Swine flu vaccine - has anyone had their child immunised?

SJ1979 · Postby **SJ1979** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 7:51 pm

My friend who is quite a panicker when it comes to all things healthwise and her daughter, is getting her daughter immunised against Swine Flu. Has anyone else had their child immunised? I'd be keen to hear their thoughts / experiences.

My 18 month old has an egg allergy, which I think means she has to have some alternative vaccine, but just not sure if it's something I want to have done. She goes to nursery and so we've had our fair run of illnesses to date, the doctor even thought she had mild swine flu at Christmas (she was seriously unwell for weeks), but they don't swab for it, so there was no way of knowing for sure!

Many thanks.

MGMidget · Postby **MGMidget** » Sat Mar 27, 2010 11:03 pm

My son has an egg allergy. He had the swine flu vaccination at a special clinic organised by the PCT at St John's healthcare clinic on St John's Hill where they gave him Celvapan, the egg-free vaccine. The referral was done by the GP who decided who to refer (we were on the at risk list for another reason so got priority before Christmas) The GPs may be able to give the Celvapan vaccination now but if they can't you should ask for a referral to the PCT who will arrange an appointment at one of their vaccination clinics. My son didn't have any ill effects from the vaccine. He had had various viruses before he had it and we got him swabbed two or three times for swine flu privately through a central London lab each time. It always came back negative so I think there are lots of viruses around that seem like swine flu when a toddler catches them but aren't.

Caroline1972 · Postby **Caroline1972** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 10:22 am

When the swine flu vaccincation became available a few months ago my GP wrote offering it to my son. The letter also asked you to get in touch if you weren't going to have it and to tell them why not. My husband had already had it as he is an asthma sufferer and my son had never had a reaction to any of his previous injections so I didn't really have a reason why not to have it done. So we went ahead and had it done and he had no reaction at all. Its up to you whether you feel that flu risk is worth doing something about.

Mama · Postby **Mama** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 7:08 pm

Hello,

You asked if anyone has immunised their child against swine flu. I have.
My daughter has no allergies but I am pregnant and my in-laws -who are all doctors- were really in favour of me immunising her and myself, so I vaccinated my toddler (but not me). I have to say she did not even squirm when the needle went in (and she was looking!) and she has not had the slightest sign of discomfort or illness, so I guess that's a good sign.