To vaccinate or not? Pregnant moms first? Babies? Is the vaccine tested enough? Should we get it? What happens if we avoid it? Will we kick ourselves if the called for onslaught happens and then be ready to give anything for a vaccine?
Our momstown message boards are all filled with discussion about the H1N1 flu and it's potential vaccine. No one seems to know what to think and they are talking, learning and figuring about what to do.
One thing is certain - all moms are confused.
As moms we're all wired to protect our children the best we can. We'd jump in front of a bus to save them from anything but when given choices, new and untested choices, we're not sure what is best. Read one article and you're convinced of one choice. Read another and you're mind has flipped.
The H1N1 flu is a disaster for parents to figure out with so many potential 'maybes'. It's like a never ending game of ping pong bouncing opinions back & forth....
Maybe the flu won't be as bad as they say? Maybe it will be worse? We should be thankful for the vaccine. But it's a new vaccine - which varies depending on country or patient (Canada's has mercury, the American version does not. The vaccine for pregnant moms has different ingredients than for other adults). Does it have enough history to trust it? Will our kids be Guinea pigs? What if we chose not to vaccinate and it's our child who suffers greatly and we as parents could have protected them?
Ahhhhh - the dilemmas!
Little kids can be cute, germy little guys with constant running noses, messy sneezes, sloppy kisses and exploring germy hands. As all parents know, fall and winter is very definitely colds & flu season in most of our homes. When I think about how fast a cold catches on, it blows my mind to think about how the flu, especially the H1N1 flu, could simply take down a kindergarten classroom. Let alone the entire student body. And their parents.
One thing this is certain we're all going to have to change our parenting behaviour with regards to monitoring illness and staying home. By the time your kid has her 3rd cold of the season, mama is worn out and just wants out of the house - green snot or not.
But this year will be different. We're being asked to quarantine our families at home when ill, get prepared in advance to stock our homes with the supplies we will need (over the counter meds, tissues & canned foods) so we don't venture when sick.
momstown moms are still ping-ponging back on forth on this topic and it's a debate I'll be watching closely cuz this mama is fully fence sitting....
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