Flu shot? - Page 2

[Peony]

Originally Posted by lillymonster

This is what I wonder, DD doesn't have autism, but she has sensory processing disorder and had multiple food allergies (only soy right now) and I wonder about that stuff.

Same with my DD1. I was working in the hospital during my pg and got talked into getting one, the last one I ever accepted BTW. She has SPD, had many a food allergy, and several other issues. We've gotten influenza twice out of the last 5 winters, and H1N1, BUT I have a child whose has a poor immune system and brings home every germ known to man. I still would take my chances getting the flu anyday over another flu vax.

[Lyss]

I will get it if the pediatrician and the OB/MW recommend it and think it's safe in pregnancy.

We're lucky that our ped's office is offering preservative-free, and they usually offer it to parents as well as kids.

The kids and I have spent the last 5 years sick and miserable with every virus known to man, and somehow, last year, despite the fact that H1N1 went around my daughter's school TWICE and one of her classmates was hospitalized, the kids and DH and I were all vaccinated and we didn't get it.

My son has asthma. I would do anything to keep him from getting sick. Anything.

[MamaMonica]

Moved to Vaccinations

[WTHamI?]

I have gotten a flu shot twice in my life. Those were the two years (non-consecutive) I ended up with pneumonia and recurring bronchitis. I do not think it's a coincidence. I really think it crapped out my immune system so that while I may not have gotten the specific strains of flu in the shot, I didn't have much chance at fighting off everything ELSE that came along. I've gotten over things fairly easily the years I DIDN'T get one.

Since the last one I had I've developed an anaphylactic allergy to neomycin, which the flu shot contains, so I really CAN'T get one now, but I wouldn't anyway. Especially if pregnant. I read SO many stories last year about people who miscarried within 48 hours of getting the swine flu shot and I have a hard time believing all of those were purely coincidental.

My husband does not get them either. He does not think they're effective.

[PingPong'sMom]

I won't, neither will my family

but only because I found this as a starting point:

http://drtenpenny.com/VitaminD_info.aspx

At the bottom of the page is dosages for Vitamin D as a reference. I realize that D3 isn't the only thing to do to lower my risk, and that of my family's, of coming down with the flu but it helps.

So for me, I decided against the flu shot because I had other alternatives. It also helps in social conversation when others are die-hard flu shot promoters, that I can just smile and say, "I don't think my family will be getting the flu shot... or the flu, this year. Thanks."

Good luck with your decision! It took me years of research prior to and immediately after having my first kid (2.5 yo now) to be 100% okay with non-vaccing. And I'm okay with checking in and reevaluating my decision all the time.

[Marnica]

I think anyone contemplating a flu shot really needs to read this recent study before making any desicions.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/o/coc...269/frame.html

In average conditions (partially matching vaccine) 100 people need to be vaccinated to avoid one set of influenza symptoms.

Vaccine use did not affect the number of people hospitalised or working days lost

AND>>>

Our results may be an optimistic estimate because company-sponsored influenza vaccines trials tend to produce results favorable to their products and some of the evidence comes from trials carried out in ideal viral circulation and matching conditions and because the harms evidence base is limited..

Here are some older studies/articles about the effectiveness of the seasonal flu vaccine.

http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/co...full/165/3/351 (flu vax in pregnant women)

http://www.jpands.org/vol11no3/geier.pdf

http://www.bmj.com/content/333/7574/912.full

In children under 2 years inactivated vaccines had the same field efficacy as placebo, and in healthy people under 65 vaccination did not affect hospital stay, time off work, or death from influenza and its complications. Reviews found no evidence of an effect in patients with asthma or cystic fibrosis, but inactivated vaccines reduced the incidence of exacerbations after three to four weeks by 39% in those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/...e-matter/7723/