Egg Allergy and the H1N1 vaccine

I was at work and Nathan's pediatrician's office called me and told me that they would have an allergist at their office to give the vaccine to 2 other allergy kids and Nathan could get it too but I had to be there at 4:00pm today. I said yes we would be there.

Nathan has been coughing....a lot. He was still sick with a cold or flu and I told the doctors that and they said as long as he didn't have a fever they could still do it. The nurse took his temperature and he didn't have a fever.

Nathan's current allergist over seeing the injections, I was surprised to see him. He knew Nathan so that was good. The allergist did a skin prick test on Nathan's back for egg and the vaccine. Nathan broke out in 4 big hives where they pricked him. I thought there is no way they will give him the vaccine. After about 20 minutes the nurse (who is our pediatric nurse) gave Nathan the first injection of H1N1 vaccine and then they set the timer for 20 minutes to make sure there are no reactions. Nathan continued to cough and he had a runny nose. I don't know if it was from the cold or the vaccine. Then the nurse continued to give Nathan the rest of the injections about 20 minutes apart. Nathan did not like all that needle pricking.

Nathan's pediatrician came in to check on Nathan too, so I was really relaxed and thought if anything happens we have a lot of doctors here. She said that Nathan still has that cold/flu and he should be better in a few days. She looked into his ears and said they are getting better. She also looked at his red eye again and said it was not pink eye or contagious.

We were there a couple of hours but they were all so nice, Nathan got juice box, fruit snacks, a bouncy ball and a nightlight.

A trip to the doctor office

Nathan has been sick on and off for a while with cough, fever, tummy issues and not eating very much. So I decided he needs to be seen even though I dread the pediatricians office with all the H1N1 going around and all the sick people there but now I am wondering if Nathan has the flu.

We got a Saturday morning urgent care appointment because I didn't want to wait until Monday. They told me on the phone that he needs to wear a mask because they have a H1N1 vaccine clinic going on the waiting room and is full of healthy people. Very embarrassing - Nathan wouldn't wear it.

The pediatrician looked him over and said that one of his tubes is falling out and he has an ear infection and a sinus infection. She wrote us a RX for an antibiotic. She said he probably had the flu and now it has turned into this. I was delighted that one of his tubes is finally falling out (read previous post) and may not need surgery if the other falls out, but also with no tubes is he going to start getting ear infections again.

On our way out, I questioned the doctor about the flu clinic they were having and asked if it was injectable vaccine that they were giving out and she said "yes". I felt a bit angered, how was the pediatrician office getting the vaccine before the Asthma and Allergy clinic at Children's Hospital. I told her that I have been waiting for that vaccine to be available for Nathan to get it with his asthma. She agreed that Nathan needed to have the vaccine and offered to give us the vaccine to take to the allergy clinic for them to administer. The pediatricians office won't do it, they don't want to be responsible for any reactions to the egg. I just need to get the appointment first at the allergy clinic and then I can pick it up, she said to bring a cooler and ice pack.