Parents Split On Giving Children Swine Flu Vaccine

BERMUDA DUNES – Jesus and Christina Manzano are the proud parents oftwo-month-old Diego Gael. They also have aneight-year-old son. They seea Swine Flu vaccine for both of their children as being a must.

“I have sisters in the health care industry and both of them have suggested we get them vaccinated,” Christina says.

But not all parents are big fans of flu shots, Swine or otherwise. Krisann Miller of Huntington Beach has a 23-year-old daughter and two teenage sons.

“I just have never gotten a flu shot and my children have never gotten a flu shot,” says Miller. “They’re not compromised in anyway….They’re healthy active children.”

Still,U.S. health officials maintain the risks from not getting a Swine Flu vaccine are greater than any potential side-effects associated with the vaccine.

“We are seeing this increase in disease including deaths andI think people should take advantage of the vaccine when it’s available to them,” Dr. Anne Schuchat with the Centers for Disease Control says.

So far, nearly 80 children have died from the Swine Flu in the U.S. alone. That number got the attention of Robin Fitzsimons. She didn’t plan on having herthree daughters, who range in age from 14 to 19, inoculated for the virus.

“I wasn’t aware that many children had died of it. So now, that you put it that way maybe it will be something we’ll think about.”

Meantime parents who are concerned about their children catching the Swine Flu have been put on hold. Local medical groups, as well as area hospitals, are still waiting for Riverside County to dispense their initial allotments of the H1N1 vaccine.