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Herckleperckle
| Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 2:24 pm
Finally, here is another helpful article. I copied it from a site called Pediatrics, mod'd by a Dr. Vincent Ianelli, M.D.: " Keep in mind that beginning next year, the flu shot will be formally recommended for all children 6 to 23 months of age. Influenza Facts Influenza is a viral illness that can cause fever, cough, chills, sore throat, headache and muscle aches, usually about 1-4 days after being exposed to someone with the flu. Symptoms are usually mild to moderate in most people, but can be more severe in the elderly or very young children, causing thousands of deaths each year (mostly elderly people). You can get the flu if: you are around someone with the flu that coughs or sneezes and the germs enter your body through your mouth or nose you touch something, such as a door knob or sink faucet, that has been touched and contaminated by someone with the flu, and you then touch your own mouth or nose Unlike many other viruses, there actually are treatments for influenza, but they must be started very early in the course of the illness and usually within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. These treatments include the medications amantadine (Symmetrel), rimantadine (Flumadine), zanamivir (Relenza), and oseltamivir (Tamiflu). Influenza Vaccine Facts The influenza vaccine, is an inactivated or killed vaccine, and is changed each year to keep up with the most common strains of the influenza virus that are circulating and most likely to cause infections. The influenza vaccine is available for children over the age of six months. To produce a good response, the first year that they get it, children under nine years of age need two doses of the vaccine given at least one month apart. Children over nine years and younger children who have previously had a flu shot only need a single injection each year. Vaccine side effects are usually mild, and may include soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was given, fever, and/or aches, and usually only last for 1-2 days. Children under 12 years should receive the 'split virus' influenza shot, which is associated with fewer side effects than the 'whole virus' influenza vaccine. Children over 12 years and adults can receive either the split virus or whole virus influenza vaccine. More serious side effects can rarely include a life-threatening allergic reaction. For more information, including the Latest News on the 2003/04 Flu Season, please visit our guide to Kids and the Flu.
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Lostintheglades
| Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 2:30 pm
Looks like it could be a risk either way. DH always gets sick after he gets the shot so I'm not sure he'll go for it this year. None of us have any health issues and we have no elderly people we're around so we will probably abstain again and take our chances.
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Danzdol
| Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 2:34 pm
Hmm this thread is interesting. I had no idea all of this was going on around me I went to my babie's 18 month appointment yesterday and the doctor said " Today he gets the polio vaccine and we also have the flu shot if you want it" I asked him what he recommended and he said he strongly recommended it for him. I approved it. Dylan is a healthy boy so I kind of questioned it. I am glad I did it now that I found out about all of the deaths. I have never heard of so many kids dying from the flu...that is just very very odd.
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Grooch
| Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 2:41 pm
This is what I found on MSNBC's website about why so many kids are dying from it. The CDC said it would closely watch flu complications among children, who have swamped hospitals in some states and surprised doctors with the severity of their illnesses. A new concern is the rise of a common drug-resistant staph infection that is undermining efforts to treat children with the flu, an official with the CDC said Monday. Dr. Tim Uyeki, epidemiologist with the influenza branch of CDC, said that some children have died from the staph infections — a phenomenon the CDC has not seen before. Flu and its complications are the sixth leading cause of death nationally among children age 4 and younger, according to the CDC. Link
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Cathie
| Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 2:47 pm
Our local physicians are also strongly pushing the flu vaccine for pregnant patients--many of those who are pregnant and had the flu have needed ICU care to recover.
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Cathie
| Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 3:43 pm
Grooch, I think we are seeing a lot more drug resistant infections than ever before. One of the causes is people's lack of following directions when taking antibiotics. A lot of people do not take the meds for the full prescribed course of 7-10 days, they quit them when they feel better. This does not kill the underlying bacteria, and starts it on the road to becoming resistant to the drug. Also, some physicians routinely give antibiotic prescriptions for virus symptoms because the patient "expects" it--this is crazy to me! Taking antibiotics when they are not necessary is just asking for trouble IMHO. My secretary's doctor prescribes antibiotics for her family over the phone based on a description of symptoms, never seeing the patient or running lab work. Then she is one of those who stops the dose when the patient feels better and saves the rest for whichever family member gets sick the next time (whether an antibiotic is called for or not.) Yikes, I guess you can tell this is a sore subject for me--I'll climb down from my soap box now...
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Wendo
| Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 6:33 pm
Ok, I have a question. I'm 34 and healthy. Should I get a flu vaccination (shot or nasal mist)? I mean, I don't want to take it away from someone who really needs it. And, using the nasal vaccination which is live doesn't really interest me frankly. (My mom can't have the vaccination because she's allergic to eggs. The virus is cultured in egg products I guess.) What are other people who are not high risk and the same age range as I doing? Just curious.
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Skootz
| Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 5:21 am
If it is offered to you I would Wendo. Most people esp. high risk ones - should of had their flu shot in Oct/Nov I have had the flu shot for the past 4 years now.
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Herckleperckle
| Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 8:19 am
I would always consult my doctor for his/her opinion. My former company gave free flu shots at work, regardless of the employee's age. And, many employees your age took advantage of the protection. I skipped it until I reached age 50 for the same reason you gave--supply was usually limited and I didn't want to take from someone else. Personally, I think you are safe in skipping the shot unless (paraphrased this from above info)the following situation applies to you: " . . . If your home has an immunosuppressed person or a child less than age 2, all household members should be immunized to prevent flu in the household."
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Herckleperckle
| Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 8:42 am
Ooops! Or you are around someone who is pregnant!
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Brenda1966
| Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 8:53 am
These are my thoughts Wendo: how often are you exposed to kids or people with kids or the general public -- ie. how likely are you to catch the flu? Then, how likely are you to pass it on to mom? If your mom is in a high risk category (like being elderly) then my biggest worry would be passing the flu onto her and I would not get the nasal mist. I tend to catch every bug around so I've been getting flu shots for years and I'm still in my thirties.
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Cathie
| Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 9:01 am
Another suggestion for anyone with an immunosuppressed family member or an elderly parents is to get a pneumonia shot, too. They do not have to be taken annually--if you are young it will last for years, but elderly patients will have to repeat it every few years.
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Starfire
| Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 9:33 am
I have been reading about the flu that is going around and it says it is not infecting older people as much as children. Also what is in the flu shots this year is not helping some people.
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Djgirl
| Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 10:38 am
I have gotten my flu shot for the past three years since our province started offering them free to all. I have never had any side effects other than my arm being tender, but when I do get the flu it lasts at most a week, whereas before I would be sick for at least 1 if not 2 months! I highly recommend it.
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Cathie
| Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 4:13 pm
Starfire, the problem with the flu shots this year is that it was created to prevent three expected forms of flu and a fourth has emerged that is not specifically treated by the shot. The shot will probably lessen the severity of this type of flu, but not as much as it will the original three.
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Wendo
| Saturday, December 13, 2003 - 2:29 pm
Thanks all for replying to my questions. So, here's the deal on what I did. First, I'm heading out of the country for Xmas. (My mom and I are going to Rome, Italy. My sis and her husband joining us five days later.) I really didn't want to have the chance of getting sick while going to Italy. So, I had decided to get the nasal mist since I knew getting the shot would be completely impossible. I went to a pharmacy that's still giving out the mist. They didn't have it in stock (getting it this coming Tuesday) but another store did so I went there. I talked with the pharmicist who does the procedures and, as Brenda above noted, she explained that the nasal mist is a live virus. (I knew that but didn't think about it.) Since my mom is 65 (though in good health), I decided that I would skip the flu mist. (Don't want to get mom sick on our trip.) Well, this pharmicist was really nice. She had gotten in 45 flu shot doses on Wednesday. She did her calculations and said she'd give me a shot since she had a couple doses extra. Obviously I'm not high risk, and I told her I didn't want to take it from someone else. But, she said no problem. She gave it to me since I'm going out of the country. She was SOOO nice! So, in the end, I've got the shot (yesterday in fact. And yes, it does make your arm tender. LOL!) Anyway, it all worked out. So, again, thanks all for your comments.
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Herckleperckle
| Sunday, December 14, 2003 - 10:27 pm
I hope people are still coming to this thread. I received a couple of messages from SoLifeLike about her 3 1/2 year old boy, who had what I think was a VERY close call with the flu. Solifelike has given her approval to refer you to my folder to read her posts. Her messages are both dated December 14. The first is at 1:08 pm and the second, at 6:49 pm. Thanks, Solifelike! I agree, it is a public service to share this info! I am sorry, I do not know how to post a link to my folder!
Herckleperckle's Folder
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Herckleperckle
| Sunday, December 14, 2003 - 11:40 pm
Thanks! Who helped me out? That was very nice! 
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Enbwife
| Monday, December 22, 2003 - 7:25 am
This flu thing scares me to death! When I took Nate to his Dr. appt. in early November, the Dr. said not to worry about the flu shot this year unless there's an outbreak. Now all this is happening and he's been sick with a cold and ear infections for the past 3 weeks so I haven't been able to take him in... He's almost back to himself now so I'll take him in this week... so frustrating!!! I wish I'd just had it done way back when.
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Serate
| Monday, December 22, 2003 - 9:57 am
I was one of those people that got sick when I took the shot. I'd ache all over, have a bad headache, and my tummy would be queasy. When I have gotten the flu shot in the past I learned a trick from the nurse where I worked. When you know you are going to get a flu shot the day before and the day of drink lots and lots of water and take 2 Ibuprofin or Tylenol before you go to bed the night you got the shot. I'd still feel a little off, but nothing compared to before I drank all the water. Haven't been able to get a shot this year because everytime it's been offered I had a stuffy/runny nose and they would refuse to give it to me. It's just my normal winter allergies, but.... I don't work at the place I've gotten the shots the past 3 years and I don't have a normal doctor so I just can't get the shot. I don't blame the clinics for not giving me a shot but with 3 of 4 family members at high risk I'm afraid I might get the flu and give it to them. I'm sorry but I don't believe that flu shots are some sort of EVIL SCAM!
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Enbwife
| Tuesday, December 30, 2003 - 9:23 pm
Nate got over his sickness last week so we took him in for the first 1/2 of the flu shot on Sunday. He did very well with it and didn't react at all. I have to take him back for the second 1/2 in 4 weeks. I feel a sense of relief that he has it. There is flu all around our area everywhere we turn right now. Hope the shot helps us all.
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Herckleperckle
| Tuesday, December 30, 2003 - 11:07 pm
Enbwife, glad to hear your Nate is doing well. You're in Ontario, I see. Hope the shot helps, and let us know how things go. Wishing you and your loved ones (and esp. your Nate) health and happiness in 2004!
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Enbwife
| Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 10:49 am
Hi Herckleperckle. Yes, we're in Ottawa. It's +3 today and there's green grass everywhere - weird! Happy new year to you also.
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Herckleperckle
| Thursday, January 01, 2004 - 11:35 pm
Wow, Enbwife. Three degrees!!! I will never complain again about being too cold!
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Maris
| Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 2:57 pm
Do you have a link for that Pediatrics site and the Guide to Kids and Flu
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Eliz87
| Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 4:12 pm
Maris, it's http://www.aap.org/. You'll find what you need on their homepage.
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Maris
| Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 4:29 pm
Thanks Eliz, My son may have the early symptoms of the flu so thought I would check symptoms.
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