[daynesmom]

DS goes to the doctor tomorrow for his check up. I don't know if he should get a flu shot or not.

Do any of your children get the flu shot? What age are they?

TIA

[Theslaws]

MHO - No. Flu shots still contain thimerisol. They only protect against the ONE strain in the shot, not the many other your child will be exposed to over the course of the winter.

Im sure many will argue me on this but no one in our family gets them.

Good luck deciding

[sseymou1]

I had the flu once in grad school....I get the shot.
I'm a teacher and (knock on wood) I haven't had the flu since then.
My 15 month old and my husband both got the shot.
Che is so small and weight is such a concern - I just didn't want to risk it - even if it doesn't protect against all strains - it's the best they have.

-Selena

[purplecat]

I pondered the same question over and over and yes, they all had one last year but, after going online and reading up on what exactly is in the flu shot, my decision is no.

Just my personal decision, though.

[nurse_reedle]

No one in our family gets it. I would never give it to a child. Our son is 2 1/2.

[CurlysGirly]

Here is the thread discussing it last time it was brought up: FlU Shot???

I will never give it to one of my children (or me) ever again.

[nattyloo]

FYI- Not all flu shots still contain thimerisol. Our ped has one without. Ask your doctor about that.

[dovelu]

We do: dh, bio son (11) & 2 Guatemalan-born daughters (2 & 1). I have not yet but plan to.

My ped. feels very strongly in favor of the shot & I trust him implicitly.

Amy

[humanpitchpipe]

I have asthma, so my doctor strongly suggests that I get the shot along with my family members. A couple of years ago I got the flu and it developed into pneumonia. I was so sick that I actually thought that I was going to die because I could not breathe. DH had to rush me to the Urgicare center. This was not fun.

[mamaskoby]

I always have given my son the flu shot since he was 6 months old and he has been fine with it He is now 5. I always got the shot too.
But while I was at my Dr's office Monday for my thyroid-a 9 year old boy came into the office with his mom for their flu shoot. Something was wrong though because everyone was sobbing and grief ridden. Asked the nurse why they are getting so upset about the flu shot. She told me that last 2 weeks ago their dad brought home the flu from his office. Last Monday the 11 year old daughter/sister got the flu. By Friday she was dead because it had gone to her heart!!!
I have never heard of this and asked if the girl had a weakened system or was already sick. The nurse told me the girl had been a perfectly normal 11 year old girl. The nurse also told me the flu can move really fast and be deadly and that alot more people die from it than you imagine. She said her Dr. alone has a few every year and they are not the elderly like you would imagine!!!!
I quickly told my family to get into their drs and get their shots right away!!!

[Larue]

Below is the link from the CDC on the 2007-2008 flu shot supply and which batches contain thimerosal. Sabrina received the flu shot last month, and gets her second dose next week. The shot she received which is licensed for 6 - 23 month old children is thimerosal free. Some of the shots licensed for older children do still have trace amounts of thimerosal. As well as the flu shot for adults. I used to work in a hospital, and have been getting a flu shot every year for about 12 years. BTW – with the adult flu shot you are actually getting a live virus. That is not the case with shots licensed for children. Or the FluMist.

CDC - Influenza (Flu) | Q & A: Thimerosal-Containing Influenza Vaccine

I know I really struggled with this one too. But after talking to our Pediatrician and some of our friends in the medical field, I decided to do it. In the end, you just really have to do what you feel is best. Best wishes with your decision.

[cjrogers]

This is such a sensitive topic. First of all, as some have noted, there is a batch w/ Thimerosal. Your ped can tell you whether it has thimerosal or not and you can go with one without it. Thimerosal is another controversial topic, and I'll never go there on this board or any other discussion board.

I have asthma and horrible allergies so I swear by the flu shot and usually it protects you from 3-5 strains, not only one. But there are other strains out there, of course and we're all susceptible. With worries of pandemic and of course H5N1 (avian flu). CDC and public health officials urge us to get one in order to protect our immune systems. (though it does nothing for H5N1 (avian flu).

There are few side effects or risk for those who don't have allergies to eggs or dairy products.

I have a background in public health and there is no tie for flu shot and adverse long term health effects.

But it's up to ya'll. A kid will likely survive the flu, as will you. However if you have COPD, asthma, chronic bronchitis or other respiratory (and immune) system problems, it's a good precaution.

We've all survived this long without one for the majority of our lives.

So it's up to you. Likely it can't hurt, but research has not definitively proven that either way....

I get one and plan to have all of my children and family have flu shots every year.

[daynesmom]

Thank you all so much for your opinions and all the information.

You have given me enough info and resources to make a decision!

I truly don't know what I'd do without all my forum "experts"!!! Love Ya!

[Dmitry'smom]

My son gets the Flu shot every year because he has a heart condition. Actually this year he has not gotten it yet because he just had open heart surgery and has to wait 6 weeks until he can have any shots. Everyone in our family gets the shot to protect him. I think it the same as anything else in parenting, there is only what is best for your child not a blanket answer.

Hannah

[Claudia214]

I don't have any children at home and have never really researched information on flu shots. So this is JMO. I get the flu and the pneumonia(sp?) shot every year. My doctor does not really give me a choice since I have Crohn's Disease and am on meds that lower my immune system. Since getting these shots I have never had the flu or pneumonia...Once DD gets home I will probably see that she gets the shot too.