Date: October 30th 2009

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BABY 411 NEWS UPDATE
The free eNewsletter for the readers of BABY 411
http://www.Baby411.com
October 2009

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In this newsletter:
1. H1N1 Disease
2. Looking for Tamiflu liquid?
3. Looking for H1N1 Vaccine?
4. Top myths of the week
5. Baby Einstein offers refunds!

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1. H1N1 Disease

H1N1 infection is widespread across 46 states, so more of you are familiar with this disease now. My hometown has been seeing H1N1 disease for about five weeks solid. And the good news is we are finally seeing fewer kids with this illness. However, it continues to spread. It is a minor illness for a vast majority of people who get it. But, a small number of people (even those who would not be expected to get very sick) are getting very sick—and that’s why the vaccine cannot come soon enough to reduce the spread of this infection.

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2. Looking for Tamiflu liquid?

If your child needs to take Tamiflu, you may discover that the liquid form is hard to find. You are not alone! No surprise, there is a shortage since the demand is so high. If your child needs it, there are a couple of options:

• Option #1. Find a pharmacy that will “compound” or make up the liquid suspension for you. Ask your medical provider for a suggested pharmacy.

• Option #2. Get a prescription for the capsule form (it comes in 30mg, 45mg, and 75mg capsules). You can open the capsule and place the granules into a teaspoon or two of chocolate syrup, pudding, or applesauce. Just make sure your little one eats the entire spoonful.

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3. Looking for H1N1 Vaccine?

The vaccine continues to trickle in to doctors’ offices.

Note for Dr Brown’s and Capital Pediatrics patients: We are offering H1N1 Nasal spray to anyone who wants it and is eligible to receive it. We just received a small amount (320 doses) of the H1N1 shot, which we are trying to prioritize for children ages 6 months to 2 years of age and those patients who are high-risk and not eligible to receive the nasal spray form of the vaccine. (That is, until we get more supply of the shot form, which should be coming in soon.) The injectable vaccine we received is Sanofi brand and they are multi-dose vials (which means several doses of vaccine are contained in each vial). This version does contain a small amount of thimerosal as a preservative. Despite that, I still encourage families to get their kids vaccinated with this shot. If you are concerned about thimerosal, here are some key stats:

• Children 6 months to under 3 years old, Sanofi multidose flu vaccine: 0.0125 mg ethyl mercury (thimerosal)

• Children 3 years old and up, Sanofi multidose flu vaccine: 0.025 mg ethyl mercury (thimerosal)
By comparison, 1 liter of breast milk contain 0.015 mg methylmercury and a 5 oz can of tunafish has 0.115 mg of methylmercury. Both contain more mercury!

Here are some other key points:

* The H1N1 shot can be given to anyone who is 6 months and older.
* If your child received seasonal flu shot or Flumist, there is no time interval required between that vaccine and this one. In fact, the H1N1 shot can be given at the same time as the seasonal flu shot or Flumist.
* Kids under 10 years of age need 2 doses given 28 days apart for best protection.
* It takes about 2 weeks to mount an immune response to the vaccine.

Who cannot get this vaccine?

* People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
* People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination.
* People who developed Guillain Barre Syndrome within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously.
* Children younger than 6 months of age
* People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated.)

Note for all readers: If your doctors’ office has the H1N1 nasal spray, there are only certain people can get this vaccine. So, be sure to check out our blog at www.baby411.com to find out if your child can get this form of the vaccine. It will save you time and potential frustration if you review this information before showing up for a vaccine appointment!

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4. Top myths of the week

Q. Is it true that getting the seasonal flu vaccine puts you at greater risk of getting H1N1 infection? No. We think this urban legend originated in Canada, but it has no scientific data or merit.

Q. Is it true that people with diabetes should not get any form of the H1N1 vaccine? No. Diabetics are not eligible for the live nasal spray form of the vaccine, but they can get the injectable (shot) form. And, they should get the vaccine because they are at greater risk of developing complications from infections.

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5. Baby Einstein offers refunds!

Speaking of lack of scientific data…Disney, the parent company of Baby Einstein videos, may have finally admitted that their videos don’t make your baby any smarter. These videos have been marketed for years as “educational” without one study ever proving that. Based on a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission about these claims, Disney will offer a $15.99 refund to any parent whose child did not get into Harvard after viewing these videos. Okay, we’re kidding on that—they will give you a refund if you are not completely satisfied! This event is a reminder that the American Academy of Pediatrics discourages media use in kids under age two for a reason. Your baby’s time is better spent doing other things.

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Have a safe, fun Halloween!
Dr Ari Brown and Denise Fields
Authors, BABY 411 * TODDLER 411