We've been offered the swine flu jab....

[The Nappy Lady]

For my two girls (5 and 14 months)....not sure what to do.....I've had it and it was fine, so am leaning towards getting in done, but wondered what others have done about it?

Molly

[lorraineliyanage]

No swine jabs for us, but if you are worried, then better safe than sorry etc. etc.

[candj]

Hi Molly,

No swine flu jab for us either. I'm not anti-jab or anything, but it's been around in my eldest's school since September and although we've all been sick with various things (not sure swine flu or not) I feel it's pointless now. Sorry not to be more helpful.

Best,

-C

[Sanne Panne]

I don't think there's any harm in getting the jab but I have the feeling that the flu isn't turning out to be too nasty (correct me if I'm wrong!)... so my 17 month old and I (12 weeks pregnant) will probably not get it.

[lorraineliyanage]

Were exposed daily to coughs, splutters, swine flu, normal flu (anyone remember that or has it been superceded by swine flue?) colds, stomach bugs, nits and all other weird and wonderful diseases with all the pupils that traipse in and out of my house daily, and so far have avoided everything except for a nasty stomach bug which I think my daughter picked up at nursery anyway!

[The Nappy Lady]

Yes - that's what is making me hesitate - we had quite a few confirmed swine flu cases at school over the summer and I don't honestly know whether we had it or not (I think all we had were very bad colds, but I did have a slight temperature on and off so who knows, maybe they did too).

BUT.....I know a while back some people posted on here to say their little ones were quite poorly with the Swine Flu and the Tami Flu really wasn't nice (had funny side effects), so it is hard to know what to do for the best.

Hey ho. Will keep deliberating.

Thanks for the posts.

Molly

[nunheadmum]

I had the jab a couple of weeks ago and felt much worse with it than the usual flu jabs and my arm was sore for days, which I usually don't get. I think that's putting me off getting it for the kids....I'm wary of days of treating the symptoms being as bad as the flu itself. Not to mention the thoughts of have they already had it, haven't their bodies got enough vaccinations to deal with etc. (Still got to get my little one the MMR - I just remember by eldest taking weeks to get over that one).

That said, the rates for complications amongst young kids do seem higher and if they did get it and something went wrong, I'd probably never forgive myself for not giving the jab simply as I thought it may make my life easier. So we have in the end made an appointment for them...between Xmas and New Year when others are around to share the misery if they do react badly!

[lorraineliyanage]

Molly, I think you if your two pick up illnesses quite easily, then maybe it's something to consider. Iris has only really picked up bugs when I've taken her on the tube lately as that's a hothouse for germs and nasties. Other than that, she's perma-snotty from nursery colds but not in any discomfort. I keep her topped up daily with multivitamins and echinacea (I buy kiddies' liquids from Healthmatters) and try to give her a reasonably healthy diet and so far it works as, touch wood, she's never really been ill. When she's had a temperature, she always sleeps it off and is fine by the morning. My mum also used to say "never sleep with the central heating on" as that makes you ill and I think that works for us. I just wrap her up super warm at night like a little eskimo baby!

[mrsw]

Check out radio 4 "you and yours" yesterday on iplayer - very interesting - think I'll get it for my son as can be nasty in under 5s.

[The Nappy Lady]

Thanks all - will listen to the Radio 4 programme.

My arm was v sore for 2 days afterwards, I couldn't sleep on it, and it is a concern as the last thing I want is them being up in the night.

M

[agathoise]

I found the following two links from New Scientist useful when weighing up the pros and cons (as well as addressing various myths). There's a lot of heresay and opinion circulating about swine-flu and the H1N1 vaccine, I wanted my decision to be evidence-based. Hope these help.

http://www.newscientist.com/special/swine-flu-myths-that-could-endanger-your-life

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18014-swine-flu-myth-the-vaccine-isnt-safe--it-has-been-rushed-through-tests-and-the-last-time-there-was-a-swine-flu-scare-the-vaccine-hurt-people-why-take-the-risk-to-prevent-mild-flu.html

My conclusion was that for us the risks of not vaccinating outweigh the risks of vaccinating, so two of us have had it and the rest will follow as and when we can. I had a very *very* sore arm for almost three weeks (and can still feel where the injection was, four weeks later), although the seasonal 'flu jab I had in the other arm had no reaction at all (both had Thiomersal(C9H9HgNaO2S or sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate) which many people claim is the reason for the often strong reaction to swine flu). OTOH my five year old daughter had no discernible reaction at all.

Agathoise

[DVdad]

I think there is obviously a variation in people's responses to the jab. My wife reported a sore-ish arm and slight headache for a couple of days and I felt an occasional twinge for a few days as well (when touching the site of the jab). Three of our children have had the complete two-dose vaccination; only one reported a sniffliness cum sore throat - I couldn't say whether that related to the vaccination or the usual winter cold. We decided to go ahead with the vaccination because my wife is an NHS professional and one of our daughters has immune system issues. All are well and we have no worries about the decision.

[Smiler]

Are they offering the jab to all children, or just children with health conditions etc?