Flu and swine flu vaccine!!!

Hi,
This is particularly for all US based moms. How many of you are giving flu and H1N1 vaccines for your children? My LO is getting flu shots nxt week but the H1N1 vaccine is not available as yet. The pedi has no idea as to when she will get it. Iam really freaked out by all the swine flu news that I read and see on the news. Iam afraid to take my LO outside. But well, I cant keep him in a bubble all winter. What precautions are you taking to protect your children. My son is 13 months old. Are there any home remedies to strengthen his immune system?

Hi,

My DD received the flu vaccine two weeks ago. When the pediatrician's office gets their stock of H1N1 shots in the first week of November, she will be getting that, too.

My DS will be vaccinated for both the 'regular' flu AND the swine flu in December, 2009, as soon as he turns 6 months old.

I have been told that the shots are VERY safe as they comprise dead viruses, and not merely weakened ones. For me, immunization / vaccination is the BIGGEST protection.

Also, I carry antibacterial, water-free soap with me all the time. When we go out, DD cleans her hands with this soap just before she eats / drinks anything. She also washes her hands when she comes home from school / play and prior to every meal. The standard recommendation is soap, hot water and good rubbing for AT LEAST 20 seconds to kill any germs sticking to the child's palms or hands at the time.

I do not permit anyone to approach and / or pick up my DS without first washing THEIR hands with my water-free anti-bacterial soap. I request very politely to squirt their hands with soap, telling them that as he is very susceptible to colds, we need them to please clean their hands prior to holding him. So far, no one has objected to this.

Call us paranoid, but all of us ABSOLUTELY avoid using the public bathrooms, unless DD MUST go potty when we are outside. I also wash the kids' clothes separately and in hot water only. Both kids also get daily prescription multivitamins, and I take particular care to ensure that DD gets plenty of liquids, and at least 10 hours of sleep every day. Finally, I keep them current on all of their vaccinations / immunizations. When a child is in reasonably good health, their immune systems are stronger and more capable of fighting off nasty invaders. When it comes to our kids' health, we can never be too aggressive or too paranoid.

Malyatha,
Its great that you are taking all these precautions to protect your kids. My son will be getting flu shots nxt week. H1N1 whenever it is available. That maight take a while. My problem is that my son is at an age when he puts everything into his mouth. He is teething and drools a lot and it gets on on everything. We have a playgroup of about 4-5 moms who meet a couple of times a week. The kids are all touching each other, licking each others toys and constantly putting things in their mouths. It is really hard to monitor them. It only takes a couple of seconds to lick something. Am a little concerned about that.

Originally Posted by NewWoman

My problem is that my son is at an age when he puts everything into his mouth. He is teething and drools a lot and it gets on on everything. We have a playgroup of about 4-5 moms who meet a couple of times a week. The kids are all touching each other, licking each others toys and constantly putting things in their mouths. It is really hard to monitor them. It only takes a couple of seconds to lick something. Am a little concerned about that.

Yep, been there, done that.

Vaccinations, a healthy diet and a safe home environment will slash your DS's chance of 'catching anything' quite a bit.

Also, while it is almost impossible to keep kids from touching or licking each other or their toys, one thing you could do is to cancel any play-dates where any kid (or a sibling) is obviously ill. This might not make you the most popular Mom on the block, but you have to do what you have to do to protect your DS's health.

Additionally, you might want to carry the water-free antibacterial soap that I mentioned in my previous post with you to all of your play-dates - regardless of whether the kids appear to be healthy or not - so that you can freely sprinkle all of the toys that the kids are playing with the soap.

Of course, no preventive method or 'home remedies' are fool proof, but some precautions are really effective.

But there are certain age limitation to get H1N1 vaccine, isnt it? Only those who are 3 and up gets the shots and those under 3 if they have no asthma receives itseems? Is that true everywhere?
My son is 2 years old, he dont go to any play/pre school, only shopping and outing with us, so do i need to give him the shot? cos receiving shot is totally based on us right, not mandatory as far doctor offices are concerned..
What do u all say?

Sanravi,
There is no compulsion to take the H1N1vaccine. It is up to the parents to decide. Dh and I decided to vaccinate our LO just to be on the safer side. But unfortunately vaccine not yet available :(

San,

The target population is strictly identified as:

• Pregnant women

• Children and young adults 6 months through 24 years of age

• Caregivers for children under 6 months of age

• Adults 25 through 64 years of age with underlying medical conditions

• Healthcare and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workers

Sanravi,

Babies older than 6 months can receive the shot. Both my 4-year old and my 9-month old received the first H1N1 shots last week (they both need a booster dose in another month).

They both have also gotten seasonal flu shots.

Thanks everyone.. but is it the nasal or shot that is given to ur baby, i heard nasal is not that good and its better to get shot form.. am i wrong?

Yes, it is better to get in shot form, quick and easy. H1N1 is available in both forms shot or nasal.