What do you think about giving the H1N1 Vaccine to your kids?

Personally, my opinion on the matter is that people only hear what they want to hear. For some reason, people want to believe that this vaccination is something new, different, and dangerous. I'm not sure why people want to believe this. There are parents of a bunch of dead kids who I'm sure wish the vaccine was available a little bit sooner. I have no ties to any pharmaceutical company (I've seen people accused of that on here too). Lets think this through for a second. What is H1N1? It is a type A flu virus. How long have flu shots been around? About 15 to 20 years from my recollection. What exactly makes the H1N1 vaccination any different than any other flu shot? Except for the virus, not a whole lot. Pharmaceutical companies are going to use the same base as they would for any other flu shots (to the extent they can). It costs too much money to develop a vaccination from scratch. To save time and money, they are going to reuse as much of their previous reearch and supplies as they can. If you look at the CDC website, they even state that the H1N1 vaccine is made at the same facilities using the same processes at the seasonal flu vaccine (http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub.htm toward the bottom). Yet how many people are afraid of giving their kids the seasonal flu vaccine? I have not gotten my children vaccinated. I do plan on it. Odds are in a childs favor that even if they become infected with H1N1, they will not die. I read that in over 70% of the deaths of children that had H1N1, there was a serious underlying medical condition. However, I have no idea if my kids have an undiagnosed issue. If the odds are against us, I'm not sure I could forgive myself for letting my child die from a preventable disease. I'd rather take my chances with Thermisol than with the virus (we've all had dose after dose of Thermisol containing vaccines...how many people you know that had issues that could be attributed to it?) Any vaccination has potential side effects. As a parent, it is hard to know what is right. I am not a medical professional, but I know enough about chemistry to know what some of these preservatives and chemicals can do to people. However, these chemicals are a calculated risk. The risk of a child with H1N1 is unpredictable. As a person of science, I'll take my chances with the researched chemicals that have been administored millions and millions of times over the years. Besides, if the H1N1 vaccination is so bad, where are the throngs of medical workers, doctors, and nurses filling the street, refusing to take the vaccine? These are the people who know best. My kids' doctor is also a family friend. I pay them to be the doctor and provide the expert opinion on what is the best medical options for my child. I may not believe the CDC or the government, but I trust my child's doctor. A 14 year old girl from the nearby town of Naperville died this week. She tested positive for H1N1. She also had an underlying medical condition that I believe was undiagnosed. I want to do everything I can to make sure that is not one of my little girls.h

I am sure I will get thumbs-downs for this, but my 18 month old son will not be receiving the H1N1 or the regular seasonal influenza flu shot, and neither will I. You have a great chance of being killed by drowning in a bathtub than you do from H1N1.

I completely agree with Slider. I'll chance the vaccine, rather than hope my kids don't have an underlying condition that I don't know about... Two kids, in two weeks, have passed away from this, in my area... It's widespread here. My brother had it for 2 weeks, and was absolutely miserable... Even though he recovered, it *could* have been avoided, had he been vaccinated. When the injectable is available here---if it's still going around---we will be getting it. It's the same as the seasonal flu shot, which we get every year, but with swine flu added. (We've already gotten our seasonal flu vaccination.)

I was going to get it for my kids but then read that it can cause autism and I changed my mind all together. None of mine have a supressed immune system so I'm not too worried if they get it anyway.

As with any vaccine, there is always the possibility of side effects. For years there has been debates regarding autism being caused by certain vaccines. There is no 100% guarantee in either direction. I chose to let my children receive the H1N1 vaccine. They are 10 and 12. Both of them have been well and have showed no side effects. You can pick up pamphlets about the vaccine from your child's pediatrician to read more into it. Good luck!

Do you get "regular" flu shots? Do you plan on getting them for your child? If so, you have no reason to not get the H1N1 vaccine. Had H1N1 emerged 2 months earlier than it had, it would have been a strain included in the seasonal flu shot...which you don't hear people fretting over. So far as it being a "new" shot...each year the flu shot is new. In March, researchers determine what strains they think will hit and those become the vaccine...which is usually available in September (about 6 months later). H1N1 didn't hit until May, too late to get in with the seasonal flu shot, so it will be a separate shot, available late October (about 6 months later).

The H1N1 vaccine is being offered to children as young as 6 months. It's given as a nasal spray. This is a live virus and, as such, can be spread from the droplets of the nasal spray. Those with underlying health concerns are being offered the injection which is a dead virus and, as such, can't be spread to others. You'll want to check the CDC 's website www.cdc/gov for additional information. Reaction to the injection may cause some discomfort and mild temperature elevation, but not the full blown virus. My children are older and will receive the injection. They will also receive the current flu vaccine.

Get the vaccine because kids are the first to catch it

I don't what the truth is personally. I will not be giving my 4 kids the vaccine. Autism-the only fact to that is there are levels of mercury left in the vaccine. Which has been known to cause autism. That is a fact! I think it is to soon, not enough testing. This would not have been included in the normal flu shot. They have no real idea what H1N1 will do. Those of you who say this is no difference from regular flu. You people need to read your history a little better. Don't come on here spitting out guesses. It is very different. If my children had some underlying lung problem I would most likely change my mind. The other thing not being spoken about the fact the for the first time the Doctors can't buy the vaccine directly from the private sector like before. It is being bought from the CDC. It is all very fast, and yes the could do some kind a population control. NOT saying they are but they could.