF on a child with underlying difficulties, especially asthma.
So whilst the prospect of the jab is worrying, the possible alternative is much scarier.

bellissima · 05/11/2009 11:21

Have finally received call up letter for DD1 (asthmatic), also recommending others in household. Have put me and DD2 down (DH just won't, I know) for first clinic w/b 16th Nov, but plan to discuss with GP next week when DD1 has an apptmt anyway. One thing that puts me off for DD2 is fact I thinks she will need 2 doses. Plus she is much more robust. I had pneumonia after flu when I was a teenager and pay for a seasonal jab every year but will see what GP says re SF - not so much that I fear dropping dead from the jab (I'm an old bag anyway) but more to do with how many they have etc - don't really think I'm exactly a top priority.

bellissima · 05/11/2009 11:23

PS - but have definitely put DD1 down - for reasons MoreCrack has given. Have been waking up at night worrying.

LuluSkipToMyLou · 05/11/2009 11:29

DS is eight, and the rest of us definitely had SF, we were ILL (had flu before so I know) but all he had was a cough and a sniffle, he's the one with bad asthma so I presume he got off lightly? We had a scare with him before the summer holidays, very high temperature and felt very ill, but only for 24hrs.

Anyway, we've decided not to go with the jab, he has an egg allergy and has never had a flu jab because of that - even though the allergy consultant says he's fine to have them the local surgery always refuse and the alternative is spending 4 hours on the childrens' ward of the local hospital, which seems a waste of everyone's time.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 05/11/2009 11:59

Would you consider celvepan when it is available?

LuluSkipToMyLou · 05/11/2009 12:34

I don't know, to be honest the DC have all their immunisations but there's something about the flu jab that seems so unnecessary. I've had flu, so has DH (has mild asthma), I get that it's really bad, but I'm not sure that catching flu isn't a good precaution in itself. Each time I've had it (four times now) it's been better than the last, so am I getting some kind of natural immunity?

Sorry if I'm not being helpful, this is a tough decision though and whilst I'd consider the Celvepan I really don't think I've got enough TRUSTWORTHY information to make an informed decision as to whether the benefits outweigh the risks. Same with the cervical cancer jab, DD is probably going to be called up for that and it's another tough one.

LuluSkipToMyLou · 05/11/2009 12:36

Oh and OhYouBadKitten, DS's asthma is almost exclusively brought on by colds/viruses, maybe I've got my head in the sand because he's one of the lucky ones. Maybe I just ask too many questions.

Syrupent · 05/11/2009 18:22

DS 1 & 2 had the jab on Tues (asthmatic teensgers!) Both fine except for sore arms. Worse for DS2 as he is left handed and they were only "allowed to do left arms" apparently. I would have the jab if I could .

BonjourIvresse · 06/11/2009 15:53

I'm a asthmatic who has just has SF because the vaccine didn't come out in time and i got a severe chest infection even though i took Tamiflu. Even my DH who is NEVER ill was really poorly with SF for over a week. We had the situation where our whole family was ill and we had to rely on the kindness of our friends and on line shopping to get supplies. SF is not to be taken likely. It wasn't as bad as 2000 when i got pneumonia but its still a very nasty bug. I always have the seasonal flu jab.

Original poster
cutekids · 09/11/2009 09:15

well folks...i've made the appointment for Friday.However,would like to be kept informed over this week as to anyone knowing of any side-effects on kids etc.Thankyou all.

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Khara · 09/11/2009 13:14

My ds2 (8) has been called in for the jab on Weds or Fri - they are just asking us to turn up and wait rather than make appointments. I haven't made up my mind yet. He's only mildly asthmatic, but his wheeziness does come on when he gets a virus.

I'm going round in circles reading about scary adjuvants on the one hand, and intensive care beds being full of swine flu patients on the other. Because ds2 is the only member of our family eligible for the vaccine, it feels like he's the guinea pig for the family. But I don't want to condemn him to possibly getting very sick with sf either - although I don't think he's necessarily any more at risk than the rest of us.

It seems impossible to make a decision because there are so many unknowns.

Original poster
cutekids · 10/11/2009 10:43

that's exactly how i'm feeling Khara....my youngest is also the only one who's been called up so far and she too has only mild asthma (touch wood!).
I still am not sure as there really doesn't seem to be many feedback on any website about children having had the vaccine.

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Original poster
cutekids · 10/11/2009 14:07

got a doctor to ring me back this morning....to chat about the pros and cons.I knew he would be "for"rather than "against".However,what did freak me out a bit was when I did originally ring up,I was very careful to say,"my CHILD has an appointment for the SF vaccine and i'd like to speak to a dr.about it before I go ahead."Out of a practice of 18,000,she knew who I was!!!!Don't think any kids have been vaccinated yet in my surgery.Dr.said the staff had all been done and that there was the usual sore arm but "nothing untoward".Still unsure what to do.

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milla2 · 10/11/2009 20:02

DS (12) asthmatic and has an egg allergy (not severe) had SF jab 2 hours ago. No immediate reaction but arm feels a bit achy. Found it a very difficult and emotional decision to make. i also feel DS a bit of a guinea pig but then on the other hand if you wait for 3 -4 weeks to see how everyone else reacts, you stand more chance of catching it.

I will update this tomorrow after the night - hoping for a peaceful one!

eclipse · 10/11/2009 20:32

My ds (4) had the Pandemrix one over a week ago and it had no discernible effect at all.

Khara · 11/11/2009 09:50

Well we haven't gone to get it done today - could still go on Friday ... though the thought of getting it done on Friday 13th does put me off somewhat!

Still no nearer to making a decision. Dh (as usual) leaves it all up to me - he's happy for it to be done but not too worried if it isn't.

Hope your ds had a good night, milla. Did he still have pandemrix even with the egg allergy? Glad your ds is ok too, eclipse. It's good to hear that real life children are having the jab with no ill effects.

milla2 · 11/11/2009 11:49

Still good news to report so far this morning. Ds had a good night - I gave him a good does of Medised and he slept through and didn't feel too hot or anything. This morning his arm aches, fortunately remembered before giving him a tight hug! He looked very pale and tired but didn't have a temperature so has gone to school with a note just in case he feels unwell at all. Only the next 24/48 hrs will tell if he gets some flu like symptons.

He had the Pandemrix jab as he has never had a severe reaction to egg. He was skin prick tested aged 2 (now 12) where he developed a significant blister to the egg, hence declared egg allergic. Now he won't eat eggs as he doesn't like them but does eat things containing egg eg cakes ie small amounts and that doesn't seem to trouble him - it would be nice to think he has grown out of it but he is also allergic to milk, which he hasn't grown out of yet but still hoping. Though in fact I feel that he has learnt to cope with the food allergies and it would be better if he could grow out of his asthma!

I can understand Khara, how you feel about 13th, yesterday was the anniversary of same DS starting to be ill with Mesenteric Adenitis (she other treads on this site, really miserable condition and it was the start of 2 very bad months of illness for him) so I did wonder why I had booked it for yesterday, other than the next time only a locum nurse was available so I felt it was better to have someone do it who is familiar with the surgery ...

will post 48 hour update to tell you if any flu type reaction. now considering he probably should have seasonal flu as well but may give him a week or 2 break.

He has never had that jab either - so again in a way an experiment but at least this time I am slightly more happy about the egg business but still it is a bit of a worry.

I hope this helps anyone going through the same agony..

Original poster
cutekids · 11/11/2009 23:32

well,funnily enough,when i rang to make dd's appointment i heard the nurses talking between themselves.one of them i overheard saying,"it's that date and that date only".the receptionist seemed unusually coy when telling me it was Fri 13th....I immediately thought how clever that was so that they don't get innundated with appointments......Listened to my dear old Dad's voice in my head though...."ooooh....Fri 13th?Luckiest day of the year!"!!!!So I booked lol!!!
Just hope he was right now though.
Still unsure myself.
Gonna leave it to the last minute I think.
Spoke to hubbie over the phone about it.
Why do men-in general!-leave these kind of decisions to us???

OP posts:
Lockey · 12/11/2009 21:58

Hello, I am really interested in this thread too - DS aged 3 and DD aged 6 are booked in for SW vaccine next Wednesday. DS has asthma, has had two quite bad attacks in last 5 weeks brought on by colds. DD has mild IgA deficiency. GP also wants me and dh to have vaccine, I am still really undecided and plan to speak to GP tomorrow. DS also has had severe allergy to egg when 8 months old, but now is fine with cooked egg in cakes etc - like milla2, and noone had mentioned that in relation to SW vaccine. Will let you know what GP says and what I decide.

So difficult to know what to do....