Swine Flu Inoculations

[Old Man River]

While I thought of putting this in the Health Section, I posted it here as I am more concerned with whether my kid needs to be inoculated. I was told this morning that several Thai schools are inoculating all of their students. My kid goes to an international school and I have heard nothing on this. I have checked with some parents, and the prevailing view seems to be that the serum hasn't been proved to be effective, so it may not be necessary.

Are any of you who have kids getting your kid inoculated for swine flu?

[chiangmaibruce]

Are any of you who have kids getting your kid inoculated for swine flu?

Some of the medico lot are most welcome to chime in and correct me, but this is my understanding:

There is no swine flu vaccine yet and won't be until September

Hence they must be using the standard flu vaccine. This is apparently based on a variant of the H1N1 flu known as mexican or swine flu. It is believed that the standard vaccine should give some level of protection, ie. you may not get swine flu OR you may get it but less severely. I don't think this has been tested - so an educated guess if you like.

So in the absence of a vaccine for exact variant of H1N1, getting the standard flu shot may be worth doing - but still taking whatever precautions are recommended by public health authorities.

By the way, the standard flu shot doesn't hurt ... a very mild prick only

Edited June 15, 2009 by chiangmaibruce

[chiangmaibruce]

I think I just solved the mystery ... our little one came home from school today with a note asking us did we want to get him vaccinated for "swine flu" (Thai on one side and English on the other). I queried Mrs CB about this and she read both sides again. Apparently the Thai side just referred to general flu or seasonal flu (whatever the Thai term is) and NOT swine flu. So the school is going to get heaps of phone calls from farang parents querying this, just because they were sloppy in the translation.

It also doesn't clarify whether one or two vaccinations are required. With the seasonal flu shot for a youngster (never before innoculated for flu), the normal treatment is two shots a month apart (only one for an adult).

[harrry]

May be worth getting them even if they do not cover swine flu. The others are worse anyway. Also if they have been vaccinated and get flu you know you may have to take extraprecautions as it may be swine flu.

[Old Man River]

Are any of you who have kids getting your kid inoculated for swine flu?

Some of the medico lot are most welcome to chime in and correct me, but this is my understanding:

There is no swine flu vaccine yet and won't be until September

Hence they must be using the standard flu vaccine. This is apparently based on a variant of the H1N1 flu known as mexican or swine flu. It is believed that the standard vaccine should give some level of protection, ie. you may not get swine flu OR you may get it but less severely. I don't think this has been tested - so an educated guess if you like.

So in the absence of a vaccine for exact variant of H1N1, getting the standard flu shot may be worth doing - but still taking whatever precautions are recommended by public health authorities.

By the way, the standard flu shot doesn't hurt ... a very mild prick only

I have been checking around, including discussing this with some of the doctors at Bamrungrad. All said exactly what you have written, except none committed to Sept for the swine flu vaccination. My wife and I had the shots today and you are also right in that it didn't hurt. Our kid will get the shot this weekend.

[ciro]

I would not reccommend getting any flu vaccine. Not normal (seasonal) one or swine flu vaccine later this year. Flu vaccines ususally contain an additive called thimerasol (or sometimes thiomersal - different country, different name) used as preservative. Thimerasol is a derivative of mercury, particularly in the form of ethyl mercury. As you might or might not know, mercury is highly toxic substance even in minute quantities, especially to neuro-tishues (nervs, brain, spinal cord). In many countries it is suspected that this substance is a cause for increased autism rates in young children.

The swine flu has very mild symptoms associated with it. Much safer and effective pre-caution from contracting any flu is taking higher doses of Vitamin C (1000-3000 mg daily). If having a flu already, can take up to 10000 mg (10 grams) daily. For high doses of vitamin C use non-acidic forms to avoid eventual diarrhea, it means instead of usual ascorbic acid use calcium ascorbate, sodium ascorbate or pottasium ascorbate. For childeren reduce the dose using the body weight ratio, i.e. 25 kg child is 1/3 of average adult weight 75 kg. Symptoms should vanish within 1-2 days. Don't risk your or your child's health. Get educated about the vaccines - they are not as safe and beneficial as your doctor or the addvertisement tells you.

Edited June 20, 2009 by ciro

[chiangmaibruce]

Flu vaccines ususally contain an additive called thimerasol (or sometimes thiomersal - different country, different name) used as preservative. Thimerasol is a derivative of mercury, particularly in the form of ethyl mercury. As you might or might not know, mercury is highly toxic substance even in minute quantities, especially to neuro-tishues (nervs, brain, spinal cord). In many countries it is suspected that this substance is a cause for increased autism rates in young children.

Kindly refer to this earlier thread, particular in relation to your alarmist 'advice' concerning mercury in vaccines

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Baby-Jabs-Th...lp-t204513.html

[ciro]

Kindly refer to this earlier thread, particular in relation to your alarmist 'advice' concerning mercury in vaccines

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Baby-Jabs-Th...lp-t204513.html

Thimerasol is probably not part of child's vaccines any more, but it is still present in flu vaccines. Now we speak about the flu, respectively comming swine flu vaccine, not childern's vaccines.

If it is so harmless, as stated by the moderator in the post you are referring to, why then it is being withdrawn from the vaccines? Somehow schisofrenic approach, don't you think so? We claim that it is harmless, but still take it out...why?

Finally, thimerasol, as stated there is completelly expelt from the body within 30 days. Quite a long time to me. During those 30 days it has enough time to cause considerable damage. Additionaly, not all thimerasol is expelt, only part of it that stays in the blood and reaches kindeys. Since the ethyl mercury (thimerasol) is water solutable, it can be absorbed by the cells along with other staff and nutriens that the cells usually absorb from the blood. Once inside the cell, it may never leave or it can make damage for quite a long time while in there, especially if absorbed by nervous cells...

Edited June 20, 2009 by ciro

[chiangmaibruce]

Further authoritative information that may be of interest to those concerned about this issue:

http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/ABOUT/QA/thimerosal.htm

[sbk]

Moving to the health forum where the health experts reside.

[Sheryl]

Correct that there cis no vaccine avauilable as yet for swine flu

regarding thimerosol and lfu vaccines see http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/ABOUT/QA/thimerosal.htm

[Old Man River]

Well the whole family has had flu vaccinations to make sure. In addition, since the kid had a fever, we had her screened for swine flu yesterday at Bamrungrad. Fortunately, no swine flu and she was given antibiotics and is fine today.

I did talk to the attending pediatrician who let me know that they are seeing less and less cases in Bangkok. He also added that even if she had it, they have the medicine to beat it quickly as the disease exists now. However, he added that if it evolves into a different type of flu, all bets will be off.

[PPG]

In addition, since the kid had a fever, we had her screened for swine flu yesterday at Bamrungrad. Fortunately, no swine flu and she was given antibiotics and is fine today.

What was the screening procedure they gave her? Just wondering how they actually test for swine flu here.