[JustBarbara]

I am curious as to how many of you already have had your regular flu shot and/or the H1N1 flu shot. How are your pediatrician's office dealing with the issue of supply and demand? Are your daycare providers getting shots or encouraging parents to get their kids the shots? I know there is so much misinformation out there, even among some pediatricians - which is really scary!

DS got both shots this past Saturday - the office was open from 8am-noon and they vaccinated over 600 kids ... people started to line up at 630am (and it was unseasonably cold!) and they only gave the swine flu shot to kids under 10 or if they were over 10 they had younger siblings. They had to cancel the next two clinics because they are not sure when they will get more vaccine. Neither DS nor I had any side effects. I got the regular flu shot courtesy of work (university so just had to show my ID) and am not in the age group who are most prone to have complications from getting the swine flu. What about the rest of you?

P.S. I never got a flu shot until I became a parent!

[MamaS]

Spiderman got his regular flu shot two weeks ago from his pediatrician. I got the regular flu shot from my doctor. No side effects.
The Swine Flu nasal spray is available only through the County Public Health Department for healthy people between the ages of 3 and 29. He got his last week. No side effects -- unless you count a craving for ice cream immediately after the spray! lol
The Swine flu shot (not yet available) will be given to children with chronic illness, pregnant women, health workers, public service workers, and people who work with young children.

[Tammy2005]

I wont be doing either shot for myself or kids. Tammy

[dac_cincy]

Bug and I got our regular flu shots 2 weeks ago. Bug's ped office will have H1N1 for the kids in another 2 weeks and I have signed him up already. Mariposa's school is providing H1N1 flu shots to all students who requested it but Mariposa's parents in Germany refused to allow her to be vaccinated for regular flu or H1N1 so she will not get them.

I will try to get the H1N1 if additional supplies become available to the general public.

it should be an intersting winter at our house. Mariposa insists she is never sick, so we'll see.

[angelkisses0102]

My kids got the regular flu vax in early September...and as soon as the pedi gets in the H1N1 vax...we will get that. My DS is chronically ill so we get priority but as of yesterday, no shots yet, just the mist which we can't use due to DS's immune system. We are hoping that the pedi gets it in tomorrow... As for us...if we can find someplace that has the shot, we too get priority due living with DS...but who knows when that will be.

Our very large school district has already started with the flu mist at the middle schools but will eventually offer it (combo of mist/shots) to all 250,000+ students. But so far, only about a third of the parents are agreeing.

[devildogwife]

Much like Karen, we have all already gotten regular flu shots. As soon as our ped's office gets the H1N1 shot (can't do the mist either), Cameron will be getting it. He's at the top of the list because he's medically fraigle.

[dance_muffin]

I am so gald you started this thread. I too am interested in hearing about this; as I am getting conflicting advice on whether to vaccinate my older kids this year. We have never had reg. flu shots. Our ped. didn't push for my older kids to get it this year as well. Also, they have a shortage; told me to go to Target or any pharmacy if I decided to pursue. However, they did vaccinate Mollie this fall. I'm still on the fence about both. I never get the flu shot either.

[Travelkid]

Our pediatrician ran out of flu shots and is waiting for the H1N1 shot/nasal spray. Meanwhile my son got the flu, I am not sure if they will still rec'd the shot once he is well since there are so many strains out there.

Jamie has been very sick for two weeks (not a sickly child either) so put some serious thought into whether or not you get flu shots. I always go them before and will never miss a year after how sick I've seen my son these past weeks.

[guatparents2be]

Julian had the regular flu shot only because he has asthma. His peds office had saved some vaccine for high risk kids. At this point we're not planning on doing H1N1.

[ocracoke]

My daughter had the swine flu in August and I am currently recovering from it (in bed all last week). I will not be getting or letting my daughter get the swine flu vaccine. However, we will be getting the seasonal flu vaccine at some point this fall.

Samantha

[ej-momtobe]

DS will probably get the swine flu vaccine once our Ped's office gets ample supply. I probably will too. Right now our area does not have ample supply so they are recommending only high risk patients get it.

We will probably skip the regular flu vaccine this year. I am not a fan of layering on vaccines, and I think the h1n1 is most important for him.

[cmfayz]

My boys got the regular flu shot today. I got mine a few weeks ago. My office and DH's have postponed their flu shot clinics due to the shortage. When H1N1 becomes available here, the boys will get that too.

[shelbydog]

We are getting both. My son's elementary is administering H1N1 with parent consent starting next week which I am really glad about.

I was on the fence about the swine vaccine, but after watching 60 Minutes Sunday, I absolutely will get it for the kids. If anyone saw it, you'll understand. It is a very dangerous flu, as is the regular flu too. Both can take a healthy person (with no chronic illness BTW) and land them in the ICU very quickly.

[ChristyQO]

I got the seasonal shot in early Oct. and got the H1N1 today. I was on the fence about getting it but we have 3 confimed cases in our small hospital right now (I am an RN). When you get sick, you get SICK. It is BAD. THese cases are taken very seriously. Hepa filter rooms, staff completely garbed up including N-95 masks (special masks for airborn/droplet protection). Scary.
I only got it because I am in such close quarters while taking care of these patients. ANd I now can not get it and give to my childen. I am probably NOT going to have my kids vaccinated. Not enough is known about H1N1 vaccines yet, IMO. If they do get symptoms, they will be at the Dr. office ASAP to get the Tamiflu. (must receive it within the first 48 hours to be effective.) I have discussed this with my childrens DR. and he said since they are healthy and non-compramised, to hold off on the shot/mist. (and call him if we need the Tamiflu). If my children were compramised, I might have a different view on all this...
Around here, pharmacies are adjusting adult doses down to make kid doses so they have enough. I saw on CNN today that many areas are doing this.
Just my $.02...

[lisaf1]

DD had the flumist in late Sept and has an appt for the H1N1 nasal mist the end of this month. Her pediatrition said she had to wait 30 days from the flumist before she could have the H1N1 nasal mist. Her Dr's office will only give H1N1 vaccine or nasal mist to children under 5 at the current time due to the limited supply.
I had the regular flu shot the end of Sept.

Lisa