Has anyone else here had the H1N1 vaccine?

[innerkitten]

I have asthma and was able to get it last thursday at a local vaccine clinic. They were basically bringing in all the pregnant women and small children in first ( for a good reason ) and then taking high risk adults in slowly. I waited three hours and thought towards the end they were going to run out before I got to the front. My daughter was able to get hers three weeks ago at her doctors office. Has anyone else here had the vaccine?

 

[neatfreak]

My little guys had it last week. We got lucky because we called the docs office right as they were starting to make a list because they JUST got it in. But most of my girlfriends haven't been able to find it for their little ones yet.

 

[innerkitten]

Neatfreak, Tell your friends to try the local health departments. Thats how I found out about the clinics in my area.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 11/2/2009 1:22:42 PM
Author: innerkitten
Neatfreak, Tell your friends to try the local health departments. Thats how I found out about the clinics in my area.

Oh I did. They are asking those in the area who have insurance around here not to go though-and to leave those doses for people without insurance. But I mentioned that if they can''t find it anywhere else that they can get it there but not until next week around here.

 

[Porridge]

I''m not in an at-risk group, so it will probably be later in the week for me!

 

[MustangGal]

My pedi finally got in some for 4 years plus, but none of the infant ones yet

. My pregnant SIL and her 3 year old got theirs over a week ago in CA though. I''m not really in one of the high risk groups, other than having a 9 month old, so I probably won''t get one, but I do want to get the baby one.

 

[vespergirl]

Yes, I am 16 weeks pregnant, and I have had both the h1n1 and seasonal flu shots, and my 35 month old son has also had both shots (he needs to get his second dose of h1n1 vaccine in late Nov.).

My son had no side effects from either vaccine - he also didn't have any side effects from the flu shots he had during the two previous years.

I had a headache and was tired after my h1n1 shot, but I have been getting almost daily headaches during this pregnancy, so it probably was not related to the shot. I also only got 4 hours of sleep the night before, so that probably explains my fatigue.

One of my friends had her baby son hospitalized for several days for h1n1 flu just a few weeks ago. I can't imagine anyone choosing that type of suffering and danger for their child over the protection of a vaccination.

 

[TravelingGal]

Vesper, did you find any of the thimerisol free ones? I am trying to help my friend who is scared to get it (the regular ones). She has triplets and at 22 weeks is measuring like a 34 week preggo.

She just emailed me back and said she hasn''t been actively seeking them preservative free ones so I may have to find out for her.

 

[february2003bride]

No, we aren''t. DH and I aren''t in the high risk category and my youngest son had H1N1 3 weeks ago and my oldest son had it last week. My DD (knock on wood) has not had it evn though 14% of the school was out last week with H1N1-like symptoms. But since my sons had it, they are now immune to it. We are doing the seasonal flu shot though.

 

[E B]

I was told by my doctor that there would be shots available at a high school 45 minutes away the morning of Halloween, so husband, baby and I made the trek. We got there right on time, and stood in a line HUNDREDS of people long for about ten minutes, in the rain, before bailing. It was ridiculous.

It looked like a free-for-all, which IMO, isn't fair. Those in the high-risk group should be first priority. As of now, I'm not sure what we'll do. We can't stand in line with a four-month-old for HOURS before one of these 'clinics' opens. I'm hoping our doctor's office will receive a shipment soon.

 

[janinegirly]

I decided against the H1N1 vaccine even though our pedi has said she has it. My DD is 13 months and little exposure to others--my mother watches her full time and also has little exposure to others (ie not in close contact in contained areas, regularly washes hands, purel everywhere). DH and I will get the seasonal flu shot as we commute to a large city---but are not high risk cases otherwise.


I'd say among my friends it's 50/50 for those who got the h1n1 vaccine for their kids.

 

[february2003bride]

Date: 11/2/2009 1:52:49 PM
Author: EBree
I was told by my doctor that there would be shots available at a high school 45 minutes away the morning of Halloween, so husband, baby and I made the trek. We got there right on time, and stood in a line HUNDREDS of people long for about ten minutes, in the rain, before bailing. It was ridiculous.

It looked like a free-for-all, which IMO, isn''t fair. Those in the high-risk group should be first priority. As of now, I''m not sure what we''ll do. We can''t stand in line with a four-month-old for HOURS before one of these ''clinics'' opens. I''m hoping our doctor''s office will receive a shipment soon.

That sucks Ebree! Honestly, I worry about who is adminstering the vaccines at these clinics. DH gave blood at a blood drive that was sponsered by the Red Cross (I think?). Anyway, the person completely botched his arm, which was black, purple, blue then yellow for weeks and our dr. was concerned about a potential blood clot (it was that bad). Ugh, it was scary. So whenever I read or hear about clinics set up at Target, someones office, a gym, etc. I worry who is actually competant to administer the shot!

 

[packrat]

My kids got it a couple weeks ago b/c I work at the Dr''s office. They gave my dose away so I have to wait until we get more in. (They''re guessing I already had it when I was so sick, but I wasn''t re-tested) Public Health has done a couple clinics, but only for certain risk groups.

 

[absolut_blonde]

I got my H1N1 vaccine and seasonal flu vaccine at the same time last week. No real complaints, except for a terrible case of the chills later on in the evening. I felt really dreadful! Exactly how you do when you have a fever, hot yet cold and completely uncomfortable. I took my temperature three times, I was so convinced that I had a fever, but it was normal.

Felt fine the next day and still feel good. Oh, and the arm that I got the H1N1 shot in was SUPER sore later on in the day. I could hardly lift it! It went away within a day or two though.

I got the adjuvanted Canadian shot, which I think is different from the shot they will be distributing in the US.

 

[Madam Bijoux]

I haven''t had the regular flu shot or the swine flu shot.
I asked my doctor about getting the shots last week, and he seemed indifferent about it. He said I could get the regular flu shot if I wanted, but he didn''t have any vaccine in the office and didn''t know if he would be getting any. He also said I would be last on the priority list for the swine flu shot.
They''re very worried about it at work - today they gave hand sanitizers to everyone.

 

[E B]

Date: 11/2/2009 2:03:43 PM
Author: february2003bride

That sucks Ebree! Honestly, I worry about who is adminstering the vaccines at these clinics. DH gave blood at a blood drive that was sponsered by the Red Cross (I think?). Anyway, the person completely botched his arm, which was black, purple, blue then yellow for weeks and our dr. was concerned about a potential blood clot (it was that bad). Ugh, it was scary. So whenever I read or hear about clinics set up at Target, someones office, a gym, etc. I worry who is actually competant to administer the shot!

I totally agree, but unfortunately, I haven't found a doctor's office with any available. I wasn't even planning to get the darn thing, but my husband, son and I will be flying in three weeks and airports/airplanes are germ pits.

 

[charbie]

i work in a nursing home, and even our local hospitals haven''t all gotten it in yet! we ordered 300 doses- hopefully they get here soon!

i''m just waiting until we get it for free at work- i talked to my doctor about it today, and she said had they known earlier it was going to be such a crazy pandemic this flu season it would have just gone in with the regular flu shots.

i hate flu shots tho...i always have a very sore arm for a few days!

 

[Skippy123]

My sister (a new mom to a 6 wk old) and nephew (3 yrs old) got the H1N1 and they are doing great. I need to get the regular flu shot and hubby got the flu shot.

 

[vespergirl]

Date: 11/2/2009 1:49:21 PM
Author: TravelingGal
Vesper, did you find any of the thimerisol free ones? I am trying to help my friend who is scared to get it (the regular ones). She has triplets and at 22 weeks is measuring like a 34 week preggo.

She just emailed me back and said she hasn''t been actively seeking them preservative free ones so I may have to find out for her.

No, we had the ones with preservatives - the preservative-free shots are not yet available anywhere. I called our doctors to ask about it, and both my OB and my son''s pediatrician were adamant that it was far more important to get the vaccines than to worry about trace amounts of thimerosal.

The preservative-free shots may not be available for several months.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 11/2/2009 3:42:51 PM
Author: vespergirl

Date: 11/2/2009 1:49:21 PM
Author: TravelingGal
Vesper, did you find any of the thimerisol free ones? I am trying to help my friend who is scared to get it (the regular ones). She has triplets and at 22 weeks is measuring like a 34 week preggo.

She just emailed me back and said she hasn''t been actively seeking them preservative free ones so I may have to find out for her.

No, we had the ones with preservatives - the preservative-free shots are not yet available anywhere. I called our doctors to ask about it, and both my OB and my son''s pediatrician were adamant that it was far more important to get the vaccines than to worry about trace amounts of thimerosal.

The preservative-free shots may not be available for several months.

Thanks Vesper. I am hearing that they are available but so hard to find. I just posted a link in FHH about thimersol free ones being given to preggers only in OC. Amelia''s ped said that they even lifted the ban here in CA on thimerosal free for babies/kids because there is such a shortage. I got the green light to vac Amelia with the regular H1N1 shot if I can find it.

And for some reason today, I am having a REALLY difficult time spelling thimerosal!!!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 11/2/2009 3:48:13 PM
Author: TravelingGal

Date: 11/2/2009 3:42:51 PM
Author: vespergirl

Date: 11/2/2009 1:49:21 PM
Author: TravelingGal
Vesper, did you find any of the thimerisol free ones? I am trying to help my friend who is scared to get it (the regular ones). She has triplets and at 22 weeks is measuring like a 34 week preggo.

She just emailed me back and said she hasn''t been actively seeking them preservative free ones so I may have to find out for her.

No, we had the ones with preservatives - the preservative-free shots are not yet available anywhere. I called our doctors to ask about it, and both my OB and my son''s pediatrician were adamant that it was far more important to get the vaccines than to worry about trace amounts of thimerosal.

The preservative-free shots may not be available for several months.

Thanks Vesper. I am hearing that they are available but so hard to find. I just posted a link in FHH about thimersol free ones being given to preggers only in OC. Amelia''s ped said that they even lifted the ban here in CA on thimerosal free for babies/kids because there is such a shortage. I got the green light to vac Amelia with the regular H1N1 shot if I can find it.

And for some reason today, I am having a REALLY difficult time spelling thimerosal!!!

What about the nasal one? Does that have Thirmerosal? I''m allergic to eggs and was told that because of that I cannot get the injectable one. . .(I don''t plan to get the vaccination unless it becomes mandatory. For some reason, I can forsee it becoming a law or something that everyone gets it!)

 

[mayachel]

MC: Most people who fall into the high-risk category and so qualify to get the vaccine early, are not good candidates for the nasal spray. The nasal immunization is made from live (though weakened) virus vs. the shot which is not. It is NOT POSSIBLE to contract the flu from the shot, whereas there is a slight risk of contracting it from the nasal spray.

 

[diamondringlover]

I have asthma and diabetes, I havent been able to get either shot H1N1 or the regular flu shot, no one has them in my area

my son has asthma and even his asthma specialists cant get the shots...I am a little freaked out this year

 

[swimmer]

Date: 11/2/2009 3:48:13 PM
Author: TravelingGal

Date: 11/2/2009 3:42:51 PM

Author: vespergirl

Date: 11/2/2009 1:49:21 PM

Author: TravelingGal

Vesper, did you find any of the thimerisol free ones? I am trying to help my friend who is scared to get it (the regular ones). She has triplets and at 22 weeks is measuring like a 34 week preggo.


She just emailed me back and said she hasn''t been actively seeking them preservative free ones so I may have to find out for her.

No, we had the ones with preservatives - the preservative-free shots are not yet available anywhere. I called our doctors to ask about it, and both my OB and my son''s pediatrician were adamant that it was far more important to get the vaccines than to worry about trace amounts of thimerosal.


The preservative-free shots may not be available for several months.

Thanks Vesper. I am hearing that they are available but so hard to find. I just posted a link in FHH about thimersol free ones being given to preggers only in OC. Amelia''s ped said that they even lifted the ban here in CA on thimerosal free for babies/kids because there is such a shortage. I got the green light to vac Amelia with the regular H1N1 shot if I can find it.


And for some reason today, I am having a REALLY difficult time spelling thimerosal!!!

It is a hard word to spell once you get thinking about it! I got the shot from my Obstetrician and it was the thimerosal-free variety (the only kind of vacc my hospital has per city ordinance I was told) but many of my friends who are also preggo can''t get the shot because their docs are in private practice and so far only the big hospitals have the thimerosal free variety.

This Thursday every kid in my school whose parents want them to get the shot is getting it for free. Parents just have to sign a consent form. I know that Philly, Boston, and NYC are all doing that this week, herd immunity as they say.

Ebree, that just is awful. so sorry...and in the rain!

 

[LtlFirecracker]

We don''t have it yet. They keep telling us next week....I will get it as soon as I can.

 

[KimberlyH]

I''m in San Diego County, the vaccine wasn''t availale anywhere but county health facilities. We waited about two and a half hours. They were well organized and the wait didn''t seem so long. I was glad to see so many people were able to recieve the shot.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Thimerosol free vaccines cannot be used in any mass campagins (aka multidose) for obvious reasons. As a health care worker I received the vaccine last Thursday.

cheers--Sharon

 

[ljmorgan]

I''m 8 weeks preggo and got the H1N1 vaccine last Wednesday. The injection site was a tiny bit sore that night, but a total breeze compared to a tetanus shot

 

[pjean]

I wish I could get one, because I commute on public transit, work in a hospital, and my husband is immunocompromised. But our hospital has received a whopping 175 doses, which they have (rightly) triaged for pregnant staff.

Sigh...

 

[elrohwen]

I got the regular flu shot at my job and the nurse told me that it also contained the H1N1 vaccine. Now I know that''s probably not accurate, as they were developed separately, but I can''t really go back and ask because I don''t work there anymore. So, no, I guess I didn''t get it, though I was told I had.

I haven''t gotten it yet, though I admit I should try harder to find it. I have mild asthma and am sort of in the high risk group (thought not nearly as much as young children, older people, etc)