flu shot poll

[sandrab]

Hi everyone. I just came across this piece about the dangers of the flu vaccine here and want to learn what other moms are doing with their kids: http://inspiyr.com/flu-vaccine-not-for-you/

So...are you getting your children the flu shot? It would be great to hear what everyone else is doing. I attached a poll so answer and we can all see what everyone is doing.

[emmy526]

My family has never recieved it, nor will they ever, nor have i gotten one in 25yrs...my mother, who has dutifully gotten one for the last 30yrs, now has alzheimers, as do most of the seniors i know, who have taken the vaccine for an extended amount of years. I believe there is a connection between that, and using aluminum pans to cook in,  while that generation grew up.  My kids had the flu a couple weeks ago....mild, over it in three days.  

I think the flu vaccine is one of the biggest jokes out there... i worked in a retirement home, and every year, they dutifully vaxed ALL residents...wouldn't you know, come feb, theres quarantine in the place because of a flu epidemic...great flu shot that didn't protect!!   My client i take care of now recieved the vaccine a couple months ago....she has now lost ALL short term memory.  She had bits n pieces of it left, but after the vax, i saw, and still see a decline going on.....so sad.  And her family is staunchly provax.  

[Dakotacakes]

I am getting my son (18 months) the flu shot. I also received it.

[Rrrrrachel]

There's so much misunderstanding about the flu vaccine and its effectiveness. It's really frustrating. People make decision based on personal observations rather than what e research actually says. While I empathize with that, it makes me want to pull my hair out sometimes!

My daughter got it. She is under two so I'm not convinced it will help, but I don't think it will hurt and it will help her immune system respond to it better (with just one dose ) next year. I got it for the first time this year, too.

[kathymuggle]

No.

The numbers just do not make a convincing case, for me.  

The number of people who get the flu is 5-20% (CDC)  However, the flu shot does not offer protection against all types of flu - your chance of getting one of the strains the flu shot covers is about 4% (Cochrane)

So, most years you will not get the flu that is covered by the flu shots.

The flu is not fun, but for the vast majority of people it is not deadly.  

I am not willing to get a shot every year over a disease I have a reasonably low chance of getting, and an excellent chance of surviving with complete recovery should I get it. Some of it is because I do not want to haul my butt to the doctors every year over the slight possibility I will get the flu, but another part is no shot is without risks, and having to "risk it" yearly does not sit well with me.  

I truly believe I had the flu last year. It was at the peak of flu season and I had all the signs.   This is the only time in my life I am pretty sure I had the flu.  I missed a small amount of work, felt like I had been hit by a mack truck…..and was ultimately fine.  It did not make me revisit my decision.

If you are on the fence, here are a few thoughts:

-having other conditions (asthma comes to mind) might push some towards vaxxing

-I imagine kids in daycare are slightly more prone to the flu than kids not in daycare

-the flu vaccine is less effective in some age groups, and I think under 2 is one of them 

-Cochrane says that inactivated flu vaccines (the only kind available to the under 2's) is ineffective:

" In children under the age of two, the efficacy of inactivated vaccine was similar to placebo"

http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD004879/vaccines-for-preventing-influenza-in-healthy-children

Edited by kathymuggle - 12/26/12 at 6:50pm

[Marnica]

No way.

Our vitamin D levels are very high (tested every 6 months) and we use homeopathics to prevent.

[pek64]

Originally Posted by Rrrrrachel 

There's so much misunderstanding about the flu vaccine and its effectiveness. It's really frustrating. People make decision based on personal observations rather than what e research actually says. While I empathize with that, it makes me want to pull my hair out sometimes!
My daughter got it. She is under two so I'm not convinced it will help, but I don't think it will hurt and it will help her immune system respond to it better (with just one dose ) next year. I got it for the first time this year, too.

Why would someone else's reasons for doing, or not doing, something be so upsetting that you want to pull out your hair? Don't you think you're taking this a little too personally?

[MeepyCat]

Absolutely, we get flu shots.  Basically, everyone in the house who can get the flu vaccine does.  DD had respiratory distress at birth, and preventing and ameliorating respiratory infections was really important for a while.  We hang out a ton with my niece, who has asthma and is prone to pneumonia when she gets upper respiratory illnesses.  And my own immune system is tanked from chemotherapy, so limiting the potential for infection is really important.

[japonica]

No. Last time I had the flu was in 1999. I had a flu shot once in 2001 and believe it was more placebo than anything else. So, I didn't get the flu that winter. Yeah? I also didn't get the flu every other winter when I didn't get a flu shot .

The kids have never had the flu either. We're diligent about vitamin D supplements in winter and hand washing.

Edited by japonica - 12/28/12 at 3:31pm

[prosciencemum]

We're not in high risk categories for flu, so usually dont bother. I did get it (for me and my child) the year I was pregnant and there was the swine flu concerns.

[lanamommyphd07]

I might entertain one after about another 4 decades of data collection about the cumulative effects...but for now, no.

[emmy526]

even this dr didn't advocate taking one, but he was forced into it...very good informative links in this article

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2012/11/physician-takes-flu-vaccine-protest.html

[elizawill]

absolutely not. we up our vitamin D intake during flu season and never get it here. we have been exposed to it greatly this season and no one in my family has even had a cold.

[Skippy918]

We didn't, but my son caught the flu last week and now DD has it this week, so I am now on the fence and feeling guilty cause they are sick.

[CleoS]

I am debating whether to go get it for my kids tomorrow. I don't really want to but the news is freaking me out a bit to be honest. I did it 2 years in a row but was planning to stop which is why I haven't done it this year. And advice? 

[serenbat]

Quote:

 And advice? 

educate yourself on the effectiveness on the vaccine

I voted NO -  I live in the area of the tent hospital er and it doesn't change my mind  - http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/health/Growing-Number-of-Flu-Cases-Causes-Hospital-to-Open-Emergency-Space-185947762.html 

[KarenEMT]

Originally Posted by serenbat 

educate yourself on the effectiveness on the vaccine

I voted NO -  I live in the area of the tent hospital er and it doesn't change my mind  - http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/health/Growing-Number-of-Flu-Cases-Causes-Hospital-to-Open-Emergency-Space-185947762.html 

Knowing Lehigh Valley Hospital, it is just their attempt to attract more flu business by setting up the tent....

[philomom]

No. My kids and I don't get them. My hubby has been told to get them by the family doctor but he's not convinced to at this point.

[lanamommyphd07]

Originally Posted by CleoS 

I am debating whether to go get it for my kids tomorrow. I don't really want to but the news is freaking me out a bit to be honest. I did it 2 years in a row but was planning to stop which is why I haven't done it this year. And advice? 

I think you have the answer there. The news is freaking you out, but perhaps the threat of the flu really isn't. Remember all the hype about H1N1? The news reports turned rational folks into militant preppers wanting a stash of jabs. Just sayin'. (Although....maybe prepping in general isn't all that bad....people seem to be getting spun up easily these days, and might come hunting for a natural source of D )

[Rrrrrachel]

There was a really interesting discussion of the flu on the diane rheem show today, if anyone is interested.