H1N1 flu clinic at school today, should I keep my child home?

December 10, 2009

My child's school is having another H1N1 clinic today, do you know if these

children are contagious (the ones who receive the vaccines)? Should I keep him

home so he doesn't get exposed to anything?

Thanks!!!

Rose

December 15, 2009

so I realize this response it probably to late for the OP, but perhaps it would

help someone else. According to my kid's peditrican's office, the shot is fine,

but the mist can be an issue. Because the mist is a live virus, they

recommended keeping them away from anyone getting it for 24 hours, esp among

younger kids not always great about covering their sneeze...that a sneeze

could spread the virus from the vaccine as it is a live virus in the mist.

This came up when my daughters preschool was having a clinic just before school

started. A friend said she thought it was for the swine flu (turned out it was

just the regular flu) and I was very concerned. The only child that day in my

daughter's class that was getting it was getting a shot, not mist. But it has

concerned me because there are now swine flu clinics all over town, including

the school district my son attends. I would have no idea who could be putting

my kids at risk. However, if the school was having one and I could not

assertain whether or not any of their classmates where gettting the midst, I

would keep them home. I also cancelled a playdate when the mom got her kids all

" misted " the nnight before. I wonder how many other kids they have been exposed

to though. So far the measures we have taken have kept them well; and I hope

small exposures to the virus will build up an immunity to it overtime.

HTH