flu mist, virus shedding, and pregnancy

[jeliphish]

Our pedi is very respectful of our selective/delay wishes. Today however, at DD's 2 year check up, he pushed for the flu mist. I have always turned down the vaccine because of the thermosil. His reasoning (and what persuaded me) was that last year she came down with full blown influenza. She had a 105.6 fever and she had febrile seizures. I felt *better* knowing that she stood a stronger chance at being protected.
I am currently 12 weeks pregnant. He advised that he wouldn't get the flu vaccine if he were me (because of the perservatives) but that her flu mist, since it was a live virus, would create some herd immunity without the large chances of any of us getting sick.

I am a worrier of course.....

I feel better knowing that there is less of a chance DD will get so sick this winter, and I trust our pedi's judgement and experience (he was my pedi growing up). He NEVER pushes antibiotics - DD has had them twice in 2 years, and he is pretty old school and crunchy (breastfeed until 2-3 years old, co-sleep, etc).

I just can't help but worry a little that she is virus shedding and it's effects on my unborn child. I DO work with a pretty "at risk" population so I feel I would be at risk at some point this winter anyway.

Can anyone offer advice or reminders that thinks will be okay

[spero]

Originally Posted by jeliphish

Our pedi is very respectful of our selective/delay wishes. Today however, at DD's 2 year check up, he pushed for the flu mist. I have always turned down the vaccine because of the thermosil. His reasoning (and what persuaded me) was that last year she came down with full blown influenza. She had a 105.6 fever and she had febrile seizures. I felt *better* knowing that she stood a stronger chance at being protected.

Whether or not she "stood a better chance of being protected" is debatable. If she actually comes down with a strain of flu that the vaccine "protects" against (one of last year's known strains) - maybe.

I can imagine that the febrile seizures were frightening, but you do know that they're caused by a sudden rise in temp, and not the temp itself, right?

I am currently 12 weeks pregnant.

That right there would convince me to decline a live virus vaccine for my kid. Are you really willing to take the chance that you could contract the flu from her shedding the virus?

He advised that he wouldn't get the flu vaccine if he were me (because of the perservatives) but that her flu mist, since it was a live virus, would create some herd immunity without the large chances of any of us getting sick.

I disagree. Because it's a live virus and subject to shedding, I would think that the chances of any of you getting sick would actually be higher.

I feel better knowing that there is less of a chance DD will get so sick this winter,

Again, that's debatable.

and I trust our pedi's judgement and experience (he was my pedi growing up). He NEVER pushes antibiotics - DD has had them twice in 2 years, and he is pretty old school and crunchy (breastfeed until 2-3 years old, co-sleep, etc).

I used to say the same thing about our pedi practice - the one that, after seeing my kids for 18+ years, recently discharged my kids from their practice b/c I refuse to comply with their "vaccination policies".

[ZoeyZoo]

There are still dangers to live virus vaxes besides the shedding. Here's a link to an article that does a good job explaining it. The whole article is about the effects of vaxes in people over 50 (which also applies to kids) and there is a section that discusses live vaxes themselves:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/ar...er-age-50.aspx

IMO I wouldn't for the reasons pp mentioned.

[momto l&a]

Flumist sheds for about 3 weeks in kids.