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Home > Blogs > Adventures in Motherhood > Archives > 2009 > October > 22 > Entry
Research guides decision on H1N1 vaccination
There has been much discussion among parents across the country as to whether we should have our children vaccinated for H1N1, or swine flu.
A national poll conducted in August through C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and the University of Michigan found that most parents — 60 percent — were not planning to have their children vaccinated.
Those who were against the vaccine cited multiple reasons, including concerns about vaccine side effects, the fact that they weren’t worried that their children would get H1N1, and/or because they prefer to fight the flu with medications.
And some of those polled, 20 percent, said they didn’t think H1N1 was a serious disease.
In contrast, those who did plan to get it did believe H1N1 to be a serious disease (83 percent), worried about their kids getting this flu and noted that the vaccine was recommended for children.
I am among the many parents who share concerns from both camps. I do think H1N1 is a serious disease, and find it is extremely worrisome that children are particularly vulnerable.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pediatric deaths from the H1N1 flu virus already rival the annual total from seasonal flu.
This week’s tragic news about the death of a Springboro kindergartner who had tested positive for H1N1 brings that even closer to home.
I also have inherent misgivings about any new vaccine, due to an experience I had a couple of months after my first son was born.
Back then, I allowed him to get a recently introduced vaccine for rotavirus, only to have it recalled two weeks later. He did not experience the side effects for which the vaccine was recalled and did not come down with the rotavirus, but that experience made me more cautious about medical decisions.
Then there also is the concern about the vaccine among parents who believe there is a link between vaccines and mercury, and autism and other neurological disorders.
I know medical research shows there is no link, and I have met parents who would bet their lives that there is.
I also have heard from parents who believe the vaccine is being promoted because various groups are benefiting financially.
So, with all these rumors circulating and so much at stake, I needed to do some research before I made the decision for my kids.
Here is what I found:
— The American Academy of Pediatrics, the CDC and Children’s Medical Center of Dayton strongly recommend getting children vaccinated for H1N1. The CDC emphasizes that the flu vaccine is the single best way to protect against this illness.
— The vaccine has the same risks as the seasonal flu vaccine and, according to Children’s Medical Center, is formulated the same way as the annual seasonal flu vaccine, but with the H1N1 antigen.
— The multidose shot of H1N1 contains thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative. Single doses contain trace amounts of thimerosal, and the H1N1 FluMist contains none.
According to Public Health-Dayton & Montgomery County, the multidose contains about 25 micrograms of mercury, and a tuna sandwich contains about 28 micrograms of mercury.
The CDC added that thimerosal has been used for decades in the United States in vials containing more than one dose of some vaccines to prevent contamination.
— Of the first 39,000 Chinese to get shots, only four had side effects, including headaches and muscle cramps, according to the public health department.
Dr. Paul A. Offit of Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia is on record as saying: “You could argue that this (vaccine) is better tested than seasonal flu vaccine.”
CDC director Dr. Thomas R. Frieden added, “We have cut no corners (in vaccine production).”
— The vaccine is free and is being paid for by Public Health Emergency Response grants. Given this information, I am planning to get my children vaccinated for H1N1.
For me, the risks of not getting the vaccine and having my kids get sick far outweigh the risks of them getting the vaccine.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Mother's Daze columns
Comments
By null
October 22, 2009 11:15 AM | Link to this
What do we do for the children like my daughter that is allergic to eggs so can’t have the vaccine and has asthma so can’t have the mist. She is at high risk for complications due to her asthma. I am very concerned for her and have no way to have her vaccinated. We need a vaccine that is not egg based. Egg is a very common allergy among children.