H1N1 Vaccination | Arthritis Information

 

Is anyone getting one?  Any concerns?  ThanksAs you might expect, there has been some previous conversation on this topic. Take a look >>HERE<< and >>HERE<<. I got a shot for seasonal flu on Friday, and a shot for H1N1 on Sunday.  So far, wouldn't know the difference.  I am going to believe the doctors who could be sued for millions if they screw up, rather than the people who are trying to make money off of people freaking out.  That is more of an inflammatory statement than I would normally make, and overstated, but whatever.  I got the shot, and I think the risk of GBS is less than the risk of dying of flu?  3 people in my town have died already, plus 2 kids.  Some neighborhood kids have gotten it, and they were all sick 3-4 days then just fine, but why risk it.  Plus my sister is pregnant and I don't want to get her sick!  I got the flu once in high school--AWFUL! Had a fever for a day after I got my first shot a few years ago, haven't noticed anything but a sore arm afterwards.  Anyway, I tried to read the article someone posted but it wanted me to sign in, and I already got the thing (so did my kids) so I am not going to research anymore, at least not this year, nothing left to decide or do!

I think it's the Mercola links that require sign-in.  Call me paranoid but I don't quite trust him. Well I got my H1N1 shot in my left arm today and the seasonal flu shot in my right arm. I may have already had the flu but I have no idea which one it was as I did not get tested. It did not hurt and I feel just fine. Not to sound preachy but I did this so I can visit with my grandmother and not have to tell her to stay away. My cousin is getting chemo. My uncle is extreemly ill. The coming months may prove to be very hard on my family. Also I do not want to give my grandchildren or nieces and nephews anything. So I see at as some what of a community service to get the shot. milly2009-10-21 16:42:06I am not getting one, or rather don't need one as I tested positive for Swine flu today as well as have bronchitis. Oh joy! I will tell you...it is yuuuuucky! Hope you all stay away from it! Yikes! A double whammy! Glad you went to the doctors. Get well soon. Our hospital is so full of the flu right now, I'm concerned about going to work. I wear a mask most of my shift. I still have not gotten either injection and they are on me daily about it. I finally signed a form stating my intent not to get it...and don't ask me again. I have considered changing my mind as yesterday, my 52 year old patient with a history of asthma ended up on a vent. The people that are coming in are young, not the elderly like I would expect. It is scary. I have never seen anything like this in all the years working. I'm concerned. The children that are dying, are not dying of the flu, but rather secondary infections. Children decline very rapidly when ill. People are not being tested here for H1N1 because of the high rate of the test being inaccurate. This is what I was told by one of our docs the other day. Patients are being tested for fluA and fluB. Both should be negative this time of year, we have seen no positives so far. If Patients are symptomatic of the flu, it is assumed it is swine. It costs 80 bucks for testing and they treat the same anyway, so many are not bothering going to that extreme. Our H1N1 testing is sent to an out of town lab so it is really counterproductive to waste that type of time when time is critical to recovery for some of these people. Tamiflu is most effective when started within 48 hours of onset of symptoms. After that, they consider not giving it. Lots of people are waiting till they have been sick far too long and are extremely ill when they finally get to us. I will stand by my decision not to get the flu or pneumonia shots with the idea that my body will build a natural immunity. I will treat any subsequent bacterial infections appropriately. For people that are immunocompromised, I would strongly encourage it even though I'm personally opposed to it. The weird thing about this is that most of who we have seen are not immunocompromised at all, but rather very healthy, outgoing people. Have they put you on tamiflu?  Do you know how you caught it?Can I ask where are you and how did you get a shot?  The county I live in doesn't think they will have shots for weeks.I am in southern Ill, I had to go to the next county over to get the shot today at the health dept. The H1N1 was given for free today, the seasonal flu shot cost twentyfive dollars. My county will not be giving the shot till next week. [QUOTE=milly]I am in southern Ill, I had to go to the next county over to get the shot today at the health dept. The H1N1 was given for free today, the seasonal flu shot cost twentyfive dollars. My county will not be giving the shot till next week.[/QUOTE]

You're back in The Land of Lincoln?  What happened to Florida?
LOL That is a winter thing. I came back to Ill in the beginning of June. I some how ended up in Florida the past two winters. I make it till the end of January and I bail. I get tired of the heat pretty fast also. Just as well my grandkids moved back to Southern Ill also. So I may stay here this winter. IDK? Just have to wait and see. Maybe take a cruise for a few days in Feb. LOL I won a cruise at the boat a few years back. It was in Febuary also. I am just not big on mittens.milly2009-10-21 18:37:47I am planning on getting one.  I have Common Variable Immunodeficiency along with possible RA.  I don't want to take the chance not getting it. [QUOTE=milly]LOL That is a winter thing. I came back to Ill in the beginning of June. I some how ended up in Florida the past two winters. I make it till the end of January and I bail. I get tired of the heat pretty fast also. Just as well my grandkids moved back to Southern Ill also. So I may stay here this winter. IDK? Just have to wait and see. Maybe take a cruise for a few days in Feb. LOL I won a cruise at the boat a few years back. It was in Febuary also. I am just not big on mittens.[/QUOTE]

Gotcha.  I was pretty much out of the loop in June so I must not have read about your return.  I'm not looking forward to winter either, though at least this year I don't have to drive to work every day in the miserable Chicagoland snow and construction gridlock.  I'm gonna miss hurling things onto the ice on the retention pond at work though!!! Surely we can find a new winter project for you to hurl things at. LOL I did enjoy hearing about the retention pond updates. So I shall miss it also. Back to the flu vaccine thread. Just read some scary stuff. New technology. If people are afraid to get the vacine now I can not imagine in years to come what fears we may have as they are talking about new ways to make the vaccine. [QUOTE=MJ]Have they put you on tamiflu?  Do you know how you caught it?[/QUOTE]

They did. I am on Tamiflu for it and biaxin for the bronchitis. No fun when you don't feel like eating. They upset your stomach if you don't. Have no idea where I caught it, but at this point I just hope my kids and husband don't catch it.
Has anyone heard anything about a vaccine for H1N1 that is not made with eggs? I've read that it is coming but have found nothing about how to get it. I'm allergic to eggs. Kaiser in Portland/Vancouver area now has a priority list of who gets the next batch - they already went through 100,000 doses. I'm just over the top age limit in the priority so couldn't get one now anyway. If you see anything about the one with eggs being distributed please let me know. If I could, I would definitely be getting the vaccine right now! I saw something about a contract with a company however I think that is for an expected arival in 2011 and 2012. They plan to use animal cells. There is some research on using insects I believe. If you are over fifty or have health problems they do not give the nasal spray. I have not researched it. I guess you could call the health dept and ask them if they know anything.actually Mary you are immunosuppressed with the remicade therefore you are also on the priority list regardless of ageBuckeye - that is what my PCP said but the nurse in my rheumy's office said because of my age I'm not priority. Doesn't matter - I can't use the one they have. I wanted an answer about the two companies I found that are developing one without eggs. One has the vaccine and it will be available in Europe but has not been approved by the FDA yet. The other one is still in clinical trials. I may call my allergist and ask if he can give me just a little bit and see if I get a reaction and if not, get the whole thing. That's my latest idea.[QUOTE=schell] [QUOTE=MJ]Have they put you on tamiflu?  Do you know how you caught it?[/QUOTE]

They did. I am on Tamiflu for it and biaxin for the bronchitis. No fun when you don't feel like eating. They upset your stomach if you don't. Have no idea where I caught it, but at this point I just hope my kids and husband don't catch it.
[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=MJ][QUOTE=schell] [QUOTE=MJ]Have they put you on tamiflu?  Do you know how you caught it?[/QUOTE]

They did. I am on Tamiflu for it and biaxin for the bronchitis. No fun when you don't feel like eating. They upset your stomach if you don't. Have no idea where I caught it, but at this point I just hope my kids and husband don't catch it.
[/QUOTE] My Rheumatologist told me to get it...but the inactive and not the live. So I will be getting the injection rather than the nasal mist. I was told that the nasal mist is to be used only for kids and teens. Everyone else should have the injection. Anyone who is allergic to eggs should not get it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ayS2Zem3PEthe swine flu vaccine contains squaline this year. not sure I'll go for that.I won't be getting iti spoke with one of our doctors yesterday as i was considering getting it. he talked me out of it and i'm glad. i will gain the immunity naturally. I'll treat it if i do get it. simple as that. i'm not gonna be a G pig.I just had the vaccine!  janie.  The first thing to go on me when I get ill is my chest, pneumonia the lot so my GP said there was no question, had to have it. My family is getting it on Monday.  I had concerns about giving it to my kids but with an 8 week old at home I am not taking any chances.  My son and I both got it yesterday.  The RA with the ILD is just too much of a bad combo.  My coworkers little boy has been in ICU all week with the H1N1.  Teacher across the hall has missed over a week of school.  Schools were closed today for a teacher work day, but they told the staff to stay home at well.  We are hoping a 3 day weekend will help clear the building out a bit. rocckyd2009-10-23 09:56:53I have had no problems with my H1N1 vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine I have a sore swollen arm a bit better today. I think it peaked last night. My eyes burned a bit yesterday, that was a seasonal flu side effect also. Really only mild aches and pains that did not last long. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/21/cbsnews_investigates/main5404829.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBodyActually I watched last weeks 60 minutes program last night on cbs.com. It is informative and answers most question that one may have about the H1N1 virus. [quote=maryhatz]Has anyone heard anything about a vaccine for H1N1 that is not made with eggs? I've read that it is coming but have found nothing about how to get it. I'm allergic to eggs. Kaiser in Portland/Vancouver area now has a priority list of who gets the next batch - they already went through 100,000 doses. I'm just over the top age limit in the priority so couldn't get one now anyway. If you see anything about the one with eggs being distributed please let me know. If I could, I would definitely be getting the vaccine right now![/quote]
The Kaiser priority H1N1 vaccinations have not begun yet according to the advice line.  My wife is Kaiser dental assistant.  They are just getting to the medical employees starting tomorrow, so I imagine it will be a few days at least.  What information do you have about it?  Good luck with your egg allergy, it seems like the nasal innoculation wouldn't have eggs, but I may be wrong. I guess if I'm wrong, a bunch of people are going around snorting eggs!  Funknut the problem with the nasal version of the vaccine is that is a weakened yet active virus. People with health problems can not have an active virus version. If you are fifty or older, have asthma, diabetes or are immuno comprimised you can not have the active version.If you're immuno suppressed from dmards and biologics it's a good idea to get H1N1.  This is according to most of the articles that I've read.  There's a fringe element of the medical community that's saying that H1N1 vaccine isn't needed and is dangerous.  Sent an e-mail to a doc I've seen in Kaiser allergy clinic and he said since I am able to eat eggs and chicken now and then, just not frequently, that I should have no problem with either the seasonal or the H1N1 vaccines. I think I'll take his word for it and get them as soon as they are available through Kaiser - not sure when that will be. From what I'm hearing, the H1N1 can be nasty, though not always. I have one case I'm working on with a young Downs Syndrome man in ICU with H1N1.   Scares me to even enter the ICU unit! I just don't touch anything and refuse to shake hands even with the docs. Just the snob in me! They totally understand. http://articles.mercola.com/swine-flu-article/20091027.htmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpLdc4vMpFY&feature=player_embedded# Will still get the vaccine.I really think you just need to seriously consider your own individual situation.  Luckily, for most people, the flu is a short term problem-and they recover.  But, for some people, the risks of the flu outweigh the risk of the vaccine.  I chose the vaccine-I teach in a middle school, have ra, have ILD, take biologics.  Plus, I am in the age range of those having the most complications(I'm 33).  If I didn't have so many other factors, I might not have gotten it.  There is always going to be a pro/con situation.  Like wearing your seatbelt.  It can save you in an accident, or it can lock up against you in an accident and you can't get out of the car.  Probably not the best analogy, but there is always going to be a con for everything.I had the regular flu shot a month or so ago. I'm 90% sure I will NOT be getting the H1N1. While I am immunosuppressed, I was born before 1950 and am hoping that I fall in the group of people who may have picked up some exposure in their lifetimes. My youngest son always had bad reactions to that particular shot. I believe they decided it was probably the diptheria part of the shot. His leg would swell pretty badly. Then when they had come out with the menningitis shot his leg swelled from that. I had to carry him to the bathroom for several days. Because he had dpt shot in one leg and menningitis shot in the other. Luckily he was four and I was healthier then than I am now. He also ran a fever and had some vomiting with the shots. Bless his heart he always had some reaction to vaccines. That was of course his worst reaction. So they still let him get his tetnus shot of course but no longer allowed him to get the diptheria.
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