Re: Flu vaccine question with poll

My doctors are firm believers of the flu shot which they say can protect against influenza which is deadly to babies and young children.

DS has an appointment to get his in Oct

Message edited 9/21/2006 8:52:31 AM.

Re: Flu vaccine question with poll

Re: Flu vaccine question with poll

Posted by monkeybride

Posted by JTK

Posted by monkeybride

Posted by JTK

i am out numbered here i guess. i would never give it to my kids. There is thimerisol in it and is not available without thimerisol until they are old enough for the flu mist which i think is at 6 years old.

I felt the same way but actually found out that is not true. I am in the process of getting certified to give immunizations so I had to take a class (kind of silly for a mom who is basically against the whole CDC schedule). There is actually a single dose syringe which is preservative (thimersol) free which is the only one I will allow my daughter to have. I usually only let her have one vaccination a month so now I have to figure out how I'm going to do this.

is this right? i just asked my ped the other day when he offered it to my son and he said he cant get it thimerisol free until the mist! now i;m confused

I haven't actually checked the single dose vial (which I will when we go to get it) but in the class I took all the literature said that single dose thimersol free is available for the pediatric population. Of course it is more expensive so I wonder if maybe he doesn't want to buy it that way?

Re: Flu vaccine question with poll

this is what i found written by the CDC
What is thimerosal?
Thimerosal is a very effective preservative that has been used since the 1930s to prevent contamination in some multi-dose vials of vaccines (preservatives are not required for vaccines in single dose vials). Thimerosal contains approximately 49% ethylmercury. There is no convincing evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines, except for minor reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site. However, in July 1999 the Public Health Service (PHS) agencies, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and vaccine manufacturers agreed that thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated in vaccines as a precautionary measure.

Today, all routinely recommended licensed pediatric vaccines that are currently being manufactured for the U.S. market, with the exception of influenza vaccine, contain no thimerosal or only trace amounts. Thimerosal preservative-free influenza vaccines are available, but in limited quantities. The total amount of inactivated influenza vaccine available without thimerosal as a preservative will continue to increase as manufacturing capabilities are expanded.

Updated: September 14, 2004
Does the influenza vaccine contain thimerosal?
Yes, the majority of influenza vaccines distributed in the United States currently contain thimerosal as a preservative. However, some contain only trace amounts of thimerosal and are considered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be preservative-free. Manufacturers of preservative-free flu vaccine use thimerosal early in the manufacturing process. The thimerosal gets diluted as the vaccine goes through the steps in processing. By the end of the manufacturing process there is not enough thimerosal left in the vaccine to act as a preservative and the vaccine is labeled ‘preservative-free'.

Updated: September 22, 2005
Is influenza vaccine that does not contain thimerosal as a preservative available this flu season (2005-2006)?
For the 2005-06 flu season, a limited amount of influenza vaccine that does not contain thimerosal as a preservative is available. Sanofi pasteur estimates that they will produce 6-8 million doses of thimerosal-free vaccine this year. GlaxoSmithKline projects that they will produce 8 million doses of preservative-free vaccine for use in people 18 years of age and over. A minimal number of preservative-free vaccine may be available from Chiron late in the influenza season. Also, the nasal-spray influenza vaccine (sold commercially as FluMist®) does not contain any thimerosal and can be given to healthy people 5 to 49 years of age who are not pregnant.

so to me it sounds like the very limited ammounts being made without thimerisol are being given to kids over 18. i would definitely ask my ped to see the insert before inoculating JMO. sorry for the strong opinion. One child with autism can do that to you!!!

Message edited 9/21/2006 10:21:46 AM.

Re: Flu vaccine question with poll

I voted Yes. It is very important to me for my child to be protected and anything I can do to help her, I will.

Please read:

http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vacsafe/concerns/thimerosal/default.htm

At a glance: Thimerosal is a mercury-containing preservative used in some vaccines and other products since the 1930's. No harmful effects have been reported from thimerosal at doses used in vaccines, except for minor reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site. However, in July 1999, the Public Health Service (PHS) agencies, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and vaccine manufacturers agreed that thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated in vaccines as a precautionary measure.

Today, with the exception of some Influenza (flu) vaccines, none of the vaccines used in the U.S. to protect preschool children against 12 infectious diseases contain thimerosal as a preservative.

This page leads to many pages that answer common questions along with links to background documents, etc.


http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vacsafe/concerns/thimerosal/faqs-thimerosal.htm

Message edited 9/21/2006 10:24:31 AM.

Re: Flu vaccine question with poll

Re: Flu vaccine question with poll

We will all get it since we will have a newborn in the house and Damien is in day care.

Re: Flu vaccine question with poll

None of us have ever had the vaccine in our house and I don't think we'll be getting it this year either.