[spaypets]

I've had the flu shot every year for about the last 10 years (I started the year after I got the flu and was sick for three months). I've never had a reaction (some years my arm is sore) and neither has DH. I've also never caught the flu again.

DD got the flu shot the first year she was home, but didn't last year because there was a shortage and she was too old and has no underlying health problems. DH and I got FluMist because of the shortage. My nose was stuffy for several days after--I wasn't sick, but I wasn't comfortable and will opt for the shot this year if it's available.

DD will also get a shot, if it's available.

The thing is, a lot of us call a lot of things the flu that aren't really influenza. It wasn't until I actually got a real flu that I realized what a serious illness it was. I was acutely ill for a week (I kept having to go to bed by 3 p.m.), was exhausted for months and wound up with bronchitis (I never get chest infections).

[chrisandaaron]

Ditto what ICU said. We must have been posting at the same time.

P.S. I'm still not sure what I'm going to do. I don't mind shots, but I'm not a big fan of any extra meds or vaccines in general. I guess I believe that my superman immune system will get me through!

[icunurse]

Great minds, Chris

While I would never push a vaccine on anyone who isn't interested in receiving it, all I can say is that since your baby is due in Nov (the start of the flu season), he/she will be dependant on you and DH to stay healthy and not spread the flu within the household. Also, those first few months of being a new parent are exhausting and you get run down, don't eat as well, etc and it seems like you get sicker easier. Just something to consider....

[LisaCA]

icunurse, you're exactly right. dd gets a full nite's sleep and has an awesome immune system. we, however, suffer the horrors of every cold. for dd it lasts maybe a day or two if she gets it at all, while dh and i are down for a week. Being run down, less than 8hrs sleep a nite, stressed a tad just makes you more attractive to a germ.

[rredhead]

I have never had a flu shot, and our children will not have flu shots unless they ask for them. I've been reading a lot recently about vaccines and young babies. I know that many people are staunchly pro- or anti- vaccine. I'm not anti-vaccine ever, but I am anti-vaccine when the vaccine could do just as much, or more, damage than the actual disease. Especially in younger babies, the side effects from the flu shot resemble the actual flu. Plus, the way flu shots are made, they're just a "best guess." The shot will fight a particular strain of flu, but not all of them. I'm a big believer in preventative medicine, but I am not a believer in flu shots.
Just thought I'd present a dissenting opinion. I don't mean to offend anyone.

[Cobb]

We all got our flu shots today for the first time. We were already planning on getting them this year, since Miss A is immune suppressed and high-risk. Last year we didn't get them and it was too late when we met her... I was a wreck worried that we might come down with it and expose her. One of the other mother's of a transplant patient did and her dd ended up on a respirator for six weeks. We bumped up our appt. because our new little ones Neonatologist didn't want to send her home until we had them done. As a premie, she's high-risk too and I think he just wanted to insure we did them.

We had to get the shots instead of the mist... Our Doctor said that the mist has some live virus in it and therefore, even if we didn't get sick, our girl might. While under normal circumstances it might be appropriate for your little ones, you might want to ask your Doctor if using the mist could be risky for Samantha.

Good luck making your decision. I understand that it can be hard, since we've avoided having them done until this year.

Oh and just an FYI, my 10 year old was freaked out about getting a shot, but when it actually happened she didn't even feel it. The little one was more upset about being held down then any pain from the shot, so if putting your kids through it is part of your concern, it's really not that bad.

[mommieof2cuties]

Originally Posted by chrisandaaron

Summer- Here is some info. I found on flu shots during pregnancy. I looked at several reputable websites and they all said that it is recommended and safe during pregnancy (at least trimesters 2 &3). However they do not recommend the flu mist because it is made with live virus. The last part is a quote from the CDC regarding it's recommendation for flu shots in kids. Basically, it recommends it (in 2 doses) for kids 6 months to 23 months. Nasal flu vaccine is only approved for kids over 5 years old.


"Because the flu shot is made from a killed (inactivated) virus, it's considered safe during any stage of pregnancy. Pregnant women should not have FluMist, a nasal spray influenza vaccine, because it contains live influenza virus."

"The flu is much more serious in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women. Since 1997, the Centers for Diseases Control (CDC) have included pregnant women in their second and third trimester among people who should get vaccinated against the flu. Not only should you get the influenza vaccination, but so should your husband and maybe any other children you have (if they are over 6 years old) to prevent them from infecting you and the rest of the family."



From the CDC website
"To protect their health, all children 6 months to 23 months old should be vaccinated against the flu. (The flu shot is not approved for use in children less than 6 months old)...."
"The best time to get vaccinated is October or November. Children getting a flu shot for the first time will need two doses given 30 days apart so begin the process sooner rather than later. (The first dose primes the immune system; the second dose provides immune protection.)"

Thank you so much! So helpful

[LisaCA]

fyi, according to the cdc, the risk of hospitalizations per 100,000 perosns with high risk conditions is highest ages 0-11months, and highest with those without high risk conditions:

'1973-1993 with high risk age 0-11months 1900 persons, without high risk age 0-11 months 496-1038 persons; ages 1-2 yrs with high risk 800 persons, ages 1-2 yrs without high risk 186 persons, and continues to decrease until you hit elderly persons.

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwr...408a1.htm#tab1

we're pretty provaccine, but are informed about the risks etc. We will get dd her shot, as soon as she (and mom) recovers from her parainfluenza virus. watching her really suffer with this evil bug (flying around Los angeles for those who live in the area) and watching her pass it to me is enough to motivate us to get shots. plus, if we do, we're less apt to pass the bug around the playground, etc. rredhead is right that the vaccine is just an educated guess about the flu strain flying around each year, but from what i understand, even if it's not an exact match and you have the vaccine, your flu experience will be less severe than those who don't have the shot.

And do ask for the thimerosal free version-who needs mercury?

[mumofone]

and neither have my children. DH always gets one because of the job that he does, and he is the one that always gets the flu.

It is a personal choice for me.

[SuzBerg]

My daughter has to get a flu shot because of heart problems, asthma etc. Because she is so high risk everyone in our family needs to get one too. Last year with the huge shortage we were all able to get it because of her and nobody got sick at all.

This year my boys got the flumist (they had to be over five years old) nobody had any adverse reaction to it. It was much better than the shot because obviously they didn't have to get stuck with a needle. It's just like a nasal spray, they both said it felt funny but it was much better than a shot. Unfortunatley, their lil sister had to have the shot because she was only four, but because of chronic health problems the flumist is not recommended for her anyway. I am not sure what the statistics are on if the shot is better than the mist or what. I just followed my pediatricians recommendation in this case. Nobody has been sick yet. (It's only been about 2 weeks). -Suz

[LisaCA]

so much of it has to do with your immune system. Some folks never/rarely get sick, while others, like myself, get every germ floating this way. if you're generally healthy and manage to throw off colds and such, that's great. If I were among those who never got sick I might think of skipping the flu shot for myself. Unfortunately that's not me . For dh, he works with folks who go to work sick (aerospace industry-they work even if dead ). He's exposed to a ton of germs, including those with little kids. Mostly he brings them home and passes them to us. He tends not to get seriously sick, just a sniffle or two, but I get slammed. That's why I push the flu shot for him-to protect myself. So those who are not so sick can still pass the bug on to others and they can get really sick.

[chrisandaaron]

I think I am going to do it. They are offering at my work tomorrow (was going to go last week, but got tied up). I figure I will feel really guilty if the baby gets sick and I didn't get MY flu shot (after it was recommended)!

[GenevaRene]

We're skipping on them, as usual. All three of us have asthma and allergies, but I got Guillain-Barre (hope I spelled that right) a few years ago. My doctor suspects I likely got it from my husband's grandparents, who I'd been providing daily care for, right around the time they got their flu shots. Apparently the two are thought to be related. I don't really understand it all, but he says that I should never have any flu vaccine of any type, nobody in my home should get one, and I should avoid prolonged contact with those who've been vaccinated in the past 14 days (21 for flumist, since they're likely contagious with live flu after the vaccine).

I've gotten the flu twice since then; actually we all three came down with it in the past 48 hours. But this is so much better than the GBS. We're not spending hundreds on just the $10 co-pays for doctor and specialist visits. My legs work, my arms work, my face isn't partially numb, I don't suffer excruciating pain when sitting, standing, or reclining, and nobody's discussing whether I need to be hospitalized and/or on a ventillator. I just wish I didn't fall asleep every time I sit down!

[traceyk]

Our baby just got one and we decided it was best especially since she was a preemie.