H1n1/swine Flu Vaccine Pros vs Cons

My 4yr. and 17mth. old (& I) are going for their 2nd dose tonight. No side effects. I was on the fence about for a long time to. We are traveling for the holidays and with my 4yr. old in school I decided to go ahead with. They are both pretty healthy but the thought of one of them getting and maybe given to another child who may not be as healthy made me think. Also why put them through the chance of getting and being sick and home for weeks? There is good/bad things about it on the internet. After many sleepless nights of research and calls to doctors and pedis it's just as safe as any vaccine. Also it's available preservative-thimerosal free. My advice is to do what you are most comfortable with.

My kids had the shots with no side effects. If I had a baby in the house, or anyone has asthma, I'd personally make it a point to get everyone vaccinated. Even if no one's life is threatened, it is no fun. My neighbors' kids had it and the mom could not work for two weeks, no one could really leave the house, they missed all that school, and so on. Not something I want to deal with if I don't have to, and there is no reason to think the vaccine is not as safe as any other vaccine.

My 3 children just received the mist, they are 5, 16 and 14.
I feel much better now,knowing they can't get the swine flu.
No side effects!!!!!

Hello L.,
We just went for our 2nd round this past weekend. My 4yrs and 11 mnth old did just fine. I'm not one to give my kids a bunch of meds, but didn't want then to get the H1N1.

I was opposed to having my kids get the H1N1 vaccine until my hubby (who is a physician) talked me into it. I was under the impression, as another poster commented, that it was a brand new vaccine. It is not. It is merely the seasonal flu vaccine that we already have, adapted to cover this new H1N1 strain.

My soon-to-be 3 yo received his first dose about a month ago, and my 6 month old just received his on Monday. So far no side effects noted for either kid. I also received the vaccine and did not experience any ill effects.

if you get regular vaccines, then you should get this one. It is targeted specifically for h1n1 exactly just like the polio or german measles one is targeted. They use the base that the flu vaccine has used for decades, added in the current h1n1 stuff and there you go a safe and effective vaccine.

I have had many daycare kids and relatives/friends get the shot and NONE of them had the slightest issue with it. We are going tomorrow night to get our shots. We were not eligible until yesterday when the lifted the restrictions.

My kids did not get the vaccine but did get the H1N1 flu. I would have had them vaccinated but at the time it was hard to get. With it being more readily available, I would get the vaccine. My two kids (5 yrs & 21months) both spent 7 days pretty miserable with fevers and headaches. We also didn't sleep much that week. Was it the end of the world? No. Did they live through it (unlike what the media is telling us)? Yes. Would I like to avoid that type of week in the future? Yes! If you can get it easily--get it.

We are not getting the H1N1 vaccine. After discussions I have had with friends who are doctors and nurses who have decided NOT to give their own children this new vaccine, I also decided against it. If my children get sick, I know it won't be pleasant, but their bodies will build immunity to this for the future. Am I anti-vaccine? No. I just think this H1N1 vaccine was rushed and I don't understand why we have to fill our children with more and more vaccines. This is for a FLU. Not a horrible disease they will live with the rest of their lives.

Hi L.,
My son had his second dose this past weekend - no side effects, everything has been fine. I am 22 weeks pregnant and got mine last month. I'm not sure about the comment linking the shot to miscarriages. After researching on the internet, I see nothing has been confirmed and I think people are always looking for a reason as to why you miscarry - unfortunately, there is no answer in most cases and having no history of it means nothing. I hate getting unnecessary vaccines and had a very frank discussion with my doctor about. I commute every day and my son is in daycare so I felt we needed to do it. It is a personal decision though. You need to do what you feel comfortable doing.
Happy Holidays!

My 3 kids ( 11yr old and 7yr old twins), had the H1N1 shot, with no side effects. The younger ones had the 2 shots ( one month apart). We had no side effects. One of my twins has allergies/asthma, so it was a must for her.

Hello there,
My kids ages 5 and 2 got H1N1 flu mist -2 doses one month apart.
They did not have any side effects after, so I was pretty happy. I was really afraid of things that can happen if they get actual swine flu, so I decided to listen to my heart and keep them safe.
It is always personal decision, so it is up to you and hour husband.
Best,
S

Our pediatrician said that we all will eventually get the swine flu and I know plenty of kids that have already had it. To me, the risk of the flu is much less than a vaccine that is new. Have you seen that it was pulled in Canada and it's been linked to lots of miscarriages? Too many bad things happening in my eyes. Vaccines are not the end all be all that the CDC and the AAP makes them out to be.