'Govenment to offer swine flu vaccinations to under-5s' Would you have your DCs vaccinated?

[Sallypuss]

Saw this on the BBC website just now. Would you have your DCs vaccinated?

My first thought is no as I don't think we fully understand the side effects yet and it feels a bit of a knee jerk reaction by the government. My dd is 12 months old.

Apologies if this has been done to death on other threads....

fabhead yes it's definitely in there.

Google Pandemrix vaccine, and there's a few links with details of the ingredients.

MMR in the UK hasw NEVER had thimerosol.

Is it under fives or fives and under who will be offered the jab? DS1 is five in a few weeks and it's a bit ambiguous

Ive noticed today the news reporting more 5 and unders who have suffered due to swine flu than before the jabs were offered to them, talk about scare mongering and pressuring. I need to talk to dh about it.

No never ever ever!

I'm glad that my kids are over 5 so will not have this dilemma . I'm a bit over this swine flue- has been very quiet about outbreaks in the mdia at the moment and they said it would hit a peak again around October.

Without swab testing how do you know whether youn have had swine flu or a bad cold. I have had flu and know what it is to be knocked out for a week or two but alot of people who have had' swine flu' seem to be up and about in a couple of days . - was it SW or a bad cold/infection that yo get this time of year ? who knows and nobody will.

I am not saying that swine flu doesn't exist but just a bit about it all.

At thid stage If I had children under 5 I would say no.

i'm completely for vaccination. Quite frankly I find some comments on here depressing.However my only concern is that DS2 is due his MMR, that's fine. I know its safe. However, I'd be a bit concerned about having the swine 'flu vaccination and MMR close together.

I am really worried about this issue. There is an article in the news about a healthy 5 yr old who has just died from swine flu. Then there are fears about whether the jab is properly tested. If there is one swine flu jab that is safer than the other why are we being offered the less safe one? I'm not sure whether to let my DD have the vaccine or not.

Oh dear, I think it is posters here scaremongering, not the government.
golgi... the risk by vaccine worse the virus... you a doctor then??????.... Or read silly books by Halvorsen??????

Yes, DS 2 (15months) will have it my only concern is that he's missed his MMR due to illness, and is due to have it in two weeks. I would assume that a few weeks betweeen both vaccines would be advisable. I'll take a qualified medical opinion.

I normally just turn up to vaccine appointment for my 3.5YO without giving it a second thought but this one I am a bit confused with it all after hearing that it's not tested to 100%.

BUT my 13YO cousin has just gotten over swine flu and she was in a right state so not sure I want DS to go through that.

Agree there is a certain amount of scare-mongering going on with regards to news, government advice etc but surely they are just trying to put across that as we are lucky enough to have a vaccine against it we should take it up just incase?!

Really don't know what t do with it.

Message withdrawn

I'm with mamadiva on this. Normally I turn up for routine jabs, and it's fine, but I'm concerned about this vaccine.

Catrinm - "silly" Halvorsen also offers a "qualified medical opinion". Why do you assume that the vaccine is safer, do you know more than the rest of us?

My understanding is that the vaccine may well be offered to school children some time in the New Year. I think the plan has been to roll it out by need, so health workers first, high risk people next, then remaining under fives, some group of primary children after that.

yes definately

I am very much in two minds. I will be offered it shortly (as a frontline health care worker) and was already in a dilemma about whether to have it. Now they are offering it to babies, and my baby is about to turn six months so will be eligible. I am not sure what to do. He is healthy but very small for his age (was prem and IUGR) and I am very fearful about his ability to cope with the flu if he gets it. I think I will probably end up letting him have it.

Absolutely yes!

I've already had the vaccine and would have no hesitation in having the kids done. It's bloody sore though so I'll need some serious post-vaccine treats!

catrinm you didn't read my post properly.

I said I think risk from vaccine less than risk from flu.

Leningrad that you for the link. Having read it I would now have DS have the jab.

DS has just turned 5 months - does that mean that he will be offered the vaccine 1 month from now?

DS will be having the vaccine.
I am well aware that vaccines have risks, however Swine Flu is the bigger risk.

Life is full of risk. Cars are incredibly dangerous, for example, but how many people will be fretting about the car journey to the doctors as quite as much as they are fretting about the jab when they get there?

LeninGrad you say your DS "should get antibodies from me as he is bfing". That's interesting, I am BFing too. Is there any science to back this up, or are you just hoping this will work?