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Live chat: Swine flu with experts from Texas Children's Hospital
 
11:55
Cindy George -  

Welcome everyone. As many as 100,000 H1N1 vaccine doses have arrived in the metro area, including thousands to the Houston and Harris County health departments. That means many people are deciding whether to get the vaccine for themselves and their families.

 

We’re joined today by two Texas Children’s Hospital physicians who can discuss your concerns and answer your questions about the H1N1 vaccine. Both are also affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine.

 

Dr. Julie Boom is a pediatric immunization specialist who works with the Center for Vaccine Awareness & Research at Texas Children's Hospital. She received her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine and completed her pediatric internship and residency at Harvard Medical School and Children’s Hospital Boston. Following Hurricane Katrina, the American Immunization Registry Association recognized Boom and her team for innovative efforts that allowed the immunization records of Louisiana’s children to be linked with the Houston-Harris County Immunization Registry's system. Boom has not received any support from H1N1 vaccine manufacturers.

 

Dr. Pedro Piedra is a pediatric infectious disease specialist whose research has focused on the influenza virus. Piedra received his medical degree from the University of South Florida College of Medicine in Tampa and completed his pediatric residency at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. He fulfilled a three-year fellowship in pediatric infectious diseases at Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo. And, for full disclosure, Piedra has received research support from several companies that manufacture the H1N1 vaccine.

 

(We’d also like welcome participants from Southeast Texas who have come to the chat via our sister site, BeaumontEnterprise.com.)

11:57
[Comment From Witch doctors]
Why would somebody want to be infected with Swine Flu vacicine? I've heard it's unsafe and has cause some people to die.
12:01
Pedro A. Piedra, M.D. -  Both the live and inactivated novel H1N1 influenza vaccines are safe and comparable to the safety observed with the seasonal influenza vaccines.  
12:01
[Comment From susan]
I'm 25 weeks pregnant, how will the vaccine affect my child when he is born, will he be immune too and for how long?
12:02
[Comment From Guest]
What do you recommend for a child (age 4) who cannot take the seasonal or H1N1 flu vaccines because of an Egg allergy
12:03
Dr. Julie Boom -  Susan, Thanks for your question.   It is very important for you to get vaccinated to protect yourself to ensure a healthy pregnancy as we know the H1N1 virus is particularly dangerous for pregnant women.   Regarding your baby, we hope that you will pass some immunity to your baby through the placenta and later through breastmilk.   The length of time that will last is unknown.
12:03
Pedro A. Piedra, M.D. -  It is best to talk to your doctor if you have allergies to egg. Many children who are reported to have egg allergies can tolerate an influenza vaccine under the direction of a physician.
12:04
Cindy George -  

For clarity, doctors: Do you recommend the H1N1 vaccine?

12:04
[Comment From SarkSyd]
Can you discuss research about the effect of thimerosal on pregnant women and fetuses? Given that states like California banned (at some point) thimerosal and it is only currently used in flu and H1N1 vaccines, isn't that an indication that thimerosal might not be good for pregnant women and fetuses?
12:06
Pedro A. Piedra, M.D. -  To Cindy,
I highly recommend the novel H1N1 vaccine. The novel live and inactivated
H1N1 vaccines are safe in children and adults.
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