Flu vaccine

akdewald · October 2016

Went in today for lo check up and they offered to do the flu shot at this time. I declined as I thought this would be too much at one time. (Just personal prefrence not judging anyone that chooses otherwise) Also, I feel as if i have no researched this years vaccine as much as I should have yet in order to make an educated choice. Of course the doctor pushed the importance of the CDC recommendations that anyone over 6 months should recieve the vaccine in shot for as nasal spray is no longer an option. I apologize if this is a repeat thread. Again this isnt to start a debate of who is right or wrong. Honestly just looking for pros and cons as some of you may have read more than I have at this point. Thanks ladies!

LoveLee85 · October 2016

I have never had a flu shot, and almost never get the flu. I guess I'll follow this and look up stuff for LO on if he needs a flu shot. Odds are I won't get him the flu shot just because I don't get it. IDK?

lmbrandt · October 2016

I honestly did not do much research on the shot, our doctor highly recommended it, so we went with his suggestion and had LO get the shot. Before having our son I was teaching, so I was around kids all day long who were constantly sick, so I always got the shot myself. No matter how careful I was with washing my hands, avoiding touching my face, etc, I still got some nasty bugs from them! I am currently staying home with our son, but my husband's job has him in and out of schools working with teachers and other faculty, so he is exposed to viruses and bugs all the time too. We thought we better play it safe since our household has been hit with the flu pretty badly within the last few years.

dmbfan46835 · October 2016

We got the 2 shot series at his 6 mos appt I think? We did the preservative free one and our doc also highly recommended. Then he got the 2016/2017 strains booster at this 12 month. I just got mine at work a few weeks ago and DH will also be getting his later this month. I have always done the shot and have only had the flu, well the stomach flu I guess, just once. DS goes to a large daycare center so I'm all about trying to lessen the potential risk of him getting sick.

vibarra27 · October 2016

I usually dont do research on the vaccines my kids get, but their doctor always explains to me what each vaccine is for before giving it to them. & after he also gives me a sheet for each vaccine with more information about it. Luckily my kids never get sick from shots (boys get a slight fever the first night)so i personally say why not? If it helps them even if it's just a little, & isnt hurting them why not? Also, DD is in 1st grade so shes exposed to those germs just like these mommas said and she brings germs home. & the boys got the 2 shot series @ 6 months as well. Did your ped not offer it then? Just curious.

& Thanks for reminding me btw lol. The doc told me to take the 3 of them back for the flu shot this month and i spaced it out until you brought it up.

akdewald · October 2016

Thanks ladie! I did some reading and we are going to get the vaccine. But im curious as to why the ped didnt offer at her 6 month well visit? I am hoping that the one she will get her in the next week will be enough and she wont end up getting it anyway since she cant have part two until 28days later

jen83mn · October 2016

akdewald said:

Thanks ladie! I did some reading and we are going to get the vaccine. But im curious as to why the ped didnt offer at her 6 month well visit? I am hoping that the one she will get her in the next week will be enough and she wont end up getting it anyway since she cant have part two until 28days later

Our LO was born Aug. 30, so he had the flu shot at his 6-month and the follow-up booster 4 weeks later. If your LO was born later in September, perhaps your doctor decided not to do it then as flu season was almost over at that point last year?

When babies receive a flu shot for the very first time, they do need that second follow-up shot a few weeks later for the shot to be effective (otherwise it offers little or no protection). Then the following year, they will only need to get the one shot from then on. I would recommend getting the first shot as soon as possible so LO can receive the follow-up shot before flu season is in full swing.

The reason the flu mist isn't available this year is that it only received a 3% effectiveness rating, offering hardly any protection at all.

I have always gotten the flu shot along with my husband, and we plan to get LO vaccinated every year. Even if it isn't 100% effective, any protection is better than nothing! I had the flu when I was 11 weeks pregnant that turned into pneumonia and it was awful. And it can be very dangerous for people with weakened immune systems, like kids and pregnant people. I look at it as not only protecting myself but protecting other people too.

I totally understand not wanting to subject LO to too many shots at once - LO had 4 at his last visit and it's so awful to watch! But I just keep reminding myself that watching him suffer through one of the horrible illnesses those vaccines are helping prevent would be a zillion times worse.

chelseajeanene · October 2016

My son is allergic to eggs and there is eggs in the vaccine, therefore he can not get it.

I on the other hand was always dead set on never getting the shot, until the flu landed me in the hospital for 3 nights when I was 18 weeks pregnant. I'm not a fan of medication, never have been. I've had the flu 2-3 times since I was a teenager and having the flu is honestly dreadful. It feels like a slow death. Since it landed me in the hospital I can no longer afford to not be proactive in protecting mhself against it. I have asthma and the flu intenstived my asthma and my blood oxygen levels were dangerously low. It was a nightmare, especially while pregnant

wilcoxev · October 2016

No we are not planning on getting the flu shot. I never get the flu shot myself. My LO is watched at our home so he isn't in contact with many other kids. It also seems like every year the strain they choose doesn't seem to have a high percentage of infections. I am pro vaccine but I don't feel like it is necessary for my LO.

LoveLee85 · October 2016

wilcoxev said:

No we are not planning on getting the flu shot. I never get the flu shot myself. My LO is watched at our home so he isn't in contact with many other kids. It also seems like every year the strain they choose doesn't seem to have a high percentage of infections. I am pro vaccine but I don't feel like it is necessary for my LO.

Same. We don't have older kids in school or daycare either.

babycreel · October 2016

I'm planning on getting flu shot for baby girl. I asked about it at her 1 year check up. He definitely recommend it, he just didn't want to do it along with her other shots that day.

amp61470 · October 2016

I got the flu shot for little man. It's just not something I wanted to risk. But it is one of those things where I've never gotten one so I simply did it because the flu is so much more dangerous for him. That said I really think it's a parent's call. The other vaccinations are a different story, I do not understand someone not doing them with the exception of the chicken pox vaccine. That's the one I struggle with.

PinkPrincessPiper · October 2016

Yep. I got Piper's at her 1 year visit, along with 4 other shots & a blood draw (finger prick). It may have been a lot for one appoinment, but she didn't have a bad reaction. I just think about how miserable she would be if she got the flu, or any other illness that could have been prevented by a vaccine.

We are a family of 5, and everyone gets the flu shot, every year. The only time anyone has had the flu in our family, it was the H1N1 Swine Flu in 2009 that the regular flu shot wouldn't have protected against.

ForeverEverAfter · October 2016

I work in ER, hubby is a pilot. I also have a home daycare. Everyone in our house gets the flu shot! Last winter LO couldn't get it, so we were hyper vigilant with handwashing, showered after work before touching her, and kept her in a carrier or separated from other kids when they were sick. She's now fully vaccinated for whooping cough, flu, MMR... it's a weight off my mind

As a nurse, I see how bad it can be when kids get those illnesses!

tlc11934 · October 2016

Our daycare requires the flu shot or you get kicked out. I planned on getting it anyway - I have 3 kids and we all get it except DH. He's chicken.

apiland · October 2016

We absolutely don't do the flu shot. Every year it can be pointless if they get it wrong. My parents and myself have gotten very I'll from the shot, I spent hours in the er. So I won't give it to any kids I have

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