Still confused about the two-doses of flu shot thing.

VivaAmore

MayoClinic.com and cdc.gov both say that if it's the FIRST time a 2-9yo is getting the flu shot that they need 2 doses.  DD#1 has had the flu shot before so I think that means that she only needs 1 dose this year, even though the strains of the shot differ each year. That also makes me think that she would only need 1 dose of the h1n1 vac.  Is this right? What have your peds been saying?

sweetie1528

what a sweet picture!  I think you are right.

snowflakemom

Yes, this is DD#1's third year of getting a flu shot and both last year and this year she only needed one dose. Her first year she got two doses (as did DD#2 this year). I'm not 100% sure about the H1N1 vaccine because DD#1 is not getting it, but DD#2 is getting two doses of the H1N1 vaccine as well as the seasonal flu vaccine.

Kapalua

My understanding is one dose of seasonal (if they've had it before) and 2 doses of H1N1.  At least, that's what the nurse told me this AM.

Yodajo

Kapalua:

My understanding is one dose of seasonal (if they've had it before) and 2 doses of H1N1.  At least, that's what the nurse told me this AM.

This is what I've read is correct.

joseysbride

I'm cofused by this, too.  Because when dd got the regular flu shot, they said she didn't need two doses, but when she got the H1N1 shot, they said she did.  I have to take Cohen in for his 4 mo well check before that point, so I figured I'd just ask then.

Let me know if you find out for sure!

joseysbride

Kapalua:

My understanding is one dose of seasonal (if they've had it before) and 2 doses of H1N1.  At least, that's what the nurse told me this AM.

Okay, so that's what I was told, too.

VivaAmore

OK, just read more on Flu.gov.  This is what they are saying - a trial study shows that 10-17yo's are showing signs of better protection in blood tests after just one dose, but under 10 they don't show the same results until 2 doses are given).

Still, if the illness broke out just a few weeks earlier and this strain was included in the usual flu shot, wouldn't kids just be getting 1 shot if it wasn't their first time? The info just doesn't sound consistent to me and while I'm all about vaccinating and protecting my kids and others, I am still concerned about them possibly getting more than they really need.

true_norskie

Kapalua:

My understanding is one dose of seasonal (if they've had it before) and 2 doses of H1N1.  At least, that's what the nurse told me this AM.

This is my understanding, as well.

I had asked this same question (to this board--not a doctor) because I don't know WHY. 

I scoured the internet to figure out the reasoning behind it and all I could find was that "they" found the H1N1 shot most effective with two doses in the under age 9 group.  Why it is any different from the seasonal vax is beyond me!

true_norskie

VivaAmore:

Still, if the illness broke out just a few weeks earlier and this strain was included in the usual flu shot, wouldn't kids just be getting 1 shot if it wasn't their first time? The info just doesn't sound consistent to me and while I'm all about vaccinating and protecting my kids and others, I am still concerned about them possibly getting more than they really need.

I'm SO confused by this, too!  What if they could have manufactured the flu vax in time to include H1N1?!?

It makes me wonder two things, first, is DD1 really protected from her single dose of the seasonal flu vax, and two, to your point, is she getting more than she needs (assuming she actually gets the booster--because of availability).