<p>They haven’t changed the basic manufacturing of flu vaccine in decades. It is still made in eggs; therefore, it is very slow. There has been work on a new manufacturing process. I don’t know where it is in development, but when it is approved, instead of taking 3 months to make, it’ll take a couple of weeks, if that. Right now, they make the decision on what 3 flu viruses to include in about May. They make this decision based on the previous year’s flu strains. They more or less take the 3 most common strains. You can have the same strain in the vaccine over multiple years.</p>
<p>cartera45, since your family also has some GBS history, you might be interested to know that our pediatrician also said that the meningitis vaccine carries some GBS risk. I am unclear why that particular vaccine (have been more worried about the H1N1 at the moment, so haven’t followed up with the doctor or any research on my own yet). D1 already had the meningitis vaccine anyway with no complications. But just thought I would mention it.</p>
<p>My D had the meningitis vaccine too - and she had the Gardacil vaccine - no problems with any of them. Thanks for mentioning it though.</p>
<p>Well, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and our local health department has thrown another curve into this. They have reported that tests are showing that people who have the seasonal flu vaccine appear to be at twice the risk of contracting H1N1. Our health unit is considering postponing the seasonal flu vaccine until after the H1N1 vaccine has been given. This is a major concern since our D is scheduled for the seasonal vaccine this coming Tuesday, I cannot find any information proving or disproving these statements so once again it is a guessing game. Does anyone know for sure if Canada and the USA use the same vaccine?</p>
<p>Here is a link to the CDC article. The US CDC website does not have any info on this.</p>
<p>[CBC</a> News - Health - Seasonal flu shot may increase H1N1 risk](<a href=“http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/09/23/flu-shots-h1n1-seasonal.html]CBC”>http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/09/23/flu-shots-h1n1-seasonal.html)</p>
<p>The article says increased risk (perhaps) if a seasonal flu shot in the past - so this must mean past years, right? How strange if we learn that getting the flu shots in the last few years made us more vulnerable to H1N1.</p>
<p>Yes, I couldn’t really tell if it just meant this year’s regular flu shot, or previous years. Sample size of two in our house, D2 and I both have gotten regular shots for years, and we go H1N1. :(</p>
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<p>Seeing that from a statistics standpoint, more people die of the regular flu, this makes it kind of confusing about whether or not to get the seasonal flu shot. I don’t want to put myself or my family at increased risk of H1N1, but I’ve had the flu before and ended up in the ER feeling like I was dying. I’ve never gotten so sick in my life and the pain was almost unbearable. What to do, what to do…</p>
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<p>I had my seasonal flu vacine last week. Fingers crossed.</p>
<p>The H1N1 (we’re pretty sure though we weren’t tested) passed through our household. I apparently had a mild cold before getting it. Daughter had it first for 2 weeks. Son got through it in 4 or 5 days. I’ve had it for about a week and I can function but the respiratory problems can have me coughing pretty hard. Good thing that I keep my abs in very good shape. My wife has had it for four or five days and she’s in about the same shape that I am in. Sometimes I feel dead tired though that might be because of not enough rest. Getting a lot of sleep this weekend so I hope that I’ll be back to normal in a few weeks.</p>
<p>I usually have one of these kinds of flu infections once every 7 to 10 years. They can take up to two months to completely clear.</p>
<p>I got a flu shot once… can’t remember when. Must have been at least 30 years ago. Keeping my fingers crossed. I didn’t know good abs helped fight the flu.</p>
<p>They don’t fight the flu. They lessen the pain in your core when you cough and cough and cough. I’ve had bruising in the past (maybe around the ribs) from coughing when my abs weren’t strong. Keeping them strong means you avoid further injury from the little explosions in your chest that are coughs.</p>
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<p>Strong abs also contribute to good deep coughing, which helps to clear secretions from the airways. People with a week cough reflex can end up with a secondary pneumonia.</p>
<p>I had bronchitis once and coughed so hard and so much that I tore the cartilage between some of my ribs. I had pain on that side for months and months afterwards!</p>
<p>The CDC says they aren’t seeing this pattern, nor are other countries (but could Canada have a different pattern of who gets vaccinated for flu in a normal year than we do, given that the vaccine is probably covered under their medical system whereas in the US this is often not the case?). At least the CDC is looking at this now.</p>
<p>[CDC</a> Reports No Increased H1N1 Risk From Seasonal Flu Shot - ABC News](<a href=“Was the Seasonal Flu Shot Risk a Scare? - ABC News”>Was the Seasonal Flu Shot Risk a Scare? - ABC News)</p>
<p>I just put in a call to my teen son’s allergist regarding serum sickness and whether or not he should get the H1N1 vaccine (or others, for that matter). I should get an answer in the afternoon. However, I did come across two web pages that make me think you should be able to get a doctor’s excuse from the vaccine, since serum sickness appears to have been possible reactions. The first link is from the fda: <a href=“http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182401.pdf[/url]”>http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182401.pdf</a> Check out p.6 , section 6.3 allergic reactions…serum sickness
The second link is another source; I don’t know how reliable it is, but it certainly gives much information that could be verified if one has the time. Second Link: <a href=“http://www.mombu.com/medicine/allergies/t-fda-approved-h1n1-vaccines-contain-ingredients-known-to-cause-cancer-and-death-cough-lymphadenopathy-renal-influenza-encephalitis-3527895-new.html[/url]”>http://www.mombu.com/medicine/allergies/t-fda-approved-h1n1-vaccines-contain-ingredients-known-to-cause-cancer-and-death-cough-lymphadenopathy-renal-influenza-encephalitis-3527895-new.html</a> I’ll try to remember to come back and post the allergist’s answer.</p>
<p>The well-regarded allergist/immunologist will not advise as to whether or not one should get the vaccine. He said one who has serum sickness is not at a greater risk than others, however, there is no guarantee that there wouldn’t be a reaction. One with serum sickness could react badly to the virus itself. Both he and my son’s pediatrician (who happens to be an internist too) say they do not have enough information about the vaccine to be able to recommend it, even though they are keeping up with information that has been disseminated. The allergist did say that the getting swine flu can be quite serious, as we all know.</p>
<p>thanks soveena, It is a serious decision either way</p>