thanks, arne runehagen

Good grief. It seems that everywhere I look parents are debating whether or not to give their children the H1N1 vaccine. And getting quite aggressive about it. Not here in Sweden, but definitely on the U.S.-based blogs, forums, etc., that I visit. I actually don't know how people feel about it here. 

Then this flyer shows up in the mail this week regarding the Swedish vaccination program. Sweden is vaccinating everyone in the country free of charge. Our "kommun" will start vaccinating high-risk people tomorrow. If Lewis and I want one, we'll have to wait until December.

But my main concern was what to do about Sophie. The brochure answered that for us: "Barn under 3 år som inte tillhör någon riskgrupp, rekommenderas ej vaccinering." (Children under 3 that are not in a risk group should not be vaccinated.)

OK, so why am I still worrying about it? Are you torn/nervous/unsure about the whole thing, too?

Comments

[sarah]

Hi Ginny,

We have been through the swine flu scare earlier this year and the northern hemisphere seems to be just getting it now.
Its nasty thats for sure but I am also sure that the media hyped it considerably. The death rate was the same as a normal flu season apparently and all the hoopla has completely died down.

We managed not to get it ( I dont know how!) , so I am having the vaccination when it becomes available, including our 2.5 year old.
In Australia, day care centres are considered high risk groups as diseases are easily spread through out the kids.

I get the seasonal flu vaccine each year through work but my husband does not and he came down with some nasty flu this winter and it knocked him around for well over a week.
This my year my son also had the flu vaccine and he had no side effects.

The doctors here gave up testing for swine flu as results took too long to get and most people had recovered by that stage. Tamiflu is only effective if taken in early stages apparently.

Immunisation is also a hot topic down under - we chose to have our son fully immunised and I dont regret the decision.

So Ginny I guess there are no clear answers, its just what is right for you and your family.

Sarah

[Amy]

Yes! I am stressed. Erik and I were just talking about whether or not we should get vaccinated. I feel like we will. If we don't and Siggy gets sick I'll feel so guilty. But I am worried about the vaccine too. Grrr. Just read an op-ed on the Times website that calmed some of my vaccine fears. What are you two thinking for yourselves?

[ginny]

Sarah, thanks for sharing your story from the other hemisphere! :)

What I have failed to share is that my step-grandfather was paralyzed by a flu vaccine. Others who received the same batch were also paralyzed, though eventually they walked again. My grandfather never did. As a result, I have never gotten a flu shot. And Lewis and I don't plan to get this one, Amy. I know the chances of something happening from the shot are really, really slim. But it scares me. Of course, I would also feel awful if Sophie got sick because I didn't get it. Honestly, though, I think she'll get it at preschool way before she gets it from me.

I'm actually hoping that this is what Sophie and I were sick with last month. It was definitely some kind of flu, not a cold. But we'll never know.

[sarah]

I can so understand why you would not want to get any sort if immunisation - thats scary.
The people who got the H1N1 here were generally off work/daycare for 7 - 14 days. Most got a mild dose.
My next door neighbours 2 yo got it and was put on Tamiflu but he was still sick for a week. But not too seriously . His brother who was about 4 mths never got it - but his Dad did. So go figure.
Can you have a blood test to find out if you have the anti bodies to H1N1 or whatever they test for it ?
I know they can do that for mono.
That might relieve some of your fears.

[Krista]

Ginny, I was worried. I will only get vaccinations for my girls if there isn't mercury in the vaccine. I called the Vårdcentral to ask and the woman I spoke with simply wouldn't answer the question and kept repeating to me that my girls did not need it, since they were not in a risk group. Ugh, I just want to know if they have mercury in these vaccines or not!