How many kids are actually getting vaccinated?

indigo girl · Dec 4, 2009

I'll be interested in hearing how your clinic experience compares with the school experiences.

It's a real shame about those kids. Not getting vaccinated could turn out to be a risky decision

after Xmas if there is a third wave. There will still be many, many susceptible hosts out there.

There are parts of the country where it is difficult for perfectly healthy people to get the vaccine.

My best friend lives just outside Philadelphia, and still has not been able to get it. Her child's

school did not offer it. She drove all the way to Reading for his first dose of Flumist, and has yet

to be able to get an injection for herself.

The outbreaks are dying down in many places right now which may create more complacency

that this is over. History tells us that this may be premature, but we can always hope. I am

more than tired of reading the heartbreaking stories of the unfortunate families who have lost

someone through a flu that is so mild in most cases. Why does one person die when another is

barely affected? Until we can answer that question, it's risky not to protect our families with a

vaccine. The cost is huge if you lose the gamble, and I would hate to be the mom that decided

wrong. At this point, far more lives are being adversely affected by the virus than any vaccine side

effect could be, and this is for a relatively not bad pandemic. Let us hope that this virus does not

change very much in the next few months.

paacollins · Dec 4, 2009

Our school recently offered free seasonal flu shots and I was amazed at home many didn't take advantage. I hope many of them had already gotten the shots at their own Peds but....... H1N1 isn't offered here yet excecpt for high risk patients. Once it is, my kids will get it as well. I've never gotten flu shots before but this year I think it is necessary. Just too much flu and way too early.

itsmejuli · Dec 4, 2009

I agree, the possibility of a third wave of H1N1 could be tragic for many who missed out on getting the vaccine.

I was happy to see today that we had a good turnout of teachers getting the vaccine.

kcochrane · Dec 5, 2009

Let's remember that many times those consent forms don't get to the parents. Out of 2 kids, only 1 got one to me. I signed up my children not thinking the ped would ever get some. They finally did and I had them vaccinated at the peds office. I guess you probably have mix of parents that fear the vaccine, parents that never go the form and children that got vaxed somewhere else. If I talk to the school nurse, I'll see what the numbers are here.

suejara · Dec 6, 2009

Most of the parents in our pediatric pratice want their children to receive both the seasonal & H1N1 vaccinations but they are a few who say its "too new" or worry about the thimerosal in them. We have already used up the entire supply of seasonal flu, last year what lasted us 6 months (Oct-April) we used up in two months. We have tried ordering more but manufacturers dont have any (they already have contracts with other places).

I am preparing myself for a new wave of angry parents on Monday.

itsmejuli · Dec 6, 2009

Today I was doing vaccinations in a general clinic. Turn out was low, just over 230 people were vaccinated in 4 hours. The weather was bad so perhaps many didn't come out because of that.

Yes, there's a shortage of regular flu vaccine here also. I've heard this is due to the production of H1N1 vaccination.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Dec 6, 2009

pa health departments are slowly getting their supply of h1n1 vaccine and set up appointments at their centers for high risk groups to come in--- i received vaccine injection last week as home care rn. they are not immunizing in schools in my philly burb county due to shortage but did so in philadlephia.

indigo girl tell your friend to check h1n1 vaccine locations in pa daily for updates re clinics.

angelausp · Dec 11, 2009

I know health officials have recommended that children under the age of 10 receive 2 doses of the H1N1, but becasue of the shortage of the vaccine many children haven’t been able to receive their second dose. This is a serious concern of mine. Especially considering very few children show a strong enough response after just one dose.

itsmejuli · Dec 11, 2009

My county and the one north of me will have completed the second doses in the schools by the end of next week.

Both counties are now running general H1N1 vaccinations.

Today I gave about 135 shots. I'm going to be dreaming about syringes and arms tonight LOL.

Tomorrow I'm giving more shots in a shopping mall.

We figure about 10% of the school children got immunized, this wasn't due to lack of vaccine here.