My kids did NOT get the flu shot in 2010 when H1N1 was running wild, I was also pregnant with our 2 year old. My oldest child DID indeed get H1N1 and I cared for her but no one else in the house got sick.
In 2011 everyone got the shot because L had been born a preemie and was only 8 months old and I felt it was best to protect her (yeah right!) and 4/5 of our kids DID indeed get the flu (including the 8m old preemie!!).
I took all 5 of my kids to get the shot this year, and I got it too. At the pedi's office where they do single dose vials which do NOT contain the preservative Thimerasol (sp?) which is mercury based I *think* so they were all free of that. At our old pedi's office they only gave that one to kids under 2 but here they (the pedi's gave me mine too) gave all 6 of us that one. I only got it because this year it's supposed to contain 90% of the virus protection that's going around where as in past years closer to 30%. On the other hand I know well over 30 people that (we live in a small town too) DID get vax and have all been very sick :( regardless of the fact that they got the damn shot!! but I really chose to get the shot because we're new to the area and I was concerned about the exposure to germs we aren't used to. It also helps that I make my kids carry hand sanitizer to school, remind them to use it while there daily (I even buy cute scents so they enjoy using), tell them all the basics constantly (they think I'm nuts BTW) to wash hands, not to use other's things blah blah blah, at home we wash immediately after school, take off uniforms, spray backpacks with lysol every few days (outside), wipe knobs, remotes, and counter tops with lysol wipes. I try very hard to disinfect our house frequently and with it being 82 degrees today I can open the windows to air things out as well. And I have to do ALL of this for my sanity.
With my pregnancy being so high risk I'm terrified of getting the flu this year too :(
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