Two letters, one number!

I'm scared today. Not because the crazy skeleton decoration hanging outside my door managed to surprise me once again, even though it's there every day. I'm scared of two letters and one number, H1N1.

It was reported today, that a thirteen year old boy died yesterday of complications from H1N1 (aka swine flu).  He's a hockey player, an A student and he had huge brown eyes, just like Smarties, just like my boys! I cried  when I read the news. My heart is heavy for his suffering family. 

I think I'm with the majority of parents out there in saying that I'm totally confused about what do next. How do I protect my children from this flu that is taking lives? I know that The Daddy, myself and Z can and will get the vaccination. But what about Y? He's allergic to eggs and flu vaccinations are grown in fertilized eggs. Death looms over us daily already as we struggle to deal with his extensive food allergies. Now I have to worry about the flu? How do you tell an eight year old who's life is already high risk already that things just became even riskier? 

An official statement was released by The Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology on September 30th. It states: "For patients at higher risk, or if the risk is unknown, we recommend an initial test dose with 10% of the total dose followed by 30 minutes of observation. If there is no reaction after 30 minutes, the remaining 90% can be given and the patient observed for 60 minutes. Children who tolerate the split dose and who require a second dose (1st time receiving influenza vaccine) can receive the next dose in one injection." But do the benefits outweigh the risks? Am I prepared to sit beside my son while one of his known allergens is injected into this body to fight a flu that he might not even catch? Talk about a choice? 

So now you understand my fear and confusion. I don't want to watch TV because it's scaring me even more. The newspaper is full of H1N1 facts and figures, but how many of them can we actually believe? Apparently it's not appropriate to ask my friends to vaccinate their children to protect mine. And what side effects, if any, are there to this very new, very quickly developed vaccine?

I'm not normally a live-in-fear type of girl. But this is getting to me. This hen must protect her little chicks from the big, bad piggy!!!

Comments

[Sister in law]

Mommy X, I'm just as confused as you are! My husband wants to get the shot and he has encouraged me and our two boys to get vaccinated, but I'm not comfortable with this. What do we do???

[Jane]

I understand what you are saying and would be and am just as worried as you are and I don't have a child with allergies. I have decided against the vaccine because I don't know what the effects are going to be 5 or 10 years down the road on a vaccine that was created and distributed within a few months. I'm not willing to take the risk

[K]

It's so scary and my 8 year old doesn't have allergies. What are you supposed to do if they get it BEFORE the shot is available? My son started coughing yesterday. This am he complained of a headahce - took his temp and he had a fever and then said his neck and throat hurt. I then saw the news. I called his doctor's office and they actually put a doctor on the phone with me (never happened before) and after a couple of questions she said to take him to Sick Kids.8 hours later and they think he has strep. Sick Kids totally played down the H1N1 and said it was media hype. The doctor at SIck Kids said that the reason his doctor sent us there was to rule out meningitis. I asked if he could also have H1N1 and she said that they could give him tamiflu but it would only minimize the symptoms.

[Mommy X]

It's comforting to know that Sick Kids thinks it's a lot of hype! I think it is too...but hype is a scary thing!

[Nadia]

The best defense is researching from reliable sources. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, other ways to prevent the spread of illness include;

-Covering your nose and mouth when you cough/sneeze
-Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you
cough/sneeze.
-Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. (Germs spread that way)
-Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

This site might also be helpful. It's a search engine that helps you locate where to get vaccinated in your neighborhood.

www.medtipster.com

Good luck!