Have you/would/ should you have SF jab??

[lisad123wantsherquoteinDM]

Been offered it as a whole family because of DH's chemo treatment.
Anyone got an opinion on this? DDs are 6years and 2 years,and one has a history of pnemonia and the other has ASD. I work all day with children and families, and Dh has cancer.

Any links to helpful sites would be good too Thanks

So choice is have jab, risk numb arm and feeling a bit off colour, faint, etc.

Or don't have jab and risk getting on full on swine flu posing serious risk to me and my baby.

I think there's only one real option there...

So choice is have jab, risk numb arm and feeling a bit off colour, faint, etc.

Or don't have jab and risk getting full on swine flu posing serious risk to me and my baby.

I think there's only one real option there...

I had it yestrday-feel fine no ill effects.
Ds 7yrs is having it on saturday.

Had it last Monday - Slightly sore arm for about 24hours and felt very slightly off colour. Had it cos I am an nurse.

Amused me slightly that a BBC poll said only 50% were happy to have the jab but felt strongly that all health care professionals should have it!

I did not find the actual injection painful, arm got sore a couple of hours later and was sore enough to wake me everytime I tried to turn in bed that night . Discomfort went away in next couple of days. I did not bother with painkillers, but regretted that when DS2 bumped into my arm quite hard, ouch!

Lisa, the main issue is likely to be your DH White cell count, if low he is not very protected against infection. Could you not seek adivce from his oncologist or whoever is looking after his cancer treatment? Step away from Google - you know it won't help .

Personally, accepting that is it unlikely that the government is trying to finish off the entire nation , I feel that in principle Influenza vaccines are well and truly tested. New ones are deveopled every year for the changing seasonal flu viruses, the States gave several million doses of H1N5 vaccines with few serious problems in the past. Normal flu vacc does not give protection against H1N1.
Get some RL advice by a medical persion you trust.

I asked my obstetric consultant (particularly as I have low white cell count, long story, won't bore you with it) and he was honest enough to say that ultimately nobody knows, but certainly the risks are higher when pregnant and to have it.

At the end of the day, you are playing the odds: do you chance it and hope not to get Swine Flu at all, so no problem with complications; do you hope if you get flu you won't develop complications; or do you accept that the proven protection of the vaccine outweighs any potential risks?

Sorry, I am not very good at putting all this down in writing. Obviously I've made my decision.

Kitten, hope your DD can play her violin . Give her Nurofen/Paracetamol before she is due to go on?

Just reread thread:

Swine Flu vacc does not contain live virus, just like seasonal flu vacc.

My understanding is that any controversy is not so much about the vaccine, but about the adjuvant which makes a smaller dose of vaccine work better but contains small amounts of thiomersal (mercury) and squalene. This is what worries a lot of pregnant woman understanably.

FWIW, DS2 is likely to be offered it too (asthma) and I will have him vaccinated when the time comes.

Have you had a look at the NHS website?

Right, I am butting out now, off to bed.
Hope you come to a decision you are comfortable with.

I having mine Tuesday next week. Main reason, aside from mild asthma,is that i am a single mum with 4 children. I can't be ill! I have no family about except my brother who is staying with us for a while.

None of the children need it as no medical problems. At least i will be able to look after them of they are ill without the risk of me being ill.

Had the normal flu jab earlier this week.

I think as dogwood says, you are playing teh odds. Some people are very risk averse and can't bear the thought of being in teh tiny but very unlucky group. Some look at big pictures and shrug off a small risk.

Both views are justifiable.

Kitten- I had my jab at 10.20 am and at 5pm arm started to hurt. They let you choose which arm to have it in if that's any help?

This morning arm still hurts and have a very slight headache but nothing major.

Well I've had it (nhs manager with daily contact with vulnerable patients). My arm hurt for three days and that was it, no other side effects at all. My department is recommending it to all of our patients because the tiny risks that all vaccines have are far outweighed by the massive risk to their health that flu can pose. We advise a flu jab every year - this year it's two jabs.

Good to know that sore arm doesn't kick in for a bit. Hopefully she will have a grace period. (poor kid, what a combination, she is not looking forward to this afternoon!)

I had mine last week (BOTH SF AND SEASONAL ONE SO A DOUBLE WHAMMY!)

i work with immunocompromised patients,one of which currently has SF and has been VERY ill with it.I also have an immunocompromised DP.

Main side effects were sore arms for a couple of days and feeling very crap about 48 hrs later which unfortunately coincided with particularly stressful night shift.

Am now feeling fine

Riven, I do not know enough about your circumstances and what kind of immunocompromise is the issue, however cannot keep my gob shut here is my 2p's worth: Just make sure you have all the info about how Swine Flu/any other vacc would affect you and yours.
I currently have a problem with an unexplained very low white cell count which is affecting my immunity something terrible (I have had various infections non-stop for 2 months, usually enjoy rude health ), and specifically for that reason I have been even more strongly advised to have the jag. You are right in saying of course, it might not "take" and there is really no way to check for that (a test is being developed but won't be availble until next year, so too late to be of any use for me).

Anyway, you come across as somebody who does their "homework" and main thing is that you are happy with your decision.

Here is to Oink-free winter to us all!

Had a good long talk with Macmillian nurse today who cares for DH since DX. She did say they are recommending to everyone of the patients, and that its not a live vaccine so unlikely to cause DH any major ill effects even if his numbers are low on day of jab.

We need to weigh up the risk of the jab vs the risk if the SF to him. I think in all likelyhood we will be having the jabs next week. thanks for all the advice, sometimes hard to see wood thought the trees with all the info

ds2 had his 2 1/2 weeks ago. He has been suffering from vivid hallucinations, he believes spiders are crawling under his skin, and he is in hysterics. It happens nearly every night. One paed says this side effect is a common neuro reaction to pandemrix. He cannot estimate how long it will go on for, as usual side effects subside after just three days. Another paed has prescribed diazepam, brushing it off as night terrors, as there are no side effect to the vaccine.

I think you must google, weigh up the pros and cons.

DD was in contact with children from a school in Bristol who had confirmed cases, and she was quite ill. This was in the early days when they were swabbing. So, am thinking that she is already vaccinated to some extent, or does my logic have holes?

Riven....am i reading it right..if you have had swine flu you don't need the vaccine??? please say yes!!

Quintessentialshadows..that must be so scary for you and your ds..hope it all goes away soon.

dd had her first dose this afternoon. Her arm was very sore after (she's not one to whinge, didn't flinch or fuss when she had the jab) Nurofen allowed her to move her arm and she was fine to play tonight.

Will see how she is in the morning.