Community› The Bump Message Boards› Toddlers: 24 Months+
Toddlers: 24 Months+
New Discussion

flu shot

heatherfaithheatherfaith member
in Toddlers: 24 Months+
if your not giving it, why not? ?If you did give it did your dc have any side effects from the vaccine? ?Also don't they say it does not protect against all the strains? ?I just don't want to give ds another vaccine if it might not protect him from the flu. ?Im just not sure what to do.
Report Reply to Post

Re: flu shot

  • Shelly203Shelly203

    DS, DH and I all got the flu shot last weekend.  DS (21 months) didn't have any type of side effects.  As for it not protecting against all strains, I don't know the answer to that one.  His dr. recommended it, and everything that I have read recommends them for children over 6 months, so we did it.

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • mrs_mcQ6404mrs_mcQ6404
    DS got his today, and I haven't noticed any adverse reactions.   I understand your concern about not giving more shots than necessary, but when I questioned our doc about it, they wanted us to give it to him since he is still so young, getting the flu could be very very hard on him and his systems.   On top of the fact that I can't get one due to my pregnancy, so we are trying to keep everyone as healthy as possible.   
    Report Reply
  • littlemermaidlittlemermaid member
    I never have given my children the flu shot.  Knock on wood they've never caught the flu that the vaccines are supposed to prevent.  If they did catch the flu it was always the stomach flu, which there isn't a vaccine for.
    Report Reply
  • Halo79RNHalo79RN member
    basically they provide a vaccine based on the strains that should (based on research) affect our area.  it is believed this years vaccine is right on.  There was just a clip on the Today show about how over 20,000 kids were hospitalized last year due to complications of the flu.  only 6% received the vaccine.  It was only pushed on people with children under age 6... now they are pushing it for every child ages 6m to 18yrs.   I'll get it (I work in a hospital)... and I'll have it given to my kids.
    Report Reply
  • 121005bride121005bride

    In regards to this post.. if you read the research from last year, they said that the flu vaccine last year was a dud and it didn't work (this was on the news and all over the magazines).  It is only a guess.  The flu vaccine hasn't been tested for safety in those less than 2 years old anyway.  Although the flu is hard on the body, so if the mercury.  The flu vax only protects (I think) against 5 of the hundreds of strains out there.  A healthy diet and common sense can help keep you flu free.

    I am in the medical field too and I have never had the shot nor has my DH or DS.  My son was 6 months at this time last year and we were all fine all throughout winter.  My dad got the flu shot and pneumonia shot last year and ended up with pneumonia and the flu- he now listens to me and eats how I tell him to eat :-)

     

    However, if your doctor says it's good then by all means, listen to him- doctors are not human and don't make mistakes nor do they get paid for each vaccine they give.

    Report Reply
  • TexasmommyTexasmommy
    We haven't gotten the shot and won't give it to DS either.  I hear too many stories every year about friends who are wondering why they got the flu when they got the shot.  You are correct, it doesn't protect aginst everything, and that is reason enough for us not to get it.  Just our personal decision and what we do as a family.  GL :)
    Report Reply
  • Mrs_JRMrs_JR
    DD got the flu shot at her 12 month appt and had no issues with it.  I had mine yesterday and DH gets his next week at work.  Our pedi recommended it for all kids over 6 months.  I didn't question it.  Yesterday my doc told me that 4 children died of the flu last year in my state.  Scary.
    image

    Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers


    Lilypie Second Birthday tickers
    Report Reply
  • beachbride19beachbride19

    DD got it a month ago and never had any side effects.  DH got it last week and didn't have any issues.  I am going in the next week or two (I tried to get it w/DH but they told me no to that one since I'm pg).

    We all got it last year as well and were lucky enough not to get the flu.

    Married 6/20/06~Mommy to 2 beautiful girls
    Report Reply
  • hopefulmomhopefulmom member

    Many people who get the flu vaccine say they got the flu anyway when in reality they got a stomach virus.  I don't think a lot of people "know" what the flu is.  It can kill.  It is recommended by most peds to get the injection for kids...unless they are allergic to sulfa.

    No reactions in our household...although my oldest DD is allergic to sulfa so cannot get the flu injection.

    Report Reply
  • ToledoDeuxToledoDeux member
    image121005bride:

    In regards to this post.. if you read the research from last year, they said that the flu vaccine last year was a dud and it didn't work (this was on the news and all over the magazines).  It is only a guess.  The flu vaccine hasn't been tested for safety in those less than 2 years old anyway.  Although the flu is hard on the body, so if the mercury.  The flu vax only protects (I think) against 5 of the hundreds of strains out there.  A healthy diet and common sense can help keep you flu free.

    I am in the medical field too and I have never had the shot nor has my DH or DS.  My son was 6 months at this time last year and we were all fine all throughout winter.  My dad got the flu shot and pneumonia shot last year and ended up with pneumonia and the flu- he now listens to me and eats how I tell him to eat :-)

     

    However, if your doctor says it's good then by all means, listen to him- doctors are not human and don't make mistakes nor do they get paid for each vaccine they give.

    This post really disturbed me, and really makes me question what it is that you DO in the "medical field."

    The 2007 vaccine was not a "dud and didn't work."  It WAS less effective than the average vaccine, but that does not equal dud.  This is not a reason to skip a flu shot.

    Do you understand that there are hundreds of different flu strains every year?  The vaccine is only effective against several of them, which the WHO decides are the most likely to affect the general population.  If you do in fact know someone who got the flu after a vaccine, they got one of the strains that they were not protected against.  Who is to say without the shot that they would not have contracted one of the more dangerous strains?  Isn't it better to be as protected as possible?

    The flu is not just a very bad cold.  It is a dangerous illness, particularly for those with more vulnerable immune systems, including very young children.  86 children died last year from the flu, and another 20,000 were hospitalized with flu-related complications.  Slamming doctors for recommending it for infants and toddlers is pretty kooky - as is implying that they do it for the revenue.  Confused

    The mercury argument is also bunk.  For one thing, the approved vaccine this year for children 6-23 months is thimerosal-free.  Besides, infants receive more mercury exposure from breastfeeding than they do from vaccinations, including the flu shot. 

    Lastly, I find it hard to believe that you work in the medical field and are able skip getting a flu vaccination.  Health care workers should be responsible and protect themselves and their patients as much as possible.  You must work in billing.

    My DD got her first flu shot this year at her 12 months appt.  No reaction. 

    Report Reply
  • ToledoDeuxToledoDeux member
    I'm also surprised at those of you who did not get the flu shot because you are pregnant.  You are one of the priority groups for receiving the vaccine, since flu complications are even more dangerous for pregnant women.
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"