Cloudy with a chance of flying pigs
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009
Between vaccines and dozens of prenatal blood tests, I’m feeling a bit like a pincushion.
Not that I am afraid of needles. Not in the least. If fact, needles are the least of my fears these days. What I am most concerned about, I mean honestly losing sleep over, is the upcoming cold and flu season.
Everyone in our home has already received the seasonal flu vaccine. However, no one has been immunized against this year’s H1N1 influenza.
For weeks I’ve been putting it off. Not actually the vaccine itself, but more along the lines of ignoring whether or not to get it in the first place. Reporting on the flu and H1N1 has steeply declined in the media, despite the fact hospitalization rates and deaths attributed to influenza are higher than expected this time of year according to the CDC. Plus, there is a pervasive belief among my friends and family that a rushed, untested version of the H1N1 vaccine would be detrimental to myself and my baby.
But then this morning during my prenatal check up, my doctor informed me that they just received the H1N1 vaccine and are scheduling appointments for pregnant patients if I was interested.
I’ll admit. I froze. I did not have an answer. It seems I am not alone. A recent study shows that while 40% of people were certain they would get the H1N1 vaccine, 41% would not. I suppose I was just not ready to make an educated decision at that moment.
So I went home, and researched the vaccine and recent findings involving pregnant women… for hours.
Let me just say, I am officially terrified.
Just this week, of the 19 flu-related pediatric deaths reported in the U.S., 16 were confirmed H1N1 and the other 3 were likely to be H1N1. And this year, of the 100 pregnant women who were hospitalized with H1N1, 28 have died.
Died.
These are not good odds.
I may never leave my house again. At least not until Spring.
*Are you or your family members getting vaccinated this cold/flu season? Will you get the H1N1 vaccine? PLEASE share in the comments or e-mail me at sandy@momisodes.com.
