H1N1

It took me less than a second to make the decision not to vaccinate Gigi for H1N1. We aren't vaccinating her for anything else, firstly. Also, H1N1 vax contains thimerisol.

I won't get started on vaccinations other than to say that the companies who provide them are legally protected from liability should something go wrong. This vaccination is no exception, and was hastily concocted to boot.

I will take my own meager precautions now:

• No more touchy strangers. If you want to see how quickly I can move, step toward my daughter with your hand outstretched while saying "oh she's sooooo beautiful..."
• No high risk places. Gigi was invited to Chuck E Cheese for a little one's birthday. There are just so many reasons to avoid places like this. My conclusion was that they didn't base their business model on how clean they are, and I'll just leave it at that.
• I will periodically sanitize her hands. After the market, after playgroup. I know that there is a anti-hand sanitizer movement out there, but I'm on the fringe. I dont see the harm in a little alchohol now and then.
• And of course, I will KEEP BREASTFEEDING. Gigi has been sick once in her little life, and that was because I foolishly kept her in close proximity to three sick children for 6 hours (I didn't know!) when she was 4 months old. Even when I came down with something 2 months ago, Gigi stayed in her protective BF bubble.
  
  

I fully expect to come through this unscathed. However, I won't feel like I neglected Gigi if she gets sick. Ive struggled with the vaccination question already and made my peace with the risks on both sides. I gave the H1N1 vaccination question its due, however, and I still do not feel compelled to cause potential harm to my precious daughter over it.