Flu shots??

PennyLane26 · October 2013

This is a 2 part question.

I don't usually get the flu shot. I have gotten it twice in my life - once my first year teaching and once last year while pregnant. BOTH time I still got the flu, and let me tell you, the flu while pregnant is no joke.

I am going to get DD vaccinated at her next appointment. I am 99% sure I'm going to get it, too, but it feels a little pointless as I know it doesn't protect against all strains. Of course, I want to be responsible and get it in hopes to best protect DD from getting it but I seem to have more success fending off the flu when I don't get the shot.

Here's my question(s) - What are your thoughts on getting the flu shot? Will you vaccinate LO(s) and yourself? Do you know if your pedi will vaccinate you while you are at the appointment or just LO(s)?

JBDamonM · October 2013

Ugh - feeling your pain on the flu when pregnant - I also had it last winter, and DH had it at the same.exact.time. MISERABLE!

We got LO the flu shot. Truthfully, I was and am not sold on it, but my reasons against it are more selfish than anything (even as an adult it makes you sore, must be worse for a baby and I've seen so many adults get a cold from it, also must be worse as a child) but..... I know LO would probably really struggle fighting the flu if she got it, so I thought it was a safer bet. She's also in daycare, not sure if they require it but I thought this was another glaring reason to give it to her.

As for me and DH - we are both going to get it. Much like you we aren't huge believers. I've never been too affected either way but the first time DH got it he got horrendously sick that winter. That being said, I feel like it's a god safety precaution for us to at least try and prevent DD from being exposed.

My pedi did not offer to vaccinate us. We'll be getting them over the next few weeks on our own.

ccam · October 2013

DS is scheduled for his flu shot in a few weeks and both DH and I will be getting one. Last year was the first time we got one.

Saraevh · October 2013

I was totally torn with this too since I got slammed with the flu last year even though I had the shot, buuuuuuuuut I got it last week.

Not positive if they will vaccinate you too at LO's appointment, but you could always zip down to Target, Walgreens, pretty much wherever and get one if not. I personally would just make sure it's the preservative free one (but that's only because I'm a little extra freakish when it comes to that stuff).

TJ1979 · October 2013

I get mine through work, and LO will get hers at the pedi in a few weeks. I hadn't gotten it since I was a kid, and had only gotten the flu once in all the years I didn't get the shot. So I was happy not getting it. But my RE was very insistent 2 years ago and this year both that I'm not doing it for me, I'm doing it for the LOs. So I do.

kaf7 · October 2013

I've gotten mine every year since I was 12 or 13. I insisted DH get it last year. Our vaccines are through public health and all 3 of us got ours on Monday. I will continue to insist we all get it for the foreseeable future. I am in health care and have seen too many complications from the flu to do otherwise.

Ruthie04 · October 2013

We will all get ours at their 12 mo appt on Friday. Our pedi offers it to parents too. I haven't had a reaction since childhood, so I don't mind to get one. And, I am all for it for children. I have to say- I love getting my shots at the pedi's office (as opposed to other places). Those nurses are so fast with those needles...all those screaming children made them pros!

mdiblasi10 · October 2013

We get ours every year. Grayson had his first one in January at six months old and I believe he will get it again at his check-up this month. Our pedi offers it to us too.

pb_bride · October 2013

In a firm believer of flu shots. Had to get it at work when I was working; so had gotten it every year for ove 10 years. Never caught the flu when I gotten the flu shot.

DH any I just got our flu shots this am when we went to our doctors office. M will get his first of 2 shots this Friday, and the second shot at his 12 month appt.

One our play date moms is an Icu nurse, and she said their unit just had it's first influenza death this season.

Mr. & Mrs. Woodtick · October 2013

I have gotten the flu shot every year for as long as I can remember and (knock on wood) I have never gotten the flu. DH has to get it because of his job, and DS has already gotten his this year. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

DS’s pedi didn’t offer to give me one also, but I didn’t ask either. I can get it free at work so I usually just get it here.

laura1 · October 2013

We get it every year. I work in a hospital, so it is very strongly encouraged, and since I have been getting it (for at least the past 10 years, and caring for patients with the flu during that time) I haven't had the flu (KNOCK ON WOOD!!). DD#2 got her first shot a month ago, and I am going to try to bring the whole crew in for their shots on Friday (#2 for DD#2).

I get my shot at work (got it this past weekend in fact), the LOs get it at the pedi.

mcgeeva · October 2013

I can't imagine having the flu while pregnant. Miserable! Lo gets the flu shot and I got mine today while pregnant. I believe in vaccinating to prevent if possible.

Dragonfly1226 · October 2013

I got mine already as did DH and DS. K&A will get theirs at their six month appointment at the beginning of December. The flu shot used to be a love virus that could make you a bit sick but it isn't anymore. You should not get sick from the vaccine since it isn't a live virus.

angela2004 · October 2013

I will get the flu shot for both of us. I've had the flu it's no joke. I don't want my LO going through that.

CarrieB. · October 2013

LeahB12 said:
I get it and so does DS1 (DS2 will at 6 months). We got them last week. Last year was not a typical year. There was another flu strain going around that was not covered by the vaccine. That does not happen too often. I think any vaccine that lessens the chance of LOs getting the flu is a good idea. The flu is serious in infants and young children. I don't want to risk it. I go to my GP for it and LOs get it from the pedi.

I get the flu shot every year, but I did get the flu last year. It was horrible.

We will all get flu shots again this year. It's good to know that last year was unusual, because I really don't want to get the flu again.

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