H1N1 vaccine..... (again)

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2205843/h1n1_flumist_the_nasal_spray_that_keeps.html?cat=70

So, here is the long and short of it. The H1N1 vaccine that comes in the nose spray is called Flumist. It is a LIVE virus, unlike the shots. You literally become a carrier of H1N1 if you choose this method of the vaccine. It "sheds" for up to 21 days, which means that as you move around society, you are spreading the virus. It's a very low rate of transmission, and I've read anywhere from 0.5-3%. Since this is a brand new thing, I don't believe anyone knows for sure.

What does this mean to our family? Well, obviously we won't be getting the Flumist, if we choose to be vaccinated. It also means, that if you get the Flumist version, DO NOT COME NEAR MY FAMILY. ESPECIALLY MY CHILD! No ands, ifs, or buts about it. Please stay away for at least 3 weeks after you are vaccinated. Thanks!!!

We've been super busy lately, with my new job, and Eric's parents in town. It's been a great week, and we are sad to see them leave in the morning. I hope to make it to Merry Marketplace tomorrow, and we want to take Drake to the pumpkin patch. I hope the weather is nice this weekend! Stay tuned for some more blog posts coming up. I have one with some big news, and one all about car seats.

How refreshing; and a little more on H1N1

It seems that there are a few people that take my blog for what it is; a chance to share what works for my family. It was really refreshing to read positive feedback for a change. Here is what one dear soul had to say:

"Niki-
I have to tell you thank you for your blog. I have been reading it for quite awile now. (I was WTTC around the time you got pregnant so I saw you in WTTC grads). I do not plan on doing everything you have done as a mother, I am just not the "crunchy" person, but I totally respect all of your choices and opinions. I do not understand how anything you said can be seen as anything more than your opinion. You have stated more than once that the things written are how YOU feel about life and never once have I felt as though you have been trying to push your ways on anyone else. However your blog alone it the reason I started doing my own research on a number of things, NCB, cloth diapering, delaying vax's and not starting solids till 6 months for example. I learned things that I had NO clue about thanks to you and I feel as though it will help me to be a better mother to my daughter just because I now can make truly educated choices. Please do not let people get you down and keep blogging just as you have been, people are truly learning from it and I hate that some women are so childish that they feel as though they have to belittle you for what you think.
Sorry this got so long but I wanted to let you know that you are doing a great job no matter what anyone else may say."

And another person who "gets me",
"Nikki, I already posted to this thread, but wanted to say that I love your blog. I check it all the time and I have never thought you have belittled anyone! You state what works for your family but you don't say that has to work for everyone. I think some people just like to feel attacked to make themselves feel better about their choices."

Another positive thing has happened lately. I've had not one but two people actually ask my opinion, or what I've found in research about the h1n1 vaccines. One momma pointed out that she didn't know there were variations of the vaccine. Well, most mommy's wouldn't. I guess they have a blind faith in their pediatrician to just make decisions for them, but this momma does not. We don't do any vaccines with thimerosal, or squalene, and is this is why.

The multi dose vials of vaccines often have "preservatives". The most well known is thimerosal. Here is what that is, in a nutshell, courtesy of the FDA's website.
"Thimerosal is a mercury-containing organic compound (an organomercurial). Since the 1930s, it has been widely used as a preservative in a number of biological and drug products, including many vaccines, to help prevent potentially life threatening contamination with harmful microbes. Over the past several years, because of an increasing awareness of the theoretical potential for neurotoxicity of even low levels of organomercurials and because of the increased number of thimerosal containing vaccines that had been added to the infant immunization schedule, concerns about the use of thimerosal in vaccines and other products have been raised. Indeed, because of these concerns, the Food and Drug Administration has worked with, and continues to work with, vaccine manufacturers to reduce or eliminate thimerosal from vaccines."

Now, from what the package inserts are saying, these H1N1 vaccines don't have squalene. At least from what I can tell from reading their reviews. So, that isn't an issue.

So, if the FDA is working with manufacturers to eliminate thimerosal from vaccines, why is it in the new H1N1 multi dose vials? Two answers: speed and money. Drug companies can make the vaccine faster and cheaper by doing it in a multi dose vial.

I'm not a mom that believes in some autism and vaccine conspiracy. I just believe in researching (alot) to find out what is best for my child. Not your child, but my child. And I just happen to believe that asking for a single dose syringe of the H1N1 vaccine is best for him. Here's hoping his peds office has it!

For additional info, here is what Dr. Sears has to say:
http://www.askdrsears.com/thevaccinebook/

FYI

I am copying and pasting the below information (in itlalics) from the natural living/attachment parenting board of the charlottemommies.com website. Before people run out and jump on the swine flu vaccine bandwagon, I hope they at *least* educate themselves to the ingredients and recommendations. I find it interesting that the mainstream media keeps saying how pregnant women will be/should be vaccinated first. Yet, the package inserts FROM THE MANUFACTURER flat out says "It is also not known whether these vaccines can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity." Scary. I hope all pregnant women are actually made aware of this info, and not just bullied or scared into getting an unproven and untested vaccine. In that, I mean unproven and untested for pregnant women. If they just started trials a few months ago, then that means there is NO WAY a woman got it in the first trimester, and has had a term baby yet. So YES, that means it's untested.

The FDA has approved the Swine Flu Vax from the following manufacturers. Remember that at least two doses will likely be given. The following package inserts are available. There is not a Swine Flu shot recommended for under 6 months of age (but, during a pandemic, not sure if this still applies). Flu Mist is not recommended under the age of two. Read each package insert carefully. It seems like the multidose have mercury:


http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm181950.htm


Injectable Vaccines
Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine (CSL Limited)Mercury & No Mercury

Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine (Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Limited) Mercury

Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine (Sanofi Pasteur, Inc.) Mercury and no Mercury


Intranasal Vaccine (THIS IS A LIVE VIRUS)-No Mercury
(Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine (MedImmune LLC)

Ingredients:Each pre-filled refrigerated Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine Live, Intranasal sprayer contains a single 0.2 mL dose. Each 0.2 mL dose contains 106.5-7.5 FFU of the live attenuated influenza virus reassortant of the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus: A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)v. Each 0.2 mL dose also contains 0.188 mg/dose monosodium glutamate, 2.00 mg/dose hydrolyzed porcine gelatin, 2.42 mg/dose arginine, 13.68 mg/dose sucrose, 2.26 mg/dose dibasic potassium phosphate, 0.96 mg/dose monobasic potassium phosphate, and <0.015>Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine (CSL Limited):

􀂃Indicated for active immunization of persons 6 months of age and older
supplied in four presentations:
Prefilled syringe, 0.25 mL, no preservative; distinguished by a pink syringe plunger rod (3)
Prefilled syringe, 0.5 mL, no preservative (3)
Single-dose vial, 0.5 mL, no preservative (3)
Multi-dose vial, 5 mL, contains thimerosal, a mercury derivative, added as a preservative. Each 0.5 mL dose contains 25 mcg mercury. (3, 11 )
􀂃Vaccine have not been established in pregnant women or nursing mothers or children <6>Description
The virus-containing allantoic fluid is harvested and inactivated with formaldehyde.Influenza virus is concentrated and purified in a linear sucrose density gradient solution using a continuous flow centrifuge. The virus is then chemically disrupted using a non-ionic surfactant, polyethylene glycol p-isooctylphenyl ether (Triton® X-100), producing a “split virus”. The split virus is further purified and then suspended in sodium phosphate-buffered isotonic sodium chloride solution.
Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine is formulated to contain 15 mcg hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza A/California/07/2009 (H1N1) v-like virus per 0.5 mL dose. Gelatin 0.05% is added as a stabilizer. Each 0.5 mL dose may contain residual amounts of formaldehyde (not more than 100 mcg), polyethylene glycol p-isooctylphenyl ether (not more than 0.02%), and sucrose (not more than 2.0%).
There is no thimerosal used in the manufacturing process of the single-dose presentations of Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine. The multi-dose presentation of Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine contains thimerosal, a mercury derivative, added as a preservative. Each 0.5 mL dose of the multidose presentation contains 25 mcg mercury.
--Neither Fluzone vaccine nor Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine have been evaluated for carcinogenic or mutagenic potential, or for impairment of fertility