Flu Shots

[Doug]

Hello Everyone, thanks so much for all the responses to my first post. This is a very informative site. We just received the resluts from the blood work and everything appears okay. ( I haven't actually seen it but our Dr. emailed us this news ) Now we have 3 options as i see it. 1. Do nothing, because Lauren is actually doing good. 2. Try Augmentin. 2. Seek IVIG while its still early in her diagnosis. Any thoughts?

And any thoughts on Influenza Shots, Lauren received both a seasonal shot and H1N1 and did okay, we thought mabye she was a little more needy, for a few days. I am worried about the 2nd H1N1 shot because it may have a more profound immune response? Any thoughts on this.

 

Take Care , Doug Patrick

[thereishope]

As for the 2nd flu shot, personally, I would not get the second one. Even if she did okay with the others, there's always the possibility it will send her immune system into overdrive and cause symptoms to resurface. Also, something to remember is every exacerbation is different. Another one so soon after the first one can be worse and not recover easily. That phrase "the one that broke the camel's back" comes to mind. I guess the question is if you want to chance it.

 

How long has she been on her antibiotics? Is she still on any? If anything, I think she would need to be on a prophycatic antibiotic to try to prevent infections.

 

How back to her baseline is she? Would you consider her 100% recovered?

[EAMom]

I agree with Vickie...pass on the 2nd H1N1.

 

Is she 100% back to "baseline" (normal)? Then I would ask about prophylactic abs.

 

If she is not 100% normal, I would start with full-strength daily Azith....or high dose Augmentin (like saving sammy) for 1-2 mo. to see if you can get closer to her baseline. Note: If your dd responded well to 2x weekly Azith, I would be inclined to stick with the Azith (but go up to daily) rather than switch to Augmentin. Despite all the Saving Sammy Hoop-la re Augmentin, Azith is probably the most sucessfully used ab on this forum, although most are on it daily (not 2x weekly). Also, I like Azith. over Augmentin for long term prophylaxis b/c of Azith's long 1/2 life, it is more convienient. There are kids on this forum who have been on Augmentin 1x daily for prophylaxis and they still get strep...I believe the 1/2 life of augmentin is too short to be an effective 1x daily strep prevention. IMO Augmentin (like pen) must be given 2x daily to effectively prevent strep.

[sf_mom]

Doug, also get a copy of those labs run. I was told my younger son's labs looked great when in fact they are very indicative of auto-immune or immune deficiencies and pediatrician didn't understand them. What labs did you have done?

 

-Wendy

[mama2alex]

Doug,

 

Our son got the H1N1 vaccine 9 days ago and our ped (and the immunologist) told us only one shot is necessary for H1N1 - I wonder why your doctor thinks a 2nd shot is required? Maybe they are just doing it to "make sure." I think your daughter probably already has immunity. I would skip the second one.

[Doug]

Doug,

 

Our son got the H1N1 vaccine 9 days ago and our ped (and the immunologist) told us only one shot is necessary for H1N1 - I wonder why your doctor thinks a 2nd shot is required? Maybe they are just doing it to "make sure." I think your daughter probably already has immunity. I would skip the second one.

 

Hello, thanks for the follow up. The CDC recomenneds two if under the age of 9. We may just go with one.

Take Care, Doug

[thereishope]

Originally, they thought 2 doses would be required like it is when someone gets the seasonal flu shot for the first time However, upon further research, they saw that one might actually be enough to get immunity. They were looking into that because of they thought there were going to be shortages and wanted to know if 2 was really needed.

[peagreen]

Has anyone checked titers following a flu shot? Since our kids don't have normal immune response to vaccines, how do we know that they are getting ANY protection from the flu shots, whether it be one or two...it may not matter? They just may not mount an antibody response at all to the vaccine.

 

Originally, they thought 2 doses would be required like it is when someone gets the seasonal flu shot for the first time However, upon further research, they saw that one might actually be enough to get immunity. They were looking into that because of they thought there were going to be shortages and wanted to know if 2 was really needed.

[mama2alex]

Has anyone checked titers following a flu shot? Since our kids don't have normal immune response to vaccines, how do we know that they are getting ANY protection from the flu shots, whether it be one or two...it may not matter? They just may not mount an antibody response at all to the vaccine.

 

Originally, they thought 2 doses would be required like it is when someone gets the seasonal flu shot for the first time However, upon further research, they saw that one might actually be enough to get immunity. They were looking into that because of they thought there were going to be shortages and wanted to know if 2 was really needed.

 

I considered asking them to check titers, but our ds has put up with too many needle pokes already. Also, the immunologist at Stanford told us that since all his Ig's are within normal range (only a deficiency to s. pneumococcal bacteria), he should be able to mount a response.

[thereishope]

I passed on all vaccines this year.

 

 

Has anyone checked titers following a flu shot? Since our kids don't have normal immune response to vaccines, how do we know that they are getting ANY protection from the flu shots, whether it be one or two...it may not matter? They just may not mount an antibody response at all to the vaccine.

 

Originally, they thought 2 doses would be required like it is when someone gets the seasonal flu shot for the first time However, upon further research, they saw that one might actually be enough to get immunity. They were looking into that because of they thought there were going to be shortages and wanted to know if 2 was really needed.