Swine flu officially has my family surrounded. I hadn't given it much though until recent weeks, when it dawned on me that Annie probably isn't the only 2 year-old who fails to cover her mouth when she coughs. We aren't big lovers of vaccines. We get them - we're not Jenny McCarthy or anything - but we don't run out and beg for them. Now I find myself wondering if we should take the plunge.
The first confirmed case in our world was in a 3 year-old class at Annie's school. For the most part parents are good about keeping their kids home when sick, but the week before, we were sent an email about children showing up just "a little sick." The email arrived with a sharp reprimand from the school's director reminding us that things like swine flu were, you know, kind of all or nothing.
The next day we were sent another email from the director with a second case (also a 3 year-old class) in which a sibling tested positive, and the mother said it was "mild," Suspiciously, we weren't told if that particular child had been in school all week. Two days ago, we received yet another email about a mild case of swine flu, this time in a 4 year-old class.
Finally, I was out in the yard yesterday when a neighbor told me that the 15 year-old across the street was holed up with swine flu. Suddenly, I wondered if she had given Annie a high five this week. Or if she was on the bus with the other neighbors who love to visit Annie and Tilda after school. Or if her family's dog sniffed my family's dog's butt and...you know the rest. When Annie went to bed, I was convinced she felt warm. Is it possible to give someone psychosomatic swine flu?
Now I'm that parent who is convinced his house doomed. I see swine flu around every corner and I'm seriously considering getting vaccinated. I know this isn't Captain Trips, but it suddenly seems serious. What do you think, is this just a shift in my mental state or is it time to run out and get the family their swine flu vaccine?
you should get the girls vaccinated.
Posted by: Colleen | October 29, 2009 at 07:43 AM
I don't even think the Swine flu vaccine is available yet, Sporadically is what I heard. So, you can get the regular flu vaccine, but that is pointless because 90% of the cases are Swine Flu this year.
Posted by: Rygar | October 29, 2009 at 11:24 AM
It's a tough call. I got the vaccine because Harper is under 6 months of age, and I couldn't bear the thought of possibly getting them sick. Plus, if they do come down with it, I figure someone needs to be well enough to tend to everyone. I haven't decided whether or not to get Molly vaccinated, even though a kid in her class has the swine flu. She's not eligible for a few more weeks anyway because she just got her seasonal flu shot.
Posted by: Laura | October 29, 2009 at 03:39 PM
Call the pediatrician, that's who you ask!Do you remember Dr. Jeff?
Posted by: Kathy Poulas | October 30, 2009 at 05:53 PM
Dad says--when the grandchildren are sick, call the grandfather!
Posted by: Kathy Poulas | October 31, 2009 at 08:56 AM
Fluwikie.com is in the progress of choosing some of the top blogs(which have adequate information) to receive recognition from Fluwikie.com as a Featured Blogger. This award is not meant to be anything other than a recognition that your blog gives adequate information about tactics that directly or in directly raise disease awareness and prevent the transmission of Disease. Simply place the award banner code on your site and your blog will be listed as a Featured Blogger on Fluwikie.com. Flu Wikie is a Private Global Health Watch Group, whose goal is to promote healthy living though the spread of FREE information globally. Thank you for your time and dedication to your blog! Please reply me back with the subject line as your URL to avoid spam and to make sure that you only get the award banner.
If your Believe in our Goal of Global Health Text link to use for your readers.
Text Link: FluWikie Url: http://www.fluwikie.com
Posted by: Cassandra | November 24, 2009 at 03:57 PM