I'm about to open a can of worms, I can feel it...

[Deleted User]

BUT I'm so stuck.  DH is a conspiracy theorist... or at least loves them.  He's not crazy, just likes to look at the flip side.  That's great until we argue over... the Flu Vaccine.  dum dum duuuuum.  He doesn't want DD to get it this year.  I do.  She's in day care 5 days a week and also spends at least 3 - 5 hours a week at the daycare at the gym as well, so she is def exposed to tons of germs.  Plus I'm a teacher and DD works in hospitals (he's a project engineer but still walks through them all day long, as well as being REQUIRED to get a flu shot or wear a mask!).  I'm getting one but he's all "blah blah you don't know what's in them blah blah."  Anyone else NOT giving their LO the flu shot this year?  Just looking for different opinions.  She has a Dr appt next week and I told DH that i was going to give it to her UNLESS he comes with me and talks to the Dr.  But I'm still curious as to any one who does have an opinion on this.  Thanks ladies!  Have a good week!

selockar

We all get it now. DS1 skipped it when he was a baby, due to a possible allergy. A medical reason would be the only reason I could think of not to get it.

ELF4321

DH and I both got it, but probably won't get it for DD (we didn't last year). Our pediatrician doesn't even give it to his own kids because he feels that the risk of serious flu complications is rare and kids are better off building natural immunity by getting sick rather than the temporary immunity from the flu shot. That said, DD is not in daycare. I think when she reaches school age I'll give more consideration to getting it for her.

GromMom

We haven't gotten it yet this season but planned to, but we all got sick with a regular cold and you're not supposed to get vaccinated when your'e sick.  I will say lo got sick from this last series of vaccinations but it's because your body is building up other immunities that things like roseola can get the better of you, however it's my opinion that those small sicknesses are nothing compared to getting tetanus or diptheria, so it's worth it.

I'm guessing we'll just wait for his regular appointment which is in 3 weeks at this point.

picklesx

DS got one. His daycare requires it, but even if they didn't we'd have gotten it for him anyway. I dont buy into all the nonsense about how vaccines are bad.

littleredfish

DD's been too sick with constant ear infections already to even have her 15 month vaccine, so we're trying to get that done with first, then we'll see. While I'm fully supportive of vaccines and their benefits, I always get horrible reactions from vaccines. While DD has been fine so far, I'm still cautious to not overload her just in case. DH and I won't be getting it though. Me because of my reactions, and DH because he's all for getting sick and building your own immunity.

littleredfish

BTW; I kind of laughed at the "can of worms" part of your title. My first thought was, "this IS the May 2012 board right? Where we're all too sugary sweet and level headed for crazy board drama." lol There's never a can of worms to open, at the most we mildly agree to disagree

:P

nene1216

DD did not get the flu vaccine last year, and I'm debating this year, not sure what to do yet, have to decide by end of November when her 18 month is...

I've never had the vaccine

willadieselstm

At DS 15 month appt my husband declined it.  I would like ds to have it, but he feels strongly against it.  His reasons arent valid to me, but I also dont really want to get in to it with him about it either.  I am getting one at my work, but DH has never really been sick or gone to the doctor.  He just isnt really a believer in their worth.

I may be getting the shot for him at his 18 month though.

MelissaMiso

I have never received the flu vaccine and have only had the flu a few times in my 40 years on this planet. Same thing with hubby. We are not giving it to Fifi. The flu vaccine is only about 50% effective in preventing the flu. For me, that is not good enough odds vs the risks particularly since the vaccine can cause flu-like symptoms and you can still catch the flu after receiving the vac in a milder form. We do vaccinate her in general but are doing the minimum required and won't do more than two vacs at a visit (one multi-vaccine or two single vaccines). Poor thing had an awful reaction to the MMR (rash from head to toe for two weeks, then it went away and came back one week later. She was sniffly-snuffly, too. Not pleasant at all.)

They offer the flu vac at my job but I always decline it. I must admit, I do find it amusing to watch those that chastise me for not getting it get reactions to receiving it. A number of them got huge reactions at the injection site and a few got flu-like symptoms.

To each his own.

[Deleted User]

littleredfish said:

BTW; I kind of laughed at the "can of worms" part of your title. My first thought was, "this IS the May 2012 board right? Where we're all too sugary sweet and level headed for crazy board drama." lol There's never a can of worms to open, at the most we mildly agree to disagree

:P

LOL ok i agree worms might have been too strongly worded... but i am appriciating the insight you ladies are offering.  i have another week til her appt but i'm seriously rethinking it.  esp cuz she has such a great diet of fresh fruit/veggies/berries that i'm thinking (hoping) this helps keep her immune system in tip top shape.  hmmm.

thanks ladies!

EMOmamma

My neice spent 4 days in the hospital last winter (she was 18months) with the flu. I have zero problem giving my kids a quick poke to keep that from happening to us. I know it's rare but having seen that there is really no good reason to me to skip the shot.
(FWIW they hadn't skipped the shot, she was supposed to get it the next week at her 18m appt)

stemms8810

DS and DD got theirs last week.  I got mine awhile ago.  I had to because of nursing school but I would have probably gotten one anyway.  DS was sick so much last year I definitely wanted him to have it to try to prevent the flu if at all possible.  He got it last year too.  He didn't get the flu but got everything else! 

bellelamb

I don't like the odds of it helping but my kids have never had a bad reaction to it, AND I haven't done enough real research to say no at this point BUT I do plan on talking to my dr about it before saying yes.

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

mrsshawnavanb

picklesx said:

DS got one. His daycare requires it, but even if they didn't we'd have gotten it for him anyway. I dont buy into all the nonsense about how vaccines are bad.

This is a debate that I rarely get into on TB, as I believe that everyone has the right to their own opinion/decisions on how to raise their children. But, this comment requires a return. Have you ever actually read the ingredient lists or package inserts for vaccines? I have, for every single one of them scheduled to be given from birth-18 months. To say that you "don't buy the nonsense" to me simply indicates that you have done no research on the vaccines that you blindly give your children.

Dayz- Neither DD, DH or I get flu vaccines as they are proven to be fairly ineffective and the risks for this particular vaccine do not outweigh the possibility of protection from the flu. When my husband brought up the vaccine debate I thought he was crazy and the more research (months and months of different sites, articles, talks with pedi) we did the more I understood questioning them. Make your own informed decision instead of asking other peoples opinions. There are numerous sites available including the CDC. I don't mean any of that to sound rude, I just wish that people would do research before they just follow the herd. 

bellelamb

I think the bigger thing with the flu shot is that it doesn't protect against all the flu strains just the projected most common strain, so even with the shot you are still likely to get the flu

picklesx

mrsshawnavanb said:

picklesx said:

DS got one. His daycare requires it, but even if they didn't we'd have gotten it for him anyway. I dont buy into all the nonsense about how vaccines are bad.

This is a debate that I rarely get into on TB, as I believe that everyone has the right to their own opinion/decisions on how to raise their children. But, this comment requires a return. Have you ever actually read the ingredient lists or package inserts for vaccines? I have, for every single one of them scheduled to be given from birth-18 months. To say that you "don't buy the nonsense" to me simply indicates that you have done no research on the vaccines that you blindly give your children.

Dayz- Neither DD, DH or I get flu vaccines as they are proven to be fairly ineffective and the risks for this particular vaccine do not outweigh the possibility of protection from the flu. When my husband brought up the vaccine debate I thought he was crazy and the more research (months and months of different sites, articles, talks with pedi) we did the more I understood questioning them. Make your own informed decision instead of asking other peoples opinions. There are numerous sites available including the CDC. I don't mean any of that to sound rude, I just wish that people would do research before they just follow the herd. 

Ah, there's the old can of worms.

I have researched. And I have weighed the pros and cons, both of which there are plenty. However, nothing I have come across has convinced me that vaccinating my child is doing more harm than good. Please don't sit there and preach to me and assume I'm ignorant and "blindly" allowing my child to receive vaccinations by following "the herd".

tbmadeamistake

I got it because I'm pregnant and the thought of the flu on top of morning sickness, ugh!  C will get it because I'm pregnant and she's a germ machine at daycare.  I think I'd have her get it anyway, even if I wasn't pregnant, because if there's a chance of her not getting it, I want that chance.