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My daughter and I were both inoculated for the H1N1 virus this morning in the form of the nasal mist.  Abby has to go back in four weeks for her second dose, adults only need one.

I know that there was some concerns about side effects, etc regarding this vaccine last time we spoke about it as a board community.  If Abby or I experience anything, regardless of how mild, I'll let you know and post it.



Edited for a typo in the title!

Thank you Maine.  Please let me know how it turns out, as I am thinking of getting this vaccine as well. 

Vaccines are safe.  The hysteria around vaccines is not founded in good science.

I just got a notice that our children will be provided the vaccine for free with parental consent through their school.

That's just what the man wants us to think.  >:D

Am I the only one not surprised Maine was the first one on this board to get the vaccine? 

They ran out of vaccines in our area.

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    * Video: 70s Swine Flu Vaccine Triggered Public Backlash


70s Swine Flu Vaccine Triggered Public Backlash

POSTED: 10:31 pm PDT April 28, 2009
UPDATED: 10:40 pm PDT April 28, 2009
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SAN DIEGO -- In the 1970's, a Swine Flu vaccine was blamed for causing more problems than the disease.

The vaccine was associated with a condition called Guillain-Barré syndrome.

It’s a paralyzing neuromuscular disorder.

10News reporter, Charisse Yu, spoke to one San Diegan who shared how he got sick during the big Swine Flu scare of the 70's.

The last time a form of the virus showed up in the U.S., Yu reported, it triggered a public backlash against flu vaccinations.

In response to a public service announcement, Scott Bittl got a vaccination.

But, he said, it backfired.

“Up until that point in my life, I was never that sick. Unbelievable,” Bittl said.

It was all part of a $137 million plan to immunize every man, woman and child.

The plan was to prevent a pandemic like the Spanish Flu that killed half a million people in the U.S. and as many as 50 million worldwide.

But some said the vaccine had side effects.

“Obviously, I got sick. I didn't die. I did get feverish. I went through all the motions of having probably the Swine Flu. At the time the feelings were intense,” Bittl recalled.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, shortly after the campaign started, three people died after receiving the vaccine.

But, the CDC said, they found no evidence that the vaccine caused it.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the vaccine was linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome and more than 500 people developed the disorder.

25 people died.

The program ended only after millions got the shot.

Some doctors in San Diego say a vaccine isn't the solution to the problem.

Naturopathic Doctor, Ian Moore, said he is not “anti-vaccinations,” but says people underestimate their immune system.

“Most healthy individuals have a strong immune system that's able to fight off these infections, so, I think it's premature to jump towards the reaction that we do need a vaccine for everything,” Moore said.

The CDC has since done a study on the vaccine.

On the front page of 10News.com, click on the red TV button to see the report.

^ Ok, but that was in the 70s.

He wasn't... He was just the first to post about it. ;)

I know STL. I'm just playing Devil's Advocate to Dave's quote that I used.

After watching Glenn Beck speak about this, I am up in the air.

You need the 'Flew vaccine' then...

Maybe you missed a couple key elements here.  The first is that I work on the front lines of people exposed to all kinds of funky bugs.  In order for me to continue that work I had to get inoculated.  Second, I have a three year old.  I realize that you have trouble taking care of yourself.  Me?  I do what needs to be done to protect my family.

Why don't you stick to what you do best?  Flipping burgers or making Slurpees or pumping gas...whatever it is.  I hope you don't learn the hard way that this novel virus is something to actually worry about.

Back to the topic:  No side effects what so ever for Abby nor I.  My opinion is that if you are not in a high risk group to wait until the vaccine is more readily available.  If you or a family member is high risk, get it soon.  High risk includes children over 6 months, anyone that has contacts with children under 6 months, health care workers, pregnant women, anyone under 49 with other underlaying conditions (auto immune disorders, etc).  If you don't fit in those categories ride it out a bit.  The vaccine has a bit of a shortage right now, it'll be more wide spread within a few weeks.

I work part time as a patient transporter at one of the local hospitals. I'll pick up a weekend shift once in a while , and some Holidays. I need to figure out soon if I want this vaccine.

^^You need to, Stink.  There are few, if any, risks. 

Put it this way - the risk of the vaccine greatly outweighs the risk of picking up this bug.  You and I are both exposed to people that could be carriers, why take the risk? 

Sorry Maine, I am glad it seems to be working for you and your family, but after being forced to take a FDA approved vaccination, that we did not really need< and seeing people get fucked up by it and some very healthy people even dying from it, you will have to excuse me for being more than a little reticent in rushing out and getting some.

That's fine. You or your family members might get sick, but they'll recover. As long as you're not one of these god damn idiots who refuses to get his kids vaccinated for mumps, measles, rubella, polio, etc. 

I've heard that if a kid doesn't get vaccinated for those, the school system will not admit him/her.

Vaccinations are important to society, not just to the individual child.  Vaccinations do not work on everyone, and certain people cannot get them for whatever reason.  If enough of the population is vaccinated, we get what's called "herd immunity", where diseases are wiped out, because even if one person gets it, there aren't enough people who are susceptible, so it doesn't spread.

The medical community is in unison (as much as it can be) over the risks/rewards of vaccines, but detractors are getting equal time, due to celebrity spokespersons, unqualified to speak intelligently on the subject -- namely Jenny McCarthy.

Don't be jack-off; vaccinate your kids.  Not doing so is not only irresponsible parenting to them, but it also can result in the death of other kids who are unable to receive the vaccines.

Don't know if I am going to get this vaccine.  My son is to young to get this because he is only 4 months, I work in health care so my only concern is getting the H1N1 and taking home and getting my son sick.

I'm with you Pats, my largest concern isn't so much myself (although it probably should be) but my daughter getting sick.

So, straight out of the "of course this happened" files:

Saturday night I get a call from an old friend.  He is moving.  He has plenty of help unpacking his U-Haul, just had a bunch of people bail on him for the next morning.  Would I be willing to help pack the U-Haul on Sunday morning?  A friend in need...you know how it goes.

So I helped him pack up the U-Haul and off he goes.

I get a text from him about five hours later.  His girlfriend and her 2.5 year old daughter were just released from the doctor with a diagnosis of (wait for it...)

H1N1.

My friend feels fine.  Felt fine last night, woke up today feeling fine.  Me?  I woke up feeling a little punky...which could be about half a billion things.

A vaccine takes about 10 days before you're fully protected.  Sunday was day two after mine.  I am going to laugh if I wind up coming down with the pig because I helped a friend last second...8 days before the vaccine that is supposed to help had a chance to really settle into my body.

Does that fit irony...or just bad timing?  LOL.  Hopefully I won't be posting first hand accounts of h1n1 for you all to love and enjoy!

Go my shot 2 weeks ago.  My wife and my daughter still hadn't, went for a trip to Texas while I finished tax season, and BOTH picked up the flu.  So my wife is now better, but my 2 year old's going through the worst of it (seems better today, though).

I know for a fact that Broward County gives waivers for kids whose parents have "objections" to vaccines for whatever reasons. I assume it isn't the only such county in the state.

We'll continue down this idiotic path until a kid in the U.S. gets polio.

The problem is that these things happen from time to time and it gives the anti-vaccine people all the fire power they need to stay on their soap box:

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/42981847.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUHPYDiaK7DUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr (http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/42981847.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUHPYDiaK7DUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr)

They don't see the facts and stats, they just see someone died.

I do not have kids.
Also I believe there is way too much hype over this. I do not think this will reach the level of the Spanish Influenza for several reason, even without vaccinations.

Like I said, I'm not all that worried about the swine flu vaccinations. Most people will be fine. It's the parents that keep their kids from getting vaccinated for other stuff that worry me. Seriously, polio...that's what it's going to take.

86 kids (under 19) have died - in the US alone - as a direct result of H1N1 since April.  That is six months.  The death rates between April - October, a period where seasonal flu is all but dormant and any deaths are rare - is staggering.  5,000 dead in six months...in a period where people rarely die of any flu bug.

Seasonal flu usually kills less than 70 kids under 19 in an entire calendar year.

It's not overblown at all.  It shouldn't have to reach 1918 stages in order for people to see this as the threat that it is.  5,000 dead in six months should be scary enough.

This is a flu for younger people.  The virus is insidiously good at getting deep into lung tissue and causing respiratory failure.  The one treatment that would greatly help are antiviral IVs...and the FDA has yet to approve their use.

This won't be the end of the world.  It won't reach 1918 stages (unless it mutates).  But it is still a virus that the vast population will eventually get.  And with it's ability to cause havoc in areas that the seasonal flu can't even dream of...and doctors not armed with the drugs that could save you life...

Well that should at least earn your attention.

The strange -- and deceptive -- thing about Influenza A / H1N1 / swine flu is that in the vast majority of people, it presents LESS severe than your standard flu. In rare cases, however, it causes huge problems for an unlikely group of patients (young people with no pre-existing conditions). The mortality rate for Influenza A in that group is INSANE compared to normal flu.

So you can gamble that you (or your kids) will be one of the vast majority and odds are, you (or your kids) will be perfectly fine even if you get it... the consequences if you're unlucky, though, could be disastrous.

Truer words have not been spoken.

What I don't understand is the reluctance to at least put this in your mind as "something to consider."  Not saying anyone on this board is this way but I've heard of so many people that think it's like catching a cold, media creation, what have you. 

It isn't that hard to simply keep an open mind.

It's not just about the individual deciding to get the vaccine or not.  Vaccines aren't just to prevent 1 person from getting an infection.  It's to stop the spread of that infection.  Even though you think you're healthy enough to survive H1N1, your neighbor may not be, so by contracting it, you're putting him at risk as well.

^^Exactly correct.

The way that the vaccine has bottle necked is going to be a problem.  Kids under 12 need two doses, seperated by 4 weeks, before they are fully protected.  Adults generally see moderate protection 10 days after incoulation, however full protection could take 3-4 weeks. 

The seasonal flu really ramped up around January, which is why the aim is generally for a late October, early November flu vaccine run.  In a perfect world the H1N1 would have hit in February of 09 instead of April...thus giving researchers two additional months and rolling out the vaccine in August.

The vaccine has hit a bottle neck, for several reasons.  We're in a race and the virus is winning right now.  The highest risks can't have the nasal mist and that is what is most readily available right now.

We can only hope that the CDC is sending what IS available to the best places, the "hottest" spots.  Schools and colleges are priority 1.

I have extremely low vitamin D levels. (This is common in African-American women and can lead to a slew of other issues. I didn't know that until I was tested while in the hospital for my embolism, though.)  Yesterday, my doc suggested I get the H1N1 vaccine due to my D levels still being really low and the fact that my lungs are still recovering.

I'm still undecided, though.

Buddhagirl - do you have any other auto immune condition that would place you at risk for the nasal mist? 

It's extremely widespread in anyone with a dark skin color living in a Northern clime or spending a lot of time indoors. The lighter the skin, the less exposure to sunlight is needed to reach normal vitamin D levels. However, even the palest of people rarely get enough sunlight in places that are far to the North (especially during winter). Not only is there not enough sunlight (inclination and time), but it's also cold outside, so exposure is limited even further.

I read a provocative article by a cancer researcher a while back who said that sunscreen probably killed 10x as many people as it saved. The purpose of the quote was to provoke, clearly, but the idea does have a lot of merit. (One of his points was that the mortality rate of skin cancer was very low compared to the cancers that people with low vitamin D are at increased risk of getting).

No, and my doctor said I should be fine with that. I'm just not sure if it's absolutely necessary. (My mom is freaked and about to drag me there herself.)


Over the past year my doctor has sent me numerous articles about low Vitamin D. It used to be thought that African Americans had a higher death rate from cancer and a slew of other diseases due to poverty and little access to healthcare. However, the thinking now is that a lot of these illnesses are brought about by low Vitamin D. A good range of D is between 55 - 80 or so. When I was tested I was at 17. I'm still really, really low now and they're upping my D levels to 50,000 IU once a week and about 2800 IU per day. 

The funny thing is that I run almost everyday outside, but slather on sunscreen, wear a hat, and cover up. I didn't want skin cancer.

Sadly, many blacks do not know about this. I had never heard it and I visit the doctor regularly. I just happened to stumble upon a gyno that was researching this and wanted to check my levels just out of curiosity after my embolism. He said he would bet me money that my vitamin D level was below 20 and he was right.

Take a fish oil supplement each morning along with whatever other nutritional supplements you take.  That'll bring up your vitamin D levels.

^Or - just a thought - a D supplement?

Bingo. I'm taking a prescription. Over the counter isn't enough.

What are your hesitations about the H1N1 vaccine?  Anything I might be able to help with?

No. I'm just cheap and don't want to pay for it or take the time for it. I'm working 2 jobs, going to school full time and I just don't have the time or patience to deal with it. And, I'm broke. Being sick is expensive.

The H1N1 vaccine is free.  If anything you can only be charged a small fee that a clinic might charge in order to not have a loss.  However I haven't heard of any clinic charging a fee.

I didn't know it's free. Where do I get one and NOT take time off work to get it?

Here is a resource for you.  It might be a bit before you are in a group that are being done, but it sounds like you should do it.  Your doctor should be able to do it for free as well.

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/DEMO/php/myfluclinic.htm (http://www.doh.state.fl.us/DEMO/php/myfluclinic.htm)

Thanks, Maine. I'll look into it.

Just digging this back up to say my 5 year old got the mist vaccine on Thursday and she has had zero problems.