Flu vaccinations

[Kelly Crumbaker Hubbard]

I was wondering what doctors have told the rest of you regarding flu vaccinations. I am in Macon, Georgia and we have had a major early outbreak of flu (80 kids a day were seen and tested last week at our pediatric after hours). College students are being sent home from Ga Southern with Swine flu, and 8 of our public schools have positive cases. The recommendation is that children be vaccinated for both strains of the flu to prevent a "super flu" that would be a combination of the two. I just don't think that I can give Kegley a live vaccination! any thoughts.....

[Svetlana Finley]

We in Oregon, our schools don't start for another week. Our doctor told that Anna will need to get flu shots in October, but she never had any flu shots. We have treatments this week i will ask her about that again.

[Phyllis Ann Talbot]

Kelly - we may be differnt since Hyde's on dialysis and end stage - but he's had live vaccinations (including regular flu vaccine) last year and did fine. We probably won't do them on the same day (that is if we can even GET the swine flu vaccine - apparently they are going to be REALLY short on doses available. But we are going to be getting both - our nephrologist would rather us have them and watch for side effects and given our recent seizures with fever - I'm almost more afraid of the fever associated with flu than the flu!!! ughhhhh Same problem up in in North GA - and same problems at the university's up here too - fun fun.

Sorry for the ramble - but we have had live vaccines and done OK and we are keeping up with them as they come due b/c when Hyde get's transplanted - he won't be able.

[Heather Still]

Ryan has had flu vaccines for the last several years. The HUS comes in full force when he gets sick, so we need to prevent that since he doesn't have much kidney function left. He has never experienced any side effects from the shot and his lab values have never changed.

[Kelly Crumbaker Hubbard]

Thank you for all the great responses to my questions regarding flu vaccinations. Kegley is up to date on all his other vaccinations - but he has never had a flu vaccination. Following his first episode/exacerbation of AHUS his hemotologist said he would not recommend the vaccination b/c it was "live" and wouldn't prevent all strains of flu - just the strain the CDC predicted would be most virulent each year. The doctors do feel that flu is probably Kegley's trigger though.....so on to yet another decision that moms have to debate and blame themselves for:)

[Paula Blanchard Lamigo]

So far I have avoided getting Devin the flu vaccine; however, that being said, the flu seems to trigger his episodes. My reason for avoiding it in the past was due to conflicting information from two different doctors, both well versed in aHUS. However, this year I am going to get him vaccinated with both the flu and swine flu vaccines (when it is available) and we'll keep our fingers crossed that he doesn't get triggered with the shots. Devin is not on PD and has good kidney function, so I would like to keep him from future episodes if possible so that we can keep his kidneys as long as we can.

[Svetlana Finley]

Anna starting school tomorrow and we didn't got any flu shots yet. We didn't got to see our doctor last week, so here she is will be starting with out one.

[Cheryl Biermann]

Well, here we go, I know I replied to this a few days ago, I'm so frustrated with my computer! Anyway, we have always ALL received the flu shot. Before kidneys were a lost cause, everything triggered another AHUS attack, but not the vaccination. Atfter the kidneys were shot, we have continued this and it has helped him remain as healthy as possible. One year Bill forgot to get his shot, got the flu anyway but no one else did. As soon as the H1-N1 shot becomes available Nathan will be getting it also, there is a huge outbreak at University of Missouri right now and my other kids have contact with these kids at times. That is not to say Nathan hasn't had the flu, he's of course caught the flu the vaccine didn't cover, when the CDC guessed wrong-was that last year? Anyway, the flu has always meant time in the hospital, and once there he never seems to come out quickly.

[Svetlana Finley]

I am just wondering if anyone knows about H1N1 mist and shot, what the difference between, should we wait for shot kind to come or mist is ok?
Thanks

[Linda Burke]

Just got back from Skyler's regular pediatrician - the SkyGuy got his seasonal flu shot today so that it would be within 24 hrs. of yesterday's Soliris infusion. Hunter always got a seasonal flu shot the day after a plasmapheresis treatment, again just a precaution and to ensure the boys maximum protection. Hunter was up to date on all his vaccinations - we were just super careful to "time it right" in terms of aHUS treatments!
I volunteered recently at our school district's seasonal flu shot clinic - over 50% of kids were vaccinated that single day. A fact sheet was handed out to all parents prior to the flu shot clinic - pretty much everyone got the "mist" version except for kids with an underlying medical conditions, who were stuck with (pun intended) the regular ole flu shot. The rationale is that you don't want even the minimal risk with a live but weakened virus (mist) but err on the side of caution and give kids with health concerns the shot (injection with killed virus).
Strangely, I've been told by two different sets of doctors that the H1N1 flu "shot" would actually be 2 separate doses - the first is "mist only" and the second is an actual injection. Seems strange, as kids with chronic disease cannot have "mists" with live, weakened virus - meaning that our aHUS kids can only have one of the two swine flu vaccines. Why would you know that kids with underlying health issues are more at risk than the general population, then deliver the first dose of vaccine in a way (mist) that puts our aHUS kiddos at additional risk for complications? The CDC is now working on this quirk, so perhaps they'll get that first H1N1 dose in injection form - I'm hopeful that a resolution is in the works. If not, I guess Skyler will just get the second dose of H1N1 which IS available as an injection.

[Svetlana Finley]

Thanks, Linda!!!
i didn't know what really do about it, our ped. doctor was just GO AHEAD... We did regular flu shot 2 days before Anna's treatments and they were ok with it. I was worry if we should done after her treatments. Well we will see how she will do with flu season.

Linda Burke said:

Just got back from Skyler's regular pediatrician - the SkyGuy got his seasonal flu shot today so that it would be within 24 hrs. of yesterday's Soliris infusion. Hunter always got a seasonal flu shot the day after a plasmapheresis treatment, again just a precaution and to ensure the boys maximum protection. Hunter was up to date on all his vaccinations - we were just super careful to "time it right" in terms of aHUS treatments!
I volunteered recently at our school district's seasonal flu shot clinic - over 50% of kids were vaccinated that single day. A fact sheet was handed out to all parents prior to the flu shot clinic - pretty much everyone got the "mist" version except for kids with an underlying medical conditions, who were stuck with (pun intended) the regular ole flu shot. The rationale is that you don't want even the minimal risk with a live but weakened virus (mist) but err on the side of caution and give kids with health concerns the shot (injection with killed virus).
Strangely, I've been told by two different sets of doctors that the H1N1 flu "shot" would actually be 2 separate doses - the first is "mist only" and the second is an actual injection. Seems strange, as kids with chronic disease cannot have "mists" with live, weakened virus - meaning that our aHUS kids can only have one of the two swine flu vaccines. Why would you know that kids with underlying health issues are more at risk than the general population, then deliver the first dose of vaccine in a way (mist) that puts our aHUS kiddos at additional risk for complications? The CDC is now working on this quirk, so perhaps they'll get that first H1N1 dose in injection form - I'm hopeful that a resolution is in the works. If not, I guess Skyler will just get the second dose of H1N1 which IS available as an injection.

[Grace]

Of course talk to your own health care providers, but in the past they have recommended that people who live with immunocompromised patients should also NOT get live, attenuated vaccines (like the flu mist) because they might inadvertently transmit the virus to a vulnerable person. I haven't read anything about it regarding the H1N1 vaccine, but the rhetoric is rather confusing.

[Christy]

Linda: good answer--you always seem to take my words out of my mouth. Aiden received the regular flu shot a couple of weeks ago (as did David and I) and has had no complications from it. Like you said, it's the mist that is "live" and that I we AHUS families need to be more concerned about (at least around here we are :) )

I've also been told that the first releases of H1N1 will be in a "live" mist version and I agree...so goofy that they are releasing it first. Aiden will not get the mist for obvious reasons, but will most likely get the shot. I do have some concerns about a brand new vax....but I want him protected too. It's a catch 22 i guess?!

Linda Burke said:

Just got back from Skyler's regular pediatrician - the SkyGuy got his seasonal flu shot today so that it would be within 24 hrs. of yesterday's Soliris infusion. Hunter always got a seasonal flu shot the day after a plasmapheresis treatment, again just a precaution and to ensure the boys maximum protection. Hunter was up to date on all his vaccinations - we were just super careful to "time it right" in terms of aHUS treatments!
I volunteered recently at our school district's seasonal flu shot clinic - over 50% of kids were vaccinated that single day. A fact sheet was handed out to all parents prior to the flu shot clinic - pretty much everyone got the "mist" version except for kids with an underlying medical conditions, who were stuck with (pun intended) the regular ole flu shot. The rationale is that you don't want even the minimal risk with a live but weakened virus (mist) but err on the side of caution and give kids with health concerns the shot (injection with killed virus).
Strangely, I've been told by two different sets of doctors that the H1N1 flu "shot" would actually be 2 separate doses - the first is "mist only" and the second is an actual injection. Seems strange, as kids with chronic disease cannot have "mists" with live, weakened virus - meaning that our aHUS kids can only have one of the two swine flu vaccines. Why would you know that kids with underlying health issues are more at risk than the general population, then deliver the first dose of vaccine in a way (mist) that puts our aHUS kiddos at additional risk for complications? The CDC is now working on this quirk, so perhaps they'll get that first H1N1 dose in injection form - I'm hopeful that a resolution is in the works. If not, I guess Skyler will just get the second dose of H1N1 which IS available as an injection.