Should I get a Flu Shot? - Page 2

[musemor]

I hope you don't feel bad because of the thread, AndiG. I think most people (you and me included) are trying to explain how they came to their personal decision. It's hard not to feel defensive when people are drawing different conclusions from the same information, especially when the conclusion they draw is that they would be hurting their family if they did or didn't vaccinate. It sort of implies judgement (i.e. vaccinating hurts my family and if you do it, you are hurting yours). But I don't think it is always meant that way. I hear you on the hormone factor.

And FWIW, I think there are a lot of people on MDC who are vaccinating their kids (whether on a delayed or "standard" schedule). I am, not because I necessarily think it will protect my daughter against a particular disease, but because I think it's my responsibility as a global citizen. Obviously I educate myself so that I can ensure her health as well as the health of the world population. i.e. Just because there would be fewer HepB cases if everyone were vaccinated as an infant doesn't mean that my daughter needs a HepB vax as a baby. It's a tough line to walk, though, but I guess most parenting decisions are that way. I don't have any less respect for someone who chooses not to vax, or who vaxes on a different schedule than we will. If anything I have more respect for people who have done the research and are making an informed decision (whether to vax or not).

Apologies for posting tangentially on the flu thread. Vaccination is such a knee-jerk issue that I think it's important to separate adult/pregnancy vax and childhood vax.

[AndiG]

don't worry, the thread wasn't upsetting me. It was just something I was emotionally talking about WHILE being hormonal about everything else on the planet.

[HerthElde]

AndiG and musemor, I certainly didn't mean to imply that you haven't done your research on the issue. However, many people new to MDC come in on the pregnancy boards, and many don't even realize that there is another POV. When I came to MDC a couple years ago, I thought non-vaxxers were a little whacko I thought I had "done my research", as I had looked at the quackwatch type stuff, the government sites, had a science degree, etc. It wasn't until I ventured a bit further, and I wouldn't have done so without the urging of these boards, that I realized how much more info there was out there.
I also truly believe that you can show two people the same information and it's possible for them to come to vastly different conclusions. This is why I feel it is possible to be fully informed and still choose to vax. Different people simply bring different perspectives. However, I also see a lot of people on both sides of the issue who think they are fully informed who really aren't, kwim?
The study that I mentioned, musemor, may have even been just a review of the literature, but it showed a correlation. However, I looked at it in passing, and can honestly say that by the time I saw it, it was a moot point for me, so I don't recall where I saw it . I pretty much just threw it out there as something that ppl could look further into if interested.
Does the CDC site say who makes the thimerosol-free vaccine, and have a link to the ingredients within? Just curious if you noticed it in passing, I don't expect you to dig around for it.

[EllasMama]

It's very true that the same information can be interpreted differently depending on your "filter." For me, I started out wary of vaccines but uncommitted. I found that my daughter has food allergies including to eggs, which are often used to make vaccinations. So on top of the pros and cons, I have the filter of seeing the issue from the point of view of someone whose child is potentially more likely to react to vaccinations. I also have never-to-be-answered questions about the influence of vaccines on my own health, so all of that figures in. I think the subject of vaccinations is a hard one because (this is my opinion) there is no one obvious, perfect, solid answer, for either ourselves or our children. Like so many other things in motherhood, the lack of total certainty means you enter a potential "damned if you do, damned if you don't" zone.

Carol

[my5girls]

After researching the topic to death, I did get vaccinated with the inactivated vaccine yesterday. With DD #4, I did get the flu, and wound up in the hospital for over a day with a 103 fever. I have 3 school-age children, and plenty of school-age nephews who come over often and share their germs with us.

After speaking to several medical professionals, the conclusion is that the amount of mercury present in a vaccine is equal to a small serving of tuna fish. I don't eat seafood anyway (I'm allergic), so I don't believe one small serving of tuna fish will cause harm. I had to weigh the benefits; I don't want to be hospitalized again...

[musemor]

Originally Posted by HerthElde

Does the CDC site say who makes the thimerosol-free vaccine, and have a link to the ingredients within? Just curious if you noticed it in passing, I don't expect you to dig around for it.

The CDC flu site didn't have specific manufacturers listed, but it didn't take much digging to find out the approved manufacturers and their thimerosal levels.

The following info is current as of September 6, 2005.

There are six FDA-licensed influenza vaccines.

Listed in order: Trade Name, Manufacturer, Thimerosal Concentration, Mercury

Fluzone, Aventis Pasteur Inc., 0.01%, 25 µg/0.5 ml dose
Fluvirin, Evans, 0.01%, 25 µg/0.5 ml dose
Fluzone (no thimerosal), Aventis Pasteur Inc., 0, 0
Fluvirin (preservative free), Evans, < 0.0004%, < 1 µg/0.5 ml dose
Fluarix, GlaxoSmith-Kline, < 0.0005%, < 1.25 µg/0.5 ml dose

You can read the package insert for the various types of Fluzone here.