Politics & Government

Parents Split on H1N1 Vaccine

Some want to get it for kids, others concerned about side effects.

The divide over whether to get the H1N1 vaccine for children remains, as parents debate whether or not to get the vaccine before the town's first vaccination clinic this evening.

Part of the buzz this morning among mothers sitting in Starbucks was the H1N1 vaccination and whether or not they would be taking their children to the clinic at the high school. Some said they want to get it based on doctor's orders or concern over the effects of H1N1 on their children. Others remained skeptical based on the newness of the vaccine.

"I think it is better to do than not," Kathleen Laczynski said. "I don't think the concern about side effects outweighs the risk of getting H1N1."

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Laczynski said she planned on contacting her pediatrician today to see if he had H1N1 vaccine in and she could have her children receive the vaccine there. If not, she was planning to take her children to the health department clinic. She was also researching the differences between the nasal vaccine, which is a live virus, versus the injectable dead virus version. The regional health department is offering the nasal version tonight and the injectable version next Monday during a clinic at Summit High School. Laczynski said this research will play a role in which vaccine her children receive.

A mother sitting with Laczynski seconded her friend's thoughts about the vaccine, indicating that she planned to discuss the issue with her pediatrician to determine where her children should get the shots.

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"My doctor said if they don't get the shot, they will get H1N1," she said.

A mother sitting near Laczynski, who declined to give her name, said concerns over side effects from the new vaccine were at the top of her mind. She noted that her children had already received the seasonal flu vaccine and would need to get two doses of the H1N1 vaccine to be fully protected from the new flu strain. She said the newness of the vaccine, which was only rushed into production this year, because of the new flu strain and is currently the only flu vaccine being produced by drug companies, after an order from federal health officials. She was worried it her and that the risks do not outweigh the benefits.

With concern being expressed by some about the urge of pregnant women being part of the target population, Courtney Thein said she received the vaccine because she was pregnant. She said her ob/gyn strongly urged her to receive the shot and that her pediatrician was recommending the shot for her daughter, who is predisposed to asthma. She also noted that she was urging her husband to get the vaccine.

"I talked to my doctor and he said the risks of getting it are far worse," Thein said. "No one wants to get the flu if they are pregnant."


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