I took my six-month-old to his pediatrician this morning for his checkup. As soon as all the vitals were checked we got onto the topic of vaccines. More specifically, the pediatrician wanted to debunk some common misconceptions about the flu vaccine, especially the H1N1.
If you’ve watched the news lately, you know there is a lot of controversy surrounding the H1N1 vaccine. Many people are concerned that they will get sick from the vaccine. Others are concerned that it is “too new.” My pediatrician told me why both of these claims are false.
Flu vaccinations only contain a “dead” form of the virus. You cannot get the flu from the flu vaccine. Reasons people believe you can contract the flu from the vaccine include the fact that flu shots are most often given during flu season and only contain certain strains of the flu. It is quite possible to contract a different strain of the flu and assume it was a result of the vaccine. Another common issue is to experience cold-like symptoms after receiving the flu vaccine, but this is not in fact the flu.
My pediatrician said that the H1N1 is not “new” as the media portrays. It is the exact same type of vaccine as the normal flu shot. Every year, flu shots are developed for the particular strains of flu that experts expect to go around. The H1N1 is another such strain, the only difference being that most people don’t already have immunity for it.
The flu can cause deadly complications for the elderly, infants, and people with other health concerns. Don’t be afraid of the flu shot, especially the H1N1 vaccine. The ramifications of getting the H1N1 virus for your baby are likely much worse than any risks associated with the vaccine. I put my son on the waiting list for the H1N1 vaccine this morning. If you have a baby aged 6 months or older, talk to your pediatrician about the H1N1 vaccination.