Flu Shot

colinsfebmommy · October 2014

So my ped doesn't have preservative free flu shots right now.....where are you all getting your babies shots?

ericalee27 · October 2014

I always got preservative free when I was pregnant, so flu seasons 2010 and 2012; both times I had it done at Walgreens.

brachysira · October 2014

We took AJ for his 2 week check-up and M for her flu shot on the same day, at the doctor's suggestion. I knew I couldn't handle them both and so I took my mom too. We did not take strollers and M is giant, so my mom didn't hold her and just let her crawl on the floor, play with the toys, etc. The doctor then said to us--the flu shot does not cause flu symptoms, but you'll probably see something develop because M touched everything in a doctor's office. We hand sanitized her a couple times during the visit, but of course, she got sick, my parents got sick. we got sick, and finally baby AJ, who is not supposed to get sick, got sick. He seems to be handling it okay. A lot of scary noises and a bit lower oxygen, but still happy and acting fine. It gives me confidence that he will be okay if he gets sick again, although perhaps antibodies from me helped him, and he may not have that next time if I don't get the germ.

Anyway, last year both kinds of flu shot were available at Rite-Aid. It was very painless too. Probably will go back although I'm not sure when we'll fit it in. I do not recommend the pedi's office if you can avoid it, per the anecdote above.

Rynleigh · October 2014

Our HMO only does single dose (no thimerosal) flu vaccines, but even if they didn't, we would still get the jabs. The risk of harm from thimerosal doesn't hold a spark to the risk of harm from one of my toddlers contracting the flu. We all got our flu vaccines ten days ago, and we've had them every year annually since 2008 without any adverse reactions - or flu.

Rynleigh · October 2014

luxannie said:

I haven't heard of preservative-free shots. Is that something I need to hunt down in particular? I was on the hunt for the shots made for infants and toddlers already. do I need to ask to make sure that's an infant, preservative-free shot?

If your office uses single-dose flu vaccines, they never contain thimerosal (the preservative that some people want to avoid, because it contains mercury). Only multi-dose vials contain it - it is used to prevent contamination with staph when each new needle is introduced to the vial. The needles are sterile anyway, but staph bacteria can be found in plenty of places and easily transferred into the vial if cells come into contact with the vial seal. The thimerosal is used to inhibit the growth and replication of those cells inside the vial.

colinsfebmommy · October 2014

Rynleigh said:

luxannie said:

I haven't heard of preservative-free shots. Is that something I need to hunt down in particular? I was on the hunt for the shots made for infants and toddlers already. do I need to ask to make sure that's an infant, preservative-free shot?

If your office uses single-dose flu vaccines, they never contain thimerosal (the preservative that some people want to avoid, because it contains mercury). Only multi-dose vials contain it - it is used to prevent contamination with staph when each new needle is introduced to the vial. The needles are sterile anyway, but staph bacteria can be found in plenty of places and easily transferred into the vial if cells come into contact with the vial seal. The thimerosal is used to inhibit the growth and replication of those cells inside the vial.

Yes this. lol Well said

colinsfebmommy · October 2014

I would get the nasal spray but they won't do it for his age yet.

colinsfebmommy · October 2014

Sagen said:

Hnm I didn't realize that! Last year my youngest did get a shot at the WCC, and other got the mist. I just assumed he could get the mist this year!

Maybe your doctor will! Maybe it is a state thing.... Don't ask me I have no clue I just know I wanted the flumist, seemed like I would get less tears lol but they said he is too little for it.

Rynleigh · October 2014

The mist isn't approved for use in children younger than two years old, because it is a live vaccine and the immune system of younger children is not developed to the point of gaining benefit from the live vax (similarly, the elderly, over 50 years of age, have reduced immunity when using the live mist as compared to the inactivated shot, and it is not approved for use in those who are 50 and older). It is also only recommended as superior for children ages 2 through 8 - while it is still effective in older children and adults, there is no data supporting the increased efficacy in older persons, i.e. there is no evidence that the mist is superior to the shot in persons over eight years of age.

A live attenuated vaccine differs from an inactivated vaccine in that a live vax is a "crippled" version of the living virus, which allows the virus to grow and replicate, but does not allow it to cause the same severe symptoms that a live, wild virus would. Live vaccines are more effective, because the body has to fight more cells and it has to adapt to the changes those cells make during replication - but because they are live pathogens, they also carry greater risk than an inactivated vaccine (which is incapable of replicating or causing any disease of any kind). The hypothesis regarding why the live nasal mist flu vaccine is more effective in children than it is in adults is that adults have already developed immunity to a wider range of flu strains - whereas younger children have not been exposed to as many strains, therefore being exposed to the live virus via the mist to develop that stronger immunity is more important for them than it would be for an older individual who already has a wider library of known antigens in their T and B cell repertoire. The mist also contains four different strains, vs the three strains in the shot.

(edited to correct mistakes made while thinking faster than I was typing)

elliespiral · October 2014

Chiming in to say that I am totally loving @Rynleigh's scientifically educational posts on this subject! Thansk!

PhieryBFly · October 2014

I had DD get the flu shot at her last appointment (18 mo) and, as of this past weekend, I am SO glad I did! Both DH and I have been crazy sick with the flu. SmallFry? Not a bit. Which is awesome that she's healthy but I wish I could tone down the energy so mama could rest!

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