I'll admit that, even in one of my recent posts, I've been a little snarky about swine flu.
I mean, it's a flu. People get the flu all the time. My household even had a collective bout of flu last month.
But the news today that a Littlestown kindergartner died because of complications from swine flu scared the bejesus out of me.
I picked up the phone as soon as I came out of a meeting this afternoon and called my pediatrician's office.
Do you have seasonal-flu vaccines available now? I asked. Are you getting swine flu vaccines soon? When can I bring my kids in?
Well, no and no, the receptionist said. They don't have any seasonal-flu shots yet and don't know when they'll get them, and they're supposed to maybe get a shipment of swine-flu shots this month.
Not YET? Maybe this MONTH? Don't they know a little girl in relatively close proximity -- and only a year younger than my Sammy -- has died?
I haven't gotten any official news from Sam's school that they're getting swine-flu vaccines and will administer them (I got a sheet of information about the vaccine, but nothing else, like a permission slip). I could take her to a pharmacy for a seasonal-flu shot, the doctor's office said, but they probably won't administer one to Noah because he's younger than 4.
Again, I know it's the flu. I get that. But it just seems more real now.
Being scared can be the first step to being more informed and equip yourself to helping your family!
First of all this is NOT 'just the flu'. This is a flu that has NEVER been in our human population before, so we do not have any immunity to it. We NEED this vaccine, for that reason. Until enough people can get vaccinated, there ARE things that you can do to help your family through this.
I have been trying to promote pandemic awareness for the past couple of years. If you are interested, I can post some links to some helpful home & family preparations that you pull together NOW.
In the meantime, consider doing the following NOW:• Have alternative child care options, if the adult members still have to report to work. Those options should be for SMALL groups of 6 or less children
• Have a well stocked pantry of AT LEAST two-weeks of ADDITIONAL groceries (in addition to what is already in stock in their homes!).
o Parents may not be able to shop due to illness in their family (taking care of a sick child or the adult member becoming sick)
o Stores *may* have reduced hours, if illness starts to affect employees
o Families may decide NOT to shop, if the have a child or other family member at home in the ‘high risk’ category that makes getting the virus more dangerous to their health/life
• Have all the necessary ‘over-the-counter’ meds necessary for home treatment of the flu already purchased.
o Hospitals and Doctor offices will be overwhelmed with more serious cases
o Stores may run out of the needed meds & supplies (just look at England & Australia for examples of that!)
o Pharmacies are generally smaller stores than grocery stores and number of employee are smaller. Those stores may have reduced hours due to employee shortage due to illness.
• Have a ‘Flu Buddy’, having another adult available to care for the children of their household, should one or both adults in a household become ill.
• Make a ‘Flu Kit’ for your college student to keep in their dorm.
• Looking in on the Elderly or Infirmed
o They may be ill with the flu and need help
o They may have other health issues that they could not get help with, if our hospitals and doctors become overwhelmed with flu patients
o They may need you to shop for them, if they are afraid to go out.
Also know the warning signs that indicate that you need immediate medical help (ie: go to the EMERGENCY room!). These can be found on the CDC website here: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm . I hope this helps!
Did you hear about the boy in Virginia that became paralyzed after getting his H1N1 vaccine? He developed Guillain-Barre syndrome from the vaccine. --And I was all gung ho to get my daughter the vaccine. Now I don't know if I will.
Also, the swine flu isn't new -- it was around in 1976, and even then, they found that people could develop Guillain-Barre syndrome from the vaccine. (I know a Dr. who works at the lab in Swiftwater that is making the vaccine. He does think everyone should get the vaccine)
Here's more info about this --just so you can make an informed decision:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/gbs_qa.htm
For anyone In York County looking for the REGULAR SEASONAL FLU SHOT - the Department of Health in York on North George street has them readily available. They are FREE. All you need is your child's shot records. They have clinics every weekday morning from 9-10:45 and PLENTY of SEASONAL FLU SHOTS available.
It seems as though most of the doctors offices are out of this shot and don't know when they'll be getting any more in. Don't forget about the PA Dept. of Health!