Thursday, November 12, 2009

No Pigs Allowed!

I did it. I wasn't going to but I did. My original plan was to not vaccinate my kids with the H1N1 vaccine. I can't cite specific examples of why I felt I didn't want to do it. I just knew I didn't. Then I started hearing news stories about perfectly healthy kids that died from H1N1. I know that the chances are slim that one of my children will die from the flu/swine flu. However, it was keeping me up at night. What if Noah, who is still so young, died because I didn't want to get my kids vaccinated? I wavered back and forth about it for the last two months. One day I was going to go ahead and do it and the next day I swore I wasn't. Finally, last week I decided I was going to go ahead and do it. Only problem was that there wasn't any available! I figured I would just keep calling my pediatrician's office and when it was available we would get it. Sounded like a good plan to me. The only problem was that I kept forgetting to call! Today a friend of mine, who uses the same pediatrician (Thanks Chinelle) let me know that they had the H1N1 mist available. I called the office and sure enough they had it. Of course, they only had about 20 doses available and it was on a first come first serve basis. So, I packed the kids into the car and we sped off to the pediatrician. While driving I said a little prayer that God would watch over my kids and keep them safe from any harmful side effects of the vaccine. I also prayed that God would keep Noah healthy and safe because he was too young to receive the mist and they had no shots available. I put it in God's hands and I trust that he will watch over us. I arrived at the doctor's office and my oldest three received the H1N1 mist. We took out three of the doses left, which means that between our family and a couple other random patients there are about a dozen doses at our pediatrician's office. At the last minute one of the nurses informed me that they had one dose of the preservative free H1N1 shot in the back that we could have for Noah if we wanted. Apparently the little boy who was supposed to receive it ended up with a fever. We took it! It felt like the right thing to do. So, my kids have all received their first dose of the H1N1 vaccine and I think I will sleep a little better.

*I did not write this post in order to start a debate. I understand that not everyone opts to vaccinate their children with the same vaccines or at all. I believe it is a parent's right to do what they feel is right for their child. So, if you decide not to get your children the H1N1 vaccine then I fully support you. If you do get them vaccinated, I support you too. :)

2 comments:

  1. I could have written this post! I am so on the fence about this vaccine, but I decided I am going to give it to the girls once our dr's office gets another batch! Glad you will be able to sleep better :)

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  2. I'm glad you were able to get the vaccines, and that God worked it out just as you needed -- how cool! I, too, keep going back and forth on whether or not to get them for my children, although since they haven't been available to me yet, I haven't had to make a final decision. Right now, I'm pretty sure we'll be getting them when the first opportunity arises...although I could change my mind tomorrow... :-)

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