Should your child get a shot for the H1N1 flu vaccine if he or she is already battling some chronic condition?
Doctors have told us that our children can be the most vulnerable to this virus but millions of children are dealing with asthma, cancer, Crohn's disease. They take drugs to suppress their immune systems, so should they get the vaccine?
Dr. Dennis Cunningham of Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus says yes, but with conditions. "It's important that these patients get the flu shot...the injection that goes right into the arm, rather than the flu mist."
The mist is made of live virus and children on immunosuppressants should not take it. Dr. Cunningham says that, not only should patients get the shot, their families should get this protection, too.
The experts say if your child is on immunosupressants, he or she may not respond fully to the H1N1 vaccine but some protection is better than none.
If your child is on more than one medication, talk to your pediatrician.
