With last weeks sudden fall of temperature in Switzerland a lot of parents are experiencing flu like symptoms in their children. Runny noses, coughing and soar throats. With these symptoms this falls most talked about decision nears: “Should My Kids Get the H1N1 Vaccine?”
As a mother I want to do the best job I can in protecting my kids from any harm. Seeing as the vaccination starts in early November I feel a deadline coming up and need to inform my self on the subject. This is difficult because I am not a physician. So do we weigh the pros and cons and then go with the gut feeling?
I totally agree with this statement by Dr. Carol J. Baker, a professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston: "There's a lot of bad information out there, and it makes people worry".
Grey zones are always difficult territory. Serious talk often turns into frightening gossip so let`s try to stay clear of the bold printed headlines and focus more on the facts.
Last week, donations of pandemic vaccines for use in developing countries were announced by the United States of America, in concert with Australia, Brazil, France, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
" Children represent the greatest transmitters of influenza, and so preventing them from becoming infected not only would provide benefit to the individual child but also has the greatest potential to have benefit for the population as a whole," said Dr. Michael T. Brady, physician-in-chief of infectious diseases at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Committee on Infectious Diseases.
Mothers are generally the ones that make medical-care decisions for their families, so it's important to get them the facts.
According to WHO, side effects are expected to be similar to those observed with seasonal influenza vaccines. Common side effects include local reactions at the injection site (soreness, swelling, redness) and possibly some systemic reactions (fever, headache, muscle or joint aches). In almost all vaccine recipients, these symptoms are mild, self-limited and last 1-2 days.
However, even very large clinical trials will not be able to identify possible rare events that can occur when pandemic vaccines are administered to many millions of people.
National regulatory authorities for medicines carefully examine the known and suspected risks and benefits of any vaccine prior to its licensing. Because the pandemic virus is new, both non-clinical and clinical trials are being conducted to gain essential information on immune response and safety. Outcomes of trials completed to date suggest that pandemic vaccines are as safe as seasonal influenza vaccines.
Just four out of 39 000 vaccinated in China has felt side effects such as headaches and muscle pains.
Adrienne Randolph, MD, MSC, Division of Critical Care Medicine at Childrens Hospital in Boston says: “Get vaccinated as soon as it is available. My three children will get the vaccine.”
When asked what the risks are she said that the answer is not completely clear. Testing hasn’t yet been performed in an enormous number of children, and longer-term risks can’t be assessed. “There is a very small risk of developing neurologic side effects from the vaccine, but this virus causes a very severe pneumonia that can kill otherwise healthy children. The risks of not getting vaccinated are higher than the risks of getting vaccinated.”
In 1976-77, with the last swine flu vaccine, as many as 1 in 85,000 people vaccinated came down with Guillain-Barré syndrome — a neurologic condition that paralyzes the muscles, causing respiratory failure.
Babycenter Switzerland recommend pregnant women especially to get vaccinated as the risk complications due to the H1N1 virus is higher than with a normal fly virus. They continue with saying that if you DO NOT vaccinate then please remember to follow the hygiene pointers extra carefully. This virus does spread more rapidly than the usual viruses.
Non-toxic suggestions:
1. Wash your hands frequently.
2. Avoid close contact with those who are sick.
3. If you are sick, avoid close contact with those who are well.
4. Cover your mouth if you cough or sneeze.
5. Drink plenty of fluids, especially water.
6. Get adequate sleep.
7. Eat a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals, especially foods containing vitamin C (such as citrus fruits) and vitamin D (such as cod liver oil) and spend a few minutes a day in sunlight to help your body make and store vitamin D.
8. Exercise regularly when you are well.
9. Lower stress.
10. Consider including holistic alternatives in your wellness or healing plan, such as chiropractic adjustments, homeopathic and naturopathic remedies, acupuncture and other health care options.
Whatever you do this flu season - whether or not you choose to vaccinate - become vaccine educated and know your options.
Dr. Jay Gordon seeks to quell the widespread alarm about H1N1 and discourage a knee-jerk impulse to vaccinate. He advises that winter flues are unavoidable, and integral to strengthening proper long-term immunity. “Children, in particular,” he says, “must suffer through a lot of winter illnesses because their immune systems are so inexperienced. New viruses get more people sick than older ones and this year the H1N1 virus is the newest common infection.”
Dr. Gordon believes the media are responsible for creating more anxiety about winter illness than at any time in recent memory. They are taking advantage of this situation to drive up TV viewership, increase web page visits, and sell more newspapers, he says, citing the SARS scare, the Bird Flu scare, and the West Nile Virus scare as examples.
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what about you?
Will you vaccinate you child?
Share your thoughts about “Should My Kids Get the H1N1 Vaccine?” in the mamicafé.
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also this month:
* ZIWA - CONNECTING WOMEN
* FOOD FOR COLD DAYS
* SWITZERLAND VS LULULAND
* WHITE SOCKS IN TOWN (AG)
* LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
IN EARLY
CHILDHOOD* WHAT`S ON SWITZERLAND
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* ARCHIVE