In my stereotypical Canadian way, I’d like to tell you about the weather around my parts lately and then complain about them because that’s what we do as Canadians. Although I know that many people consider Canada to be a land of ice and snow, we do usually have a decent Fall even if it’s not long enough for my tastes. I’d personally like Fall to last a very long time because what’s not to like? You get to wear warm sweaters but you don’t freeze to death, everyone starts making things like chili and apple crisp, and the trees explode into a symphony of colors. It’s my favorite season.
Lately though, the temperatures have been hovering more at early Winter levels. It’s been hanging out at the freezing mark early in the morning and only inching its way up a few more degrees during the day. Today Hayley asked me if I could give her a hat to wear because her head has been cold at recess and lunch. Yesterday it snowed (though at least it didn’t stick when it hit the ground) and I may or may not have said something inappropriate to be said around young children.
I know we can’t stop Winter from coming but it’s just too early. We still have to go Trick or Treating next Saturday and I’m thinking that all those jokes about Canadian Halloween costumes being designed to go over a snow suit just might be true this year. I’m feeling ripped off, I want my proper Fall back!
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Last week, Hayley stayed home on Thursday and Friday because she wasn’t feeling well and had a low-grade fever. Of course everyone immediately thinks of H1N1 these days when someone has a fever but I don’t think that’s what it was because a) she didn’t have any other symptoms of that particular flu, b) despite being kept home again on Monday to be sure, she was actually fine by then, and c) both my kids have always gotten a low fever with every single illness they’ve ever had. Always.
Still, you can’t send kids to school with fevers so she stayed home and then we kept both the kids home from a birthday party on Saturday. Hayley was especially unhappy about that but she was still under the weather and we didn’t want her to spread it around. We also wanted her to get better so she could go back to school. At least they had some cake sent home for them, so that perked them up!
Meanwhile everyone around me (and I’m including myself too) seems to be sniffling or coughing or both. We’re back to that season of trading off germs from one person to the other, the joys of the school year. Between the frequency with which Hayley brings home colds and whatnot and the media coverage of H1N1 I’ve been thinking hard about the vaccine. I’m about 90% sure that we’ll all go and get it.
Still, whenever I hear points brought up about how fast-tracked this was and whether it’s really safe or not, I do stop and think about it for a minute. I think I’m still more inclined to consider the H1N1 virus to have a higher risk than the vaccine does but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to some concerns.
The vaccine is starting to arrive in Canada and Newfoundland has actually already done their first round, giving vaccines out to healthcare workers. I’ll be listening to the news to see how things go out there, if there are reports of bad reactions. On the other hand, hearing about the plans to postpone or cancel elective surgeries and the possibilities of turning hotel rooms into makeshift hospitals to be able to deal with the possible influx of H1N1 patients coming in re-kindles my resolve about getting the vaccine.
I’ve never been anti-vaccination. My kids were both immunized against everything except chicken pox. Neither had a stronger reaction than some crankiness and a low fever within the first 12 hours and I feel better for having protected them against diseases that could have killed them in a different era. But this one is different and it’s a little confusing, and it’s stressful to have to make a decision really soon.
What are you doing for H1N1? Getting the shot or riding it out?
No vaccine for us. I’m just not really sure I’m willling to take the risk!
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I don’t believe that we’re getting the vaccine. I’m actually not comfortable with the school giving kids vaccine, which is what they’re trying to do down here, and did not sign the permission slip. In my mind, that’s something a dr. should be responsible for.
As for the fever, I’d mentioned it before but believe it or not, Babygirl had a fever when the wind blew the wrong way – until she had her tonsils out. Since then she has only had a fever when she was really sick, and she’s been much healthier. Have you ever had the girls’ tonsils looked at by an ear/nose/throat guy? With Babygirl her throat was never sore, but her tonsils were HUGE!
I’m undecided. I really don’t like joining up for the “first run” of anything medically oriented, there is no way of knowing long term effectiveness or side effects of something so new. I’m also feeling like “it’s just the flu” is it worth all the panic? (yes, I get this one is worse and spreads more, but I don’t normally consider the flu to be the scariest thing in the world….(
I dithered about it and was inclined to say no but then the health department arranged to do them at the public schools. Dh wanted the boys to get it, hoping to avoid them missing any more days than they already will due to some poor planning on our part. He thinks the vax is as safe as any other flu shot since it is made the same way. It’s been in the public long enough with little to no adverse reactions. I’m just not a fan of flu vaxes in general. But since they were going to be at the school & made it easy for me, I signed the permission slip. They had their first dose today & get the second next month when the health dept comes back.
I’m still on the fence. The media coverage of the last wave of h1n1 was so overblown. I hate to be frightened into anything that can have repercussions. I know it’s “just” a flu vaccine but still, the number of people who have contracted it to date is far fewer than the regular flu and other serious illnesses. The odds are bent every which way. I do know that if we get it I will be using homeopathics in conjunction with it.
Definitely getting the H1N1 shot.
In fact, I’m a bit annoyed that Ontario Public Health is delaying the regular flu shot (which I get every year without fail) until December (and we won’t be getting H1N1 vaccinations until November). I’m high risk for pneumonia, so I like to avoid the flu completely, if possible.
I do agree that the media has fanned the fires of hysteria on this one, but back in the States, where my family’s from, *everyone* is getting hit with H1N1 and it’s AWFUL!!! I’ve been told that it’s 10 times worse than the regular flu.
We’ll be getting vaccinated once the vaccine is approved for under 10s here: both my kids (close to 3 and 1) have high exposure to other kids, and Big Bro and I have asthma, which in Big Bro’s case has taken him to the ER during the original H1N1 wave (when he might have had h1n1 but the ER had stopped testing!) I also would have difficulty finding alternative carers for my kids if I had H1N1, so as for every flu season that is part of my justification for getting vaccinated.
We were asked to involve our boys in the Australian trials of the vaccine (randomly selected from the immunization register) which I looked into, but as they were trialing several doses of the vaccine and basing safety on the first two weeks of the adult trial, I was also a little hesitant about safety (and didn’t think it was fair for me to volunteer my kids for multiple invasive procedures) Now that the vaccine is past that stage I think it is safe enough to justify its use versus the risk to my family of flu.
Out of interest, why did you avoid the chicken pox vaccine?
We are selective/delayed, and my kids are so far behind the recommended schedule it would take at least a year to catch up.
And I’m planning on us all getting the H1N1 vaccine. I read Dr. Sears’ site and because the only part of the vaccine that’s different from the standard flu vaccine is the H1N1 component. So it’s not really a new vaccine, and the risk is expected to be about that of the regular flu vax.
I have heard way too many horrific stories about 2 year olds and 4 year olds dying of pneumonia or other complications/secondary infections from H1N1, and it hits FAST. Plus, since I’m currently acting as a single parent, I can’t get that sick and be unable to care for my kids. The thought terrifies me.
I know several people who have had H1N1 and been miserable for 2-3 weeks, hardly able to get out of bed, but recovered just fine. How it affects someone doesn’t seem to correlate to their general health and fitness- some were very fit, others more couch potato.
I’m also worried about how the virus will mutate over the next year, and hopefully getting vaccinated now may decrease the serious risk of a stronger strain.
I always get the regular flu shot, but I’ve heard enough bad reports on the H1N1 to decide to let it slide this year.