I was really surprised to read this article in the LA Times, indicating that only 40% of parents polled said they would get their child(ren) vaccinated for the H1N1 virus this year. Reasons ranged from a lack of concern about H1N1 to belief that H1N1 isn’t a serious disease at all. Concern about side effects of the vaccinations were claimed by around half of the parents who are passing on the vaccine.
H1N1 has appeared to hit young adults and children the hardest in other areas, but I do believe that so far in Canada, most people who have died from H1N1 had underlying medical conditions, or were another “risk” category. (pregnant, elderly, immunodeficient) Correct me if I am wrong on those stats, but I know the ones here in Alberta had medical conditions, and the children who have had it here, have all recovered at home or in hospital.
This quote sums up how public health officials in the US are viewing this strain of flu.
In a news release accompanying the poll results, Davis said that public health officials wishing to maximize vaccination rates among schoolchildren need to communicate clearly to their parents that kids are at relatively greater risk of becoming seriously ill with the novel flu strain if they get it.
Personally, I think for the first year ever, my family is going to get the flu shots, but don’t hold to me that quote yet. I have a lot to figure out and research, but this year my son is attending school on a full time basis, my daughter has entered school, and I work in the hospital that would be handling all the major flu cases that concern children, and a lot of adult ones as well. We are going to be over-exposed to the virus this year, in fact, ALL the flu strains this year and for the first time ever, I am concerned about it. I will be watching the news more and more for information on the vaccine.
My family is most definitely NOT getting this. I do have increased concern for my eldest because she now attends a larger school, and let's face it, MANY parents send their kids when sick and just simply don't make proper judgment calls about whether they should be attending or not. I'll be reminding her about washing hands with soap and water at her break times and making sure to cough and sneeze into her arm. And if the amount of sick kids at school seems disproportionately high, I won't hesitate to keep my healthy kid home.
I usually have pretty good idea of whether to get my kids immunized (measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis, polio, tetanus, meningitis, Hep B) or to decline (varicella, HPV). But this one has me stumped. I hate the idea of a vaccine when they aren't 100% as far as the strain, but if this ends up becoming another Spanish Influenza, I don't want to think I didn't do everything I possibly could to avoid it for them.
Can I just watch this blog and see what you decide…?
LOL Cori.
We've never been vaccinated for the flu, this year my main concern is what kind of strain I might pick up at the hospital, and just being constantly exposed every time I go in. Door handles, stair railings, when I started thinking of everything I unconsciously touch at the hospital, I kinda freaked in my mind a little
Even just GETTING to where I go, without touching anything, I realized how many coughing, sneezing hacking people (who do NOT always practice coughing into their elbows, let me tell you) I pass in the halls etc.
Maybe I'll hit up emerg for some awesome masks and wear those. I'll fit right in.
Anyhooo, I am waiting to see….no matter what this article said, it still seems to be the high risk categories affected, and we aren't in that category.
We will not be vaccinating against H1N1. However, we will be washing our hands more!!