[mommieof2cuties]

Just wondering what people think about the flu shot for children and adults?

God Bless,
Summer

[mommieof2cuties]

Oh...and what happened to you if you got it? Also anyone have information on the flu mist? It is something you put in your nose?

God Bless,
Summer

[alwaysus]

All of my kids are getting one tomorrow. ( except for Elijah, he is too young) My husband and I will get one this week as well. I was very ill with the flu 4 years ago, fever of 105. I was extremely sick. I can't imagine Elijah getting that sick and living through it. We are getting the shots to lessen Elijah's chances of getting it. My kids got them last year as well. ( Before the shortage, we squeaked in under the wire)

Lana

[LisaCA]

we're all getting flu shots and have gotten them for many years (both dh and i have asthma, so we're on the high risk list). this is the first year dd's been old enough, so she's getting one too.

according to the medical folks, they can tell the severity of a flu season by checking out how severe it is amongst the youngest ones ( under 6). and if you watch what kids do, you'll know why they're the ones to bring it home. all that saliva, no one washing hands, ick. So rather than bundle dd up in the house for 6 months, we're going to have them stab her with a shot .

and I've had the flu. dd has a way better immune system than I do, but then again, she gets a full nite's sleep each nite . I just can't imagine having her suffer because I refused to protect her. so off we go, probably in a week or so (she just had a set of immunizations and I like to wait 2 weeks in between shots).

good luck deciding!

Lisa

[mommy3]

We started getting flu shots when my ds was almost 2, 'cause his first winter in child care was so bad; it was like the plague when he'd get sick -- we'd all get it in tandem. That NEXT winter, I made us all go get them and we've been on the flu shot plan ever since. We all have allergies and asthma (moderate) and our winter illnesses are to a minimum when we get our flu shots. I'm a believer, 100%! susan

[billysmommy]

Everyone in our family is getting it this year for the first time. Our dd had RSV and so is considered high risk - her Dr. has insisted on it for the rest of us as well, to lessen her risk.

".... and if you watch what kids do, you'll know why they're the ones to bring it home. all that saliva, no one washing hands, ick."
No kidding!

[Leigh131313]

my son and i got them last year, and will again this year. Hopefully my husband will join us, he was sick as a dog last year.

As for us, Not a sniffle all winter (except for teething) He did not react to the shot at all, aside from a few tears.

I was really impressed. I realize that it's a crap shoot...they just guess which flu will hit...but, i've never been so healthy thru cold and flu season before.

Good luck!

Leigh

[redhedded]

Summer, It is a personal decision. I am a severe asthmatic and high risk, so I get the shot. My dd got the flu that killed many children in So. California when she was 16 months old. It was the first time she had ever been sick and ran 104-105 for almost 10 days. (she is a high fever runner). She had had the flu shot. I shudder to think how sick she might have been.

My son is 10 months old and high risk due to a heart condition. But. . . it is likely he is allergic to eggs and cannot get the flu vaccine this year. While we spent a lot of time out, I am an obsessive hand washer and do not let others touch my young babes - EVER! I am hoping that these two things will keep him well. He has not been sick yet - crossing my fingers.

[AwaitingBeloved]

Hi Summer,
My husband and I have been getting flu shots since 1997, when he had been diagnosed with Leukemia. When we were first instructed to get them I was not ok with it, I had heard all of the rumors about them causing sickness. The Dr. understood my concern and educated me, you really can't get sick (other than the allergies to the shot) from the shot. If someone gets sick right after the shot, they had likely been exposed to something a week or 2 earlier. So there is no fear. And I agree with the posters above, we have not been so healthy as since we started getting the flu shot.

One thing to be aware of, with the flu shot and the MMR shot. Some of them contain a preservative called Thimerosol, it's mercury. You do not want your children exposed to this.... You can ask for the shots without this chemical. Thimerosol has been linked (though not proven yet) to causing Autism. Just an FYI. Most offices provide the ones without Thimerosol, you just have to ask. :-)

[Lovebug]

Hey Summer....

DS is almost 21 months old. He got the flu shot last year and is scheduled for it this Wednesday. Babe has been a sick one for his short life and even got tubes in his ears in Sept. It is a definite in our house for him to get it.

Good luck with your decision!

--Renee

[chrisandaaron]

I just had this conversation with my OB less than 2 weeks ago. She highly recommended it and said that pregnant mommies are high on the list to get the first shots. I questioned her about it because as you know I am pretty laid back about such things. I am also a nurse, so it has always been recommended and offered to me, but I always declined. As a healthy person with a strong immune system I just figured it wasn't worth it. Plus with the shortage in past years I figured it was better spent on others. My doctor appreciates my laid back nature, as she is pretty laid back too, but she still recommended I get one. If for nothing else she said it would put my little one at less risk of getting sick from me. So, I'm thinking about it this year!

P.S. With the luck you have had in getting sick this year, I'd probably go for it!

[mommieof2cuties]

Chris

I am confused, I read that pregnant people shouldn't get the flu shot? Also has anyone used the flumist for the kids?

Thanks and God Bless,
Summer

[chrisandaaron]

Originally Posted by mommieof2cuties

Chris

I am confused, I read that pregnant people shouldn't get the flu shot? Also has anyone used the flumist for the kids?

Thanks and God Bless,
Summer

I'll check around and see what I can find out. If nothing else, I will ask the Dr. about it when I see her tomorrow.

[icunurse]

Typically, doctors want pregnant women in their 2nd or 3rd trimester to get the flu shot. Pregnant women have a higher risk of complications from the flu. I've attached a link from the CDC describing the two types of flu vaccines, but the mist isn't able to be used in children under the age of 5. Also (but check with your own doc about this) the mist shouldn't be used in people who will be in heavy contact with "high-risk" groups, as it has a very, very weakened (but not completely dead) form of the virus. So, though the mist was offered at my hospital, anyone with direct contact with patients had to get the shot version.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/fluvaccine.htm

I had received flu shots twice years ago and, both times, came down with the flu about 2 weeks later. So, then I skipped several years. I had one last year, as I wanted protection in the hopes that I would stay healthy to take care of DS in case he became sick or so that he wouldn't get it from me. I did not get sick last year and already received my shot this year.

One last note, when a child is receiving the flu vaccine for the first time, they are actually supposed to get a series of 2 shots about one month apart. A study by the CDC shows that a single shot did not actually provide any greater immunity against the flu than no shot at all. So make sure those kids get both!

[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.)"