So, did you get the H1N1 vaccine?

[Blissful_in_TX]

I know there's another big thread, but just curious for an overall view.

DH got one since he's in the medical field, and I just got one today b/c the nurse in charge of that program for their hospital said they had enough left over for me (mist only...they're still holding onto the shots). I was so grateful and brought her pastries for the department! Normally I wouldn't be so paranoid, but our kids are prone to bacterial respiratory infections after a virus.....and b/c of that they weren't able to get the mist that arrived in the Peds dept yesterday. Who knows when the shot will arrive for them. I mean, I know the flu isn't necessarily a big deal, but for them it could be.

[hlao23]

I got mine last week. Very simple for me as they were offering it to all employees of Student Health. I plan on getting my son and husband vaccinated as soon as more arrive. Employees get the first round and then they'll offer it to our families.

[zwieback]

I got the mist a little less than a month ago. My kids also got the mist. I'll have to take them in another week or so to get their boosters. DH got his through work. He works in a hospital, but wasn't one of the first tier people. No one was showing up, so they gave him the mist.

I am so grateful that we all got ours.

[Love to Run]

Even though I work at a health sciences center there has only been one clinic so far and another one to be held in the next week. I'm a healthy 60 year old so I will have to wait for a while but will get a vaccination when it is available.
Carole

[lindrusso]

Didn't get one. Don't plan on it.

[BucknellAlum]

No - it is nowhere available here. A friend who works for Astra Zeneca got it because they offered it to all employees. An urgent care clinic had some weeks ago for a couple of days.

My DD has viral induced asthma, and her doctor told me to do whatever I could to get the shot (she cannot have the mist) but it is simply unavailable. Our school district requested 5000 doses but they have no idea if they will get them.

I have a friend whose daughter was hospitalized with pneumonia and breathing problems from H1N1 and is probably going to have to go back for another procedure as she still is having breathing problems.

So I am very concerned about the seemingly random distribution of the vaccine. There just doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for where it is available.

[Blissful_in_TX]

Originally Posted by BucknellAlum

So I am very concerned about the seemingly random distribution of the vaccine. There just doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for where it is available.

I hear you about that; remember a few years ago when there was a huge flu vax shortage? I went to our Army hospital for some unrelated shots and the lady asked if she could give a flu vax as well. I said "Oh no, I couldn't do that; I'm not a high risk group." She said "Oh honey, we have a ton of them; if you don't get it we'll end up throwing them out."

[jmarie]

It has not been made available to anyone but school students, here. Hopefully, soon.

[ljt2r]

I voted no but I want one bc I was answering for ME but my girls have both had the mist. Around here it is definitely first tier only still, which I am not. However, I am the queen of bacterial infections and a germ magnet in general (witness my recent bronchitis and sinus infection which no one else in my family got) so I understand the OP's concerns. If the swine flu comes near our family it will be me who gets it. However, bacterial issues don't scare me too much since we do have meds for them. I just know I'll be sick for a while. H1N1's most likely route into my house would be through my kids, and hopefully they are protected (I am hearing now that 1 dose gives more protection than they thought) or through DH, who sees college kids every day.

[Kayaksoup]

I want one, but my doctor is still doing pregnant women only. Even though I qualify for a free flu shot due to "chronic health conditions" (asthma) they won't give me one yet.

[mbrogier]

Rob and I are on a waiting list at our doctor's office to get them once they are available in our area.

Because of my heart issues, I can't have the mist. Rob has asthma, and I don't know if that keeps him from being able to get the mist as well.

I've heard that the h1n1 vaccine is really aggravating to the immune system of someone with autoimmune issues. I saw a fibromyalgia site that was warning patients that there had been widespread complaints of bad flares of their conditions after having the vaccine.

Because of my complicated history, I will discuss this with my doctor and decide whether to just get the regular flu vaccine that I get every year or to go ahead with the h1n1. I know that the HEP B series I received prior to entering college really messed up my immune system and seems to have triggered a lot of my autoimmune issues. I don't want that happening again.

--just for clarification, what I'm referring to is an already sick body's response to the dead virus in a vaccine, not "getting the flu" the week after you get a flu shot because the autoimmune response kicks in immediately and can make you feel flu like.

There are reported cases of h1n1 in my area, but there are NO vaccines available to the general public just yet. I haven't really been going many places, so I haven't been worried.

I also got my pneumonia vaccine this year which is good for 10 years.

--with my heart issues, the flu can quickly cause endocarditis, which can be life threating. My doctor thinks it's worth me getting the flu vaccine every year just in case.

[vbak]

I got the shot on Tuesday at school when they were vaccinating the kids. I am not in the tier group, but I took it anyway. I saw my dr. last week, and he recommended that I get the shot because we are going to Germany to celebrate Christmas with our older DD and her family. I was starting to get freaky about being locked up in a plane for eight hours with people who may be ill. DH will get one on Wed. when they vaccinate the high school kids.

[BucknellAlum]

So are any of you in other parts of the US experiencing situations like the one in our local paper today?

In Burlco, hundreds arrive early to get H1N1 flu vaccine

By Edward Colimore and Matthew Spolar
Inquirer Staff Writers

They started lining up at 8:30 a.m. for free H1N1 vaccinations at a Westampton clinic that wasn't supposed to open until 2 p.m.

Hundreds of pregnant women, infant caregivers, and parents pushing strollers with bundled-up toddlers waited hours in a line that snaked along roads and through parking lots outside the Burlington County Health Department.

With the death of a local high school student last month and news of increasing numbers of H1N1 cases fresh in their minds, they all sought the vaccine that's been in limited supply across New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

In the end, 700 were vaccinated, and about 500 received tickets to come back Friday or to a later clinic, county officials said.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front...at_clinic.html

[LakeMartinGal]

I didn't get one, and don't plan on it. I'm in the age group that probably has built-up immunity, because there was a flu like this one when I was a kid. Age has it's advantages!

[1grl1by]

My employer should get them and I'm 11th on the list, but don't know when they will be available.

[clairea]

We all got vaccinated last week. DS and I got shots because we have asthma, and DH and DD got the mist. There seems to be plenty of mist available here, but the shots are pretty hard to find.

[LaraW]

I tried to go to a clinic yesterday, but it was so mobbed, I didn't feel like waiting for a long time only to be turned away. I was taking my 2 kids, not trying to get it for myself since I would not be eligible.

[KristiB]

Nope and I probably won't since I'm not in any of the target groups. I'm in my 40's and have zero health problems and don't work with kids or sick people.

Mom said I had the original swine flu in the '70's and from what I understand I have some immunity. I've been directly exposed twice this year and so far no illness.

Since it's hard to get I'd hate to take one from someone who needs it.

[MKSquared]

Yup - got the shot. I drove to a (high-risk only) clinic a few weekends ago and didn't have to wait at all. The line was close to a mile long when it first opened, but about 2 hours in, there was no one waiting at all. Filled out the paper work, got the shot, and was on my way. It was really a pleasant experience, to tell the truth.

BucknellAlum - those stories are all too prevalent! Our local high school was featured on the Today show because of the turnout for its first public clinic. We still haven't had my stepson vaccinated yet because of the hours-long lines. I understand that there will be waiting, but I don't see a need to wait for 4 hours.

[Gecko]

It is only available here to school children in Grade 8 and below, people working with small children, and emergency personal. Hopefully a supply will arrive soon but I am guessing it will be mobbed when it gets here. In the meantime I am just following all of the safety precautions and washing my hands a lot.

[Jessica]

I could not get the vaccine for myself or my two children (ages 3 and almost 2). Instead, all four of us got h1n1 last week and we were very sick--it was a horrible week. I am still trying to get the shot for my boys because the ped said there are a lot of strains out there and she recommends they get the vaccine. It is really hard to find it here.

[swedish cook]

Jessica, I am so sorry. What a nightmare!
We are patiently waiting for our turn - checking weekly for availability.
Until now it's been a disadvantage to have health insurance if you live in Dallas.

[Jessica]

Originally Posted by swedish cook

Jessica, I am so sorry. What a nightmare!
We are patiently waiting for our turn - checking weekly for availability.
Until now it's been a disadvantage to have health insurance if you live in Dallas.

Thanks, swedishcook. Not the best week. Do you mean it is easier to get the shot if you qualify for a public clinic? The counties are starting public h1n1 shots for children next week and they are asking people with private insurance to skip the clinics and go to their private clinic. Fine, except the private clinics have no vaccine. I am going to skip the public clinic for now, but may not do so in a month if I still cannot get my children the shots from the private clinic. Insurance means nothing if no vaccine doses are available. The public clinic mostly will have the mist so only DS1 would be able to get a dose anyway.

[ljt2r]

The vaccine is free, provided by the US gov't. Not even your insurance will be charged anything. So whether or not you are insured should not matter. I cannot imagine why they would send you to a private clinic.

[BucknellAlum]

Originally Posted by Jessica

I could not get the vaccine for myself or my two children (ages 3 and almost 2). Instead, all four of us got h1n1 last week and we were very sick--it was a horrible week. I am still trying to get the shot for my boys because the ped said there are a lot of strains out there and she recommends they get the vaccine. It is really hard to find it here.

This confused me a little. Your doc said you should still get the H1N1 vaccine, even though you contracted the H1N1 flu already? Or am I reading your post incorrectly?

[ljt2r]

Originally Posted by BucknellAlum

This confused me a little. Your doc said you should still get the H1N1 vaccine, even though you contracted the H1N1 flu already? Or am I reading your post incorrectly?

I think most doctors are recommending this bc the test for the flu is uncertain and it is possible that many cases of swine flu have been misdiagnosed.

[Jessica]

What Laura said is correct. Our doctor said to get the shot because we were not tested for h1n1. She diagnosed based on how symptoms presented and the fact that we had seasonal flu shots and people around here are mostly getting h1n1. They are not testing unless you are hospitalized. The doctor also said they are not sure getting the flu, even a serious case, confers full immunity. So we know we had the flu, but there are multiple strains and we don't know which strain.

I had no idea the shot was free. I wonder if they told me to use a private clinic because I have access to one, whereas a person without insurance probably doesn't have a regular clinic. I don't want to take a shot from a child with no other access to health care. I just want my kids to get the shot.

[ljt2r]

Jessica: a few thoughts. First, just so people know the test for the flu itself is pretty unreliable, so even then I would say get the vaccine. I was tested twice recently--they tested me a second time, that was how much they relied on the earlier negative. I think they said 60-70% of the time it is right--which is quite low for a medical test you rely on. Second, I cannot speak to where you are, but around here you have to go through gov't sites to even get it, the private clinics are not getting it (yet?). But it is definitely 100% free--my ped told me that there would be zilch to even bill an insurance company for. The gov't is even providing the needles, etc.

[swedish cook]

Originally Posted by Jessica

Thanks, swedishcook. Not the best week. Do you mean it is easier to get the shot if you qualify for a public clinic?

Yep! End of last week there was a mention that those at risk WITH health insurance should also get a chance - just to be fair. Until now it was only those at risk without insurance who were welcomed.

In the meantime a for-profit clinic charging $20 a pop had mistakenly received lots of doses - and was not giving them back. We did not go there but we check with our private clinics on a regular basis.

"All I want for Christmas is a shot in my arm.."

[Terri_A]

I'm not getting the vaccine - but the weeone needs it but we have a dilemma. She's asthmatic, so she's only allowed to get the shot which ticks me off. For the regular flu vaccine our pedi lets her get the mist if we remain at the office for 30 minutes following to insure there is no bronchospasm from it. If you'd ever been in the same building with the weeone when she got a shot or had blood drawn you'd understand. It's ridiculously traumatic - for both of us. She screams as if she's being gutted - has a crazy fear. And if she gets vaccinated she'll have to go through it twice since she's only 7. Ugh. I can't decide what to do.