Flu shots - are they really, really necessary?

lucreciac

Hi all - before I get flamed, let me explain.

I am definitely getting the flu shot, basically because my OB has scared me into it. I've only ever gotten one once, and got really sick from it, so I really am not a fan of them. However, I understand that they protect the baby as well, so I'm getting one this time around.

My bigger issue is with DH and my parents. DH is British and has a very anti-medicine mentality - he is convinced we over-medicate here (I half agree with him) and refuses to get the flu shot. In his defense, he never EVER gets sick...but that's just Murphy's law, isn't it? His whole argument is, nobody back home does it and the babies are all fine, so why is it so urgent here. As for my parents, they are staying with us for three months (another drama for another time) - they are both older and have a hard time traveling, so since they are flying up from Florida to us in NJ, they will just be here from the birth through Christmas. My dad has tons of health issues and is checking with his doctor to even see if he's allowed to take it - but my mom flat out refuses because she's gotten really sick from them in the past as well. So really - should I be worried that they all refuse to get one?

 Sorry for the long post..... 

Starry Again

Obviously they aren't really, really necessary. 

 https://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44612543/ns/health-cold_and_flu/t/cdc-urges-all-americans-get-flu-vaccine/#.UDVKMamPXmk

This shows last year only 43% of adults in the US got the flu shot. 

I personally think it's a great idea for everyone who is going to be around my infant and will strongly encourage those spending extended time with her to have one, but I don't think banning those without the shot is practical based on the statistic above. You just need to figure out what is right for your family.  

mizjodi

I'm with your dh; unless my body somehow goes into an immune deficiency, and it were to become medically necessary to fight off illness, I will never get the flu shot, nor would I encourage anyone else to ever get one.

I'm not going to tell anyone they have to get any sort of shot(s) either before seeing Pumpkin.

Flame away on me if you want! LOL.

 

projectbaby2012

My dr talked to me about this recently.  She said that any care givers who will be in close & frequent contact with our babies those first few months, meaning me and DH, should get both a flu shot and the whooping cough vaccine.  DH does a lot of work with a few hospitals, so he's actually already had these shots - part of his preferred vendor agreement.  I'm going to get a flu shot when they come out (my first flu shot ever - I never get the flu) and my dr said I'll get the whopping cough vaccine in the hospital after the babies are born - she doesn't feel comfortable giving it to me while my babies are in utero.

I'm ok with both.  Twins are often born early and thus are even more vulnerable to respiratory illnesses.  I won't require my parents or in-laws get these shots, however if they are sick, I won't let them visit in those early months, since they will be staying with us.  A lot of my family are in the health care profession, and fortunately get this.

If your in laws or parents are obviously sick, I would say something to them. They could always go to a hotel for a week to recover.  Otherwise, I wouldn't be too concerned, but that's just me.

danienross

I don't get the flu shot nor do we give it to DD. DH only gets it because he is military and even though they say there isn't a correlation, he usually gets sick shortly after.

lucreciac

Thanks all - you've made me feel better! I'm not going to force my DH or parents to get it.... but I will be the hand washing police and making them stay elsewhere if they get sick!

mizjodi

lucreciac:

Thanks all - you've made me feel better! I'm not going to force my DH or parents to get it.... but I will be the hand washing police and making them stay elsewhere if they get sick!

Oh, I'm all about the hand-washing! That's common sense to me! In fact, I think I'll make a full sized bottle of Purell a part of my daily routine that I haul everywhere with me!

lucreciac

mizjodi:

lucreciac:

Thanks all - you've made me feel better! I'm not going to force my DH or parents to get it.... but I will be the hand washing police and making them stay elsewhere if they get sick!

Oh, I'm all about the hand-washing! That's common sense to me! In fact, I think I'll make a full sized bottle of Purell a part of my daily routine that I haul everywhere with me!

I agree! I'm hitting up Costco to find the biggest vat of Purell they have, ha! 

Sillygirl85

I get the flu shot because I work in a school. My husband will also get it because he works with children after school. I am not going to ask anyone in my family to get any type of vaccine in order to be around my little one.

mavgirl_73

I will probably be flamed but from personal experience I have to say that neither husband or I will be getting flu shot this year. We both got it last year as did in laws in an attempt to protect our daughter (she was too young to get the flu shot) from getting the flu, well that was moot because she ended up with Influenza Type A anyway. I'm not anti-vax, she gets all of the other vaccines but as a relatively healthy child with no other comorbidities I see no need. To each their own.

Sharon&Paul

I work in pediatrics, so i am at great risk of exposure every year. I have never gotten the flu, but I have also been getting the vaccine since I started practicing. I do vaccinate both my kids, because I have seen first hand the ill effects of the flu on the very young.

The good news about your parents is the the flu season rarely starts before the New Year . So if they are heading back at Christmas they should be fine. however, your father's doctor will probably recommend he get a flu shot. He would be at risk for complications since he has multiple health issues.

signarvi

My DH has always gotten a flu vaccine at his work, and I've been vaccinated the last few years because of DS.  They're not necessary but in our case we haven't had a bad case of flu since we've been getting the shots.  Every year, the vaccine contains strains of flu that health professionals predict will be the most prevalent.  But, since there are several strains/mutations of the flu out there, vaccination doesn't always prevent.  I'll be getting the flu vaccine, if it helps keeping LO healthy then why not, it's covered under my insurance.  Now pertussis scares the crap out of me, so I did ask my family who would be staying in our home for extended periods of time with the new baby to get vaccinated.

Rochell

unless your immune system is really weak...i'd skip it...and i did with my first and will again - as long as you wash hands....don't let strangers kiss up on baby and practice good hygeine...you should be fine

Wally3

I get flu shot and get it for DS.  Last year DH didn;t get it and was so sick and DS and I were fine.  I will continue to get it for me and DS, I let everybody else make there own decisions. I think DH will get it this year since he had a bad experience last year.

mel6304

I never had one until I was pg with DS, and then got one this past fall as well (DH did also). We both still ended up with the flu really bad. Will I get it again? Probably. But I don't think it's going to always prevent it from happening.

lovesgummies

I guess my thought is if your parents don't travel well, have medical issues, and will be getting off a plane to be with you, I'd want them to get the shot. But I am of the opinion that the flu shot does not make you sick. So if you or they are against it, don't push it, but 3 months is a long time where they could get sick while at your house.

IAM3Bs

I choose to get the flu vaccine every year because I work in a bank, and clients seem to have no problem coming into my office with obvious fever and chills and complaining about how they have the flu- and worse, I'm expected to shake hands with these people. I usually try to avoid it, but if they stick their hand out, I have to shake it. I practically bathe in Purell at work and wash my hands as often as possible.  I don't want to bring it home- and so far, I haven't had the flu since my Junior year of HS (my Senior year is when I started getting it, 10 years ago.)

But I have also had a really horrible case of the flu that had me hospitalized for a WEEK with a 104 fever that wouldn't break, so I know first-hand how awful the flu can be if you get a bad strain.

DH now gets it because I basically force him to- he gets the flu every year if he doesn't- because, like me, he works in an environment where people go even when they're sick.  Seems they're too sick to work, but not to go buy a new computer or TV...

 As for the TDaP we got our boosters in 2010 right before we went on our cruise, because that was when there were first reported outbreaks in California, and cruise ships have so many people... we were due for a Tetanus shot anyway, and since they combine, we're covered.