flu shot for your LO?

Lilbobo · January 2014

Would like to hear your thoughts on flu shots for toddlers. DH and I both got the flu shot this year and DS is up-to-date on all his vaccinations. I'm by no means anti-vax but I still have lingering fears about the safety of the flu shot for a young child. However, the recent flu-related deaths are even scarier.

ashiscute · January 2014

Yup. Both of mine have had a flu shot. I wasn't wild about it but the thought of them having the flu is much worse.

Aurora_Borealis · January 2014

Absolutely for DD. Children and the elderly are at the most risk for the flu.

KatFCo · January 2014

Absolutely. Unless there is a medical reason not to, its irresponsible to not do it.

smileybabyboy · January 2014

DS got the shot this past fall and he will get another one next week. I guess they need 2? He is in daycare and it was highly recommended the he got it.

JENandJEH · January 2014

Yes, he had it last year (he had 2 doses because it was his first time getting the flu shot) and had it again this year. No hesitation or questions on my part. My oldest has always gotten the flu shot as well.

RedDDD · January 2014

Absolutely! DS got the flu before he was old enough to be vaccinated and was on tamiflu for 10 days....it SUCKED. wasnt going to risk it

newenglander71 · January 2014

I think it's a good idea for the reasons PP mentioned, plus in my state it is required for all babies >6 months who go to daycare.

[Deleted User] · January 2014

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minervacullen · January 2014

Absolutely! My kids and I get it, DH some times, he hates needles 8-|

michelle615 · January 2014

Yep, we all got it too. Not worth the risk

jobiann · January 2014

Absolutely! DS got his when I got mine, well he had two doses. I didn't even hesitate.

DawnLilly · January 2014

Okay... I'll be the one who says no.

jasminelorraine20 · January 2014

DS got his as well and then a follow up booster shot a month after.

Zimger · January 2014

Yes

LimaD · January 2014

No, but DD stays home with me so the risk of getting the flu is small. DH and I never get it either and haven't had the flu

BLPL101 · January 2014

No, DD is home with me and still breastfed.

desertmouse39 · January 2014

Absolutely YES. I have gotten my shots through both pregnancies, LO got hers at 6 months and I will get #2 her shot at 6 months, as well. The flu is very dangerous for babies.

pmduggan01 · January 2014

Yes, we all got the flu shot.

divajackie67 · January 2014

Yes, we got the Flu shot. I had never gotten the flu shot before, but now that I have a kid it is just too risky not to. When he's older we probably won't continue them, but for now in my mind it is riskier for my son to get the flu than to get the flu shot.

ASmallWonder · January 2014

The whole "my kid stays home with me" isn't as solid an argument as people want to believe. Sure, they're not up in kids' faces the same way a daycare kid is so they're less at risk, I'll give you that but I assume they go to playgroups and that they're in contact with other people in the world. People who probably DO have kids in daycare or have the flu themselves or what have you. If say, your husband goes to work and is exposed to someone with an illness, he is bringing that home to your family.

mb314 · January 2014

An 11 year old girl in my area just died from complications from the H1N1 virus. Her parents had concerns about the vaccine and therefore didn't have her get the flu shot. It's a tragedy, but I hope it raises awareness about how important the flu shot can be (and that's coming from someone who never got a flu shot until after DS was born because I used to not think them necessary).

minervacullen · January 2014

Several people have already died by me. I breast feed, stay home... But would never think that's a valid reason to not immunize my child. DH sees dozens of people a day, we get groceries, DS is in 1st grade and kids are gross. I've seen my daughter be deathly ill, she saw septic from a kidney infection, it's terrifying, and that's something that was treatable with strong antibiotics, you can't do that with the flu.
I've had it, I could barely breath it hurt so bad. Both times I was sick for nearly a month! Never again.

[Deleted User] · January 2014

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sunnyday016 · January 2014

Yep, absolutely. Both my kids got it (and DH and I did too).

shannm · January 2014

LimaD said:

No, but DD stays home with me so the risk of getting the flu is small. DH and I never get it either and haven't had the flu

You just totally jinxed yourself.

fadingdawn20 · January 2014

I guess I'm going to be an odd one out and say no. No one in our family gets the flu shot, and we are extremely confident in that decision being what's best for us. I generally recommend to anyone who has hesitations about getting a vaccine, to research the vaccine and its risks/benefits further before giving it to their child. You should be comfortable with the decision you make, whatever it may be!

Meery82 · January 2014

Jack and both got the flu shot. I work in a hospital and he goes to daycare, two of the grossest places to be. I've seen so much H1N1 this year at work. My friend's aunt just died due to complications from H1N1. It's frightening.

SBmomma · January 2014

Never have, never will.

jess9802 · January 2014

My 14 year old SS has asthma so he got the flu shot. DS got the vaccine as well. Our area is having a particularly bad H1N1 outbreak - a five year old died from it just after Christmas. Although he had gotten his flu shot, his parents had not. They both got the flu, and passed it on to him. The boy's siblings did not get sick, however. The vaccine is not 100% effective, but low numbers of immunization each year in a community reduce the efficacy and leave too many people vulnerable.

FemShep · January 2014

I'm asking honestly here-why would you not get the flu shot for you and your LO? Knowing that young children are at increased risk, that complications can kill someone, and that everyone has some level of exposure to germs, why would you risk it?

ETA: Obviously, some people have medical reasons for not getting the shot (or other vaccines), and if their doctor does not recommend the vaccine, of course they wouldn't want to get it. This question is directed towards people who don't have a medical reason for choosing not to vaccinate.

FemShep · January 2014

Starbuck128 said:

FemShep said:

I'm asking honestly here-why would you not get the flu shot for you and your LO? Knowing that young children are at increased risk, that complications can kill someone, and that everyone has some level of exposure to germs, why would you risk it?

Why would you not get a vaccination? How about if your doctor recommends you don't get it? If the benefit of a vaccination doesn't outweigh the risk of getting one, a doctor won't recommend getting it.

Every vaccination has different ingredients, but you are asking about the flu shot specifically. As I mentioned in my earlier post on this thread, the flu shot is made with egg proteins. That's why it was recommended people with an egg allergy not get the flu shot. That's why you are asked on the questionnaire you fill out every time you or your LO gets a flu shot if you have an egg allergy.

This year the CDC reversed their position and decided most children with egg allergies should still get a flu shot. (There's an egg free flu shot approved for people 18 and older.) I believe a flu shot is still not generally recommended for children with an extremely severe egg allergy.

Still, it was scary going in and getting DS his shot. Any responsible parent is going to question a brand new government recommendation. There's no guarantee anyone will get the flu, but there's a guarantee a nurse is going to inject his allergen directly into his body. The very allergen DH and I try so hard to shield him from every day. I can't imagine how much harder it must be for parents of severely allergic children. DS got his shot and we had to stay at the doctor's office for 30 minutes for observation.

That's just the flu shot, and there are other reasons to avoid some other vaccinations. It's great that you (you in the broader sense) don't have any reason to fear a vaccination, but it can't be that hard to realize not everyone is that lucky. It's great to jump on the pro vaccination band wagon because I think everyone should get a vaccination if they are able. But why the need to so loudly proclaim that everyone needs to get every shot, every time and get together and shame anyone who doesn't have the luxury of living in your fear-free world? How hard is when you say "I judge anyone who doesn't get the _______ shot" or "It takes a special kind of stupid not to get the ________ shot" and add a little "unless it is for medical reasons." Those people who say those things think their intolerance of anyone else's situation makes them a better person. I don't get it.

/soapbox

If people have medical reasons for not getting a vaccination, I support them completely. And I was asking honestly-does everyone in this thread not get it for medical reasons? No, clearly not. So why do people not choose to vaccinate when the risk is significant? I would love to understand the reasoning behind that decision (other than, my child is allergic and my doctor has told us not to get it, which is a very good reason not to get the shot).

SBmomma · January 2014

Growing up I only recieved MAYBE a handful of vaccinations...like 4 or 5. I was never given the flu shot, and have never fallen ill besides the typical cold every couple years. That is normal to me. My DH had the same upbringing. So in raising our kids we are doing what makes sense to us. The proof in our pudding shows that living a healthy lifestyle including taking supplements, eating pure foods, getting chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy, etc had benefited us SO much more than the flu shot could. Our pediatrician agrees with us & doesn't think it's necessary to give LO the flu shot.
So, ya, that's our reasoning. Good day!

DawnLilly · January 2014

We did not after the nurses at the hospital boycotted the mandatory shot. I called a friend who is a RN in hospice and asked why. She said a lot of people were having reactions. The instances I know about: a child having seizures, people getting very high fevers and being admitted within 24 hours of the shot, and multiple cases of bell's palsy. We do not live in an area with a very large population.

I already had DS's appt made to get it so I called our pediatrician. I asked him if we should be getting the flu shot this year and he gave me the "The CDC recommends..." form answer. So, then I asked him if his kids got the flu shot and he said no.

I may make a totally different decision next year, but this year I chose not too.

LimaD · January 2014

Does this really confuse you or are you offended? Because it seems pretty common sense to me. Kids in daycare typically spread sickness that's all. One kid gets sick and spreads it to others in the group.
The vaccine doesn't mean you won't get sick. The contents of the vaccine are questionable also. There are many strains of the flu and the flu vaccine only covers some of them (which can mutate in a short time anyway). So in a way, the vaccine can be kind of a crap shoot.
Don't judge other moms just because they don't do what you do.

LimaD · January 2014

FemShep said:

Starbuck128 said:

FemShep said:

I'm asking honestly here-why would you not get the flu shot for you and your LO? Knowing that young children are at increased risk, that complications can kill someone, and that everyone has some level of exposure to germs, why would you risk it?

Why would you not get a vaccination? How about if your doctor recommends you don't get it? If the benefit of a vaccination doesn't outweigh the risk of getting one, a doctor won't recommend getting it.

Every vaccination has different ingredients, but you are asking about the flu shot specifically. As I mentioned in my earlier post on this thread, the flu shot is made with egg proteins. That's why it was recommended people with an egg allergy not get the flu shot. That's why you are asked on the questionnaire you fill out every time you or your LO gets a flu shot if you have an egg allergy.

This year the CDC reversed their position and decided most children with egg allergies should still get a flu shot. (There's an egg free flu shot approved for people 18 and older.) I believe a flu shot is still not generally recommended for children with an extremely severe egg allergy.

Still, it was scary going in and getting DS his shot. Any responsible parent is going to question a brand new government recommendation. There's no guarantee anyone will get the flu, but there's a guarantee a nurse is going to inject his allergen directly into his body. The very allergen DH and I try so hard to shield him from every day. I can't imagine how much harder it must be for parents of severely allergic children. DS got his shot and we had to stay at the doctor's office for 30 minutes for observation.

That's just the flu shot, and there are other reasons to avoid some other vaccinations. It's great that you (you in the broader sense) don't have any reason to fear a vaccination, but it can't be that hard to realize not everyone is that lucky. It's great to jump on the pro vaccination band wagon because I think everyone should get a vaccination if they are able. But why the need to so loudly proclaim that everyone needs to get every shot, every time and get together and shame anyone who doesn't have the luxury of living in your fear-free world? How hard is when you say "I judge anyone who doesn't get the _______ shot" or "It takes a special kind of stupid not to get the ________ shot" and add a little "unless it is for medical reasons." Those people who say those things think their intolerance of anyone else's situation makes them a better person. I don't get it.

/soapbox

If people have medical reasons for not getting a vaccination, I support them completely. And I was asking honestly-does everyone in this thread not get it for medical reasons? No, clearly not. So why do people not choose to vaccinate when the risk is significant? I would love to understand the reasoning behind that decision (other than, my child is allergic and my doctor has told us not to get it, which is a very good reason not to get the shot).

The flu vaccine is the only vaccine that contains more than what the CDC typically allows of Thimerosal (because of mercury contents.) It's also unknown what the long term effects of the flu shot with these ingredients are, and the flu shot doesn't even mean you won't get the flu.

SBmomma · January 2014

LalaMama81 said:

SBmomma said:

Growing up I only recieved MAYBE a handful of vaccinations...like 4 or 5. I was never given the flu shot, and have never fallen ill besides the typical cold every couple years. That is normal to me. My DH had the same upbringing. So in raising our kids we are doing what makes sense to us. The proof in our pudding shows that living a healthy lifestyle including taking supplements, eating pure foods, getting chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy, etc had benefited us SO much more than the flu shot could. Our pediatrician agrees with us & doesn't think it's necessary to give LO the flu shot.
So, ya, that's our reasoning. Good day!

Yes if you eat well and take vitamins you'll never get a communicable disease. That makes no sense.

Also, many of us got less vaccines than are recommended or required now - b/c they didn't exist. The flu changes every year, having never got it doesn't make you immune.

I am all about spreading vaccines out b/c I do hate the schedule as is - but that doesn't mean the vaccines themselves are problematic. In fact, quite the opposite.

------------------------------

Maybe re-read my post. I never said that you couldn't catch anything as long as you eat well & take vitamins. What I AM saying is when your immune system is operating at its best then it can do a pretty darn good job at fighting off illness. That has been the case with me & that's all the proof I need.
And I did not claim I was immune to the flu virus because I've never gotten the flu shot.
This is what works for us. Everyone should do what works for them & not judge people because they make different decisions.

LimaD · January 2014

I have a friend who is a pharmacist and has been for years. She does not give the flu vaccine to her own children either. She suggested that unless you consider your child to have high exposure risks (like going to daycare 5 days a week with several children who are all sticking the same toys in their mouth, etc) she wouldn't necessarily recommend the vaccine. I am just very cautious about all of the drugs and vaccines and everything else that we're putting in our kiddos' bodies. I am not anti-immunization either. My DD gets her immunizations, but I space them out. She's in the 30th percentile for weight so if there's a shot that she is supposed to get sometime between 6-18 months, the Dr. will always offer that shot at the 6 month appointment. Since I've done my own research and know that it doesn't NEED to get done at 6 months, I opt to wait until later since she's so little (they get the same dose regardless of size. it's only based on age--which I think is crazy but that's another topic! lol)
Anyway, my point is that I have done some research and asked friends who are pharmacists and I have chosen not to have her get the shot, but take as many other precautions as I can with DD when we are with other kids or out in public.

jennyelf · January 2014

Saltylove said:

SBmomma said:
------------------------------ Maybe re-read my post. I never said that you couldn't catch anything as long as you eat well & take vitamins. What I AM saying is when your immune system is operating at its best then it can do a pretty darn good job at fighting off illness. That has been the case with me & that's all the proof I need. And I did not claim I was immune to the flu virus because I've never gotten the flu shot. This is what works for us. Everyone should do what works for them & not judge people because they make different decisions.

I'm not judging you, but do consider that you can't always bank on a strong immune system. My mother in law is currently in critical condition in ICU with H1N1. She's never had a flu shot, but is generally healthy and only 60. Without going into details, a minor, unforeseeable medical event made her vulnerable for a short period of time, during which she contracted the flu. She very nearly died and is still very, very ill, and may not fully recover.

I know of other young adults who are completely healthy who have become critically ill with influenza this flu season. H1N1 in particular does not only target young children and the elderly, it is dangerous to everyone.

Again, I'm not judging you, but to know that the flu vaccine would have prevented this with near certainty is devastating. I've gotten the flu shot for years, and after this year, would never even consider not getting it.

I had a coworker, my age, healthy living and all that, she got H1N1 a couple years ago (before it was on the vaccine radar). She survived the flu just fine (took about a week to get over) but then the following pneumonia she had as a direct result of having H1N1 knocked her on her ass for another 4 weeks. She was out of work for 5 weeks total and really week for another month or 2.
We get the flu shot.
Last year we got it, LO still got the flu. Thankfully he was old enough for Tamiflu and we were able to get him on it. It was still scary, but he was ok in the end. I'm hoping that combination of Tamiflu and flu shots helped reduce the symptoms enough that he came through it okay. I will continue to get the flu shot even though I know it's not perfect.

LimaD · January 2014

Nicb13 said:

LimaD said:

I have a friend who is a pharmacist and has been for years. She does not give the flu vaccine to her own children either. She suggested that unless you consider your child to have high exposure risks (like going to daycare 5 days a week with several children who are all sticking the same toys in their mouth, etc) she wouldn't necessarily recommend the vaccine. I am just very cautious about all of the drugs and vaccines and everything else that we're putting in our kiddos' bodies. I am not anti-immunization either. My DD gets her immunizations, but I space them out. She's in the 30th percentile for weight so if there's a shot that she is supposed to get sometime between 6-18 months, the Dr. will always offer that shot at the 6 month appointment. Since I've done my own research and know that it doesn't NEED to get done at 6 months, I opt to wait until later since she's so little (they get the same dose regardless of size. it's only based on age--which I think is crazy but that's another topic! lol)
Anyway, my point is that I have done some research and asked friends who are pharmacists and I have chosen not to have her get the shot, but take as many other precautions as I can with DD when we are with other kids or out in public.

Good luck with that. Really.

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SBmomma · January 2014

theresat858 said:

SBmomma said:
Growing up I only recieved MAYBE a handful of vaccinations...like 4 or 5. I was never given the flu shot, and have never fallen ill besides the typical cold every couple years. That is normal to me. My DH had the same upbringing. So in raising our kids we are doing what makes sense to us. The proof in our pudding shows that living a healthy lifestyle including taking supplements, eating pure foods, getting chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy, etc had benefited us SO much more than the flu shot could. Our pediatrician agrees with us & doesn't think it's necessary to give LO the flu shot.
So, ya, that's our reasoning. Good day!
Your pediatrician agrees that getting a massage and going to a chiropractor keeps you from getting the flu? Maybe you should find a doctor who actually went to medical school...

------

I love how people take words, twist them around to sound ridiculous, and then claim that's what you said.
Funny.

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