Two Shots for Kids Under 10

on October 15, 2009 at 4:47 PM

Photo by rockerchic

It's hard enough deciding whether our kids will get one shot of the swine flu vaccine, let alone two. But that's what the makers of the inoculation are saying most kids under 10 will need for it to be effective.

It's like the first time your baby got the seasonal flu shot. The pediatrician has to administer two doses of the flu vaccine about a month apart for full immunity to develop.

This is pretty much what everyone thought anyway. But yesterday the drug's maker, Sanofi, revealed that in initial studies only half of children 6 months to 3 years old had enough protection after one shot of the higher strength vaccine, as did three-fourths of children 3 to 9 years old.

For adults, one shot of the higher strength vaccine appears to be enough, Sanofi reported earlier.

Of course, the nasal spray accounts for much of the available vaccine right now, and some areas are reporting the shots are in short supply.

A number of CafeMoms say they will get the shot for themselves and their kids, but vials are still being rolled out to the general public, and many of our moms haven't reported being inoculated yet.

More coverage in the Swine Flu Guide.

Anyone out there get the swine flu shot yet?

Related posts:

The Swine Flu Shot and My Kids

Why One CafeMom Will Not Get the Shot

About the author Cynthia Dermody

is The Stir's Managing Editor who has trophies in her home for her skills at the Irish Jig. She makes cupcakes with as many fattening ingredients as possible, doesn't comb her hair for months at a time, and was probably a faerie in a former life.

Filed Under: health, safety, swine flu

Comments (5)

unknwndreamer

on Oct 15, 2009 at 5:45 PM

I haven't gotten it yet because my doctor doesn't have it. My daughter is getting it because I'm in college and we've had a lot of people reportly come down with it and I've been doing everything I can to try and keep it away but I would rather her have the shot to be sure. Her peditrician is actually part of the clinical study so we go tomorrow to get everything started.

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Bearsjen

on Oct 16, 2009 at 12:40 AM

yanno, my 6 month old just got the reg flu shot91st dose) yesterday and man today he is so "off". I am honestly afraid to even get the 2nd part of that let alone the H1N1 vax...and I thought they were not certain they were completely safe yet? idk, I think for now I am sticking with the reg flu one....

glittersteph

on Oct 16, 2009 at 1:20 PM

My children will need 4 shots each, 2 (reg flu) and 2 (h1n1). I will not be doing the shots for me or my children. The cons outweight the pros for this family.

MomtoNana

on Oct 21, 2009 at 5:50 PM

Does anyone know where we can get a seasonal flu shot for a 5 year old? It seems the health department has decided to only vaccinate children 3 and younger. They told us to have her vaccinated at her doctors office. We have contacted her pediatrician, 23 doctors offices, all of the pharmacies in the area that are offerring flu shots and the VNA. The doctors offices do not have tha vaccines, and the pharmacies will only vaccinate adults, the VNA will only vaccinate people 10 years old or older. So what are we to do for our children age 4 to 9 years old in Indian River County? Any Ideas?