Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Health › Vaccinations › When WOULD you give/get the flu shot?
New Posts  All Forums:
 

When WOULD you give/get the flu shot?

post #1 of 39
11/3/08 at 5:30pm
Thread Starter 
The other flu vax thread got me thinking - my 4-year-old has reactive airway disease (pneumonia 3 times and bronchitis twice in 3 years), born at 31 weeks and on a vent for a week, and is in daycare 40 hours a week, should he get the flu vax? I'm staunchly anti-vax, he hasn't been vaccinated since he was 6 months old and my new baby hasn't had any, but I'm getting myself all worked up and need to be talked down. Every friggin' little cold goes straight to his chest and way overstays its welcome and it literally just now hit me that "duh, the flu is a respiratory illness" (well, I've known that fact for years, but it just now turned into an "a-ha!" moment).
Sponsored Links
post #2 of 39
11/3/08 at 5:37pm
I would think it comes down to whether you're comfortable risking an adverse reaction to the flu shot (which is not entirely uncommon) for the sake of maybe protecting him from three or four strains of the several that go around each year.

Personally I wouldn't be comfortable with the risk:reward ratio, but you have to do what is best for your family. Inside Vaccines has a really good collection of hard flu shot data. Its efficacy doesn't seem very good to me, but you might feel differently. Good luck.
post #3 of 39
11/3/08 at 5:38pm
Me, personally? Never. I don't think the benefit outweighs the risk. I think there are far safer, more effective methods of avoiding the flu.
post #4 of 39
11/3/08 at 5:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gardenmommy View Post
Me, personally? Never. I don't think the benefit outweighs the risk. I think there are far safer, more effective methods of avoiding the flu.
:
post #5 of 39
11/3/08 at 5:54pm
Never. :
post #6 of 39
11/3/08 at 6:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gardenmommy View Post
Me, personally? Never. I don't think the benefit outweighs the risk. I think there are far safer, more effective methods of avoiding the flu.

Ditto!!
post #7 of 39
11/3/08 at 6:32pm
I'm not entirely anti-vax. With that said, I have found anecdotally that people have very mixed experiences with the flu vax. Some say they never react, never have "flu-like" symptoms, and never catch the flu with the vax. Others always get the flu (or, "flu-like" symptoms) right after getting the vax. I believe both sets of people. At this point we're not even talking about the more alarming reactions of the flu vax.

I'd be extremely adverse to exposing any sensitive or immunocompromised person to the flu vax. I think the chances are pretty high - say, 50-50 - that the person would at least get a "flu-like illness." To actually inject this and not just take my chances just seems like bad odds to me. I'd rather just wash hands a lot, try to stay away from sick people during the flu season, etc.

For myself, I had the flu vax once, and came right down with "flu-like illness." Nurse said "aren't you glad you had the vax and didn't actually get the flu?" :eyeroll: Hence, I'd rather take my chances - I don't really care if it's technically "the flu" or some other reason that I developed a fever and spent 3 days in bed.
post #8 of 39
11/3/08 at 6:34pm
I haven't read the other posts, but my first thought is, if his immune system is already compromised and he's had a fight, I wouldn't dare give him the [ineffective] flu shot and add another attack on his body.

I'm sorry your little guy gets sick so much . I think there are many other safe and effective measures you can take before resorting to the flu shot (washing hands, Vit C, Vit D, good nutrition and sleep).
post #9 of 39
11/3/08 at 6:45pm
Never. I understand your fears but I believe the flu shot is nothing more than a toxic placebo (especially for children under 2 years old). My 70 year old father got it last year and immediately got sick. I was shocked when he and my 65 year old mom told me last week that they were both going to get it this year. I guess the difference is that they are adults and can make their own decisions. When it comes to my two sons (3 1/2 years old and 15 months old) my husband and I are the ones who make the decisions. There is NO WAY we would allow them to get the flu shot.
post #10 of 39
11/3/08 at 9:57pm
Never!
post #11 of 39
11/3/08 at 10:00pm
I'm with the everyone who said never.
post #12 of 39
11/3/08 at 10:00pm
I suppose I will allow it after I am dead. It would be just as effective then as it is now.
post #13 of 39
11/3/08 at 10:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by novaxmomof2 View Post
Never. I understand your fears but I believe the flu shot is nothing more than a toxic placebo (especially for children under 2 years old). My 70 year old father got it last year and immediately got sick. I was shocked when he and my 65 year old mom told me last week that they were both going to get it this year. I guess the difference is that they are adults and can make their own decisions. When it comes to my two sons (3 1/2 years old and 15 months old) my husband and I are the ones who make the decisions. There is NO WAY we would allow them to get the flu shot.

My gramma gets the flu shot every year. Every year, she gets the flu. Hmmmm. I tell her not to get it, but the medical community has her convinced if she doesn't get the flu shot, she'll get the flu really bad and die

I agree--your LO's immune system is already compromised. I wouldn't risk the shot.
post #14 of 39
11/3/08 at 10:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rlneub View Post
I suppose I will allow it after I am dead. It would be just as effective then as it is now.
you are an insane optimist!

find some peer-reviewed research on the efficacy of flu vaccines on the deceased before you make any proclamations, please!
post #15 of 39
11/3/08 at 10:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deborah View Post
you are an insane optimist!

find some peer-reviewed research on the efficacy of flu vaccines on the deceased before you make any proclamations, please!
I bet they'll show that it's 100% effective in the deceased- of the corpses receiving the vax, none got the flu!

Back to the OP: I'd do a careful risk/benefit analysis of the flu shot. What are the risks of him reacting to the flu shot based on his medical situation? How likely is the shot to actually prevent flu transmission? How would you treat the flu if he caught it? What would you do if he had a bad reaction and then got the flu anyway- could his little body handle that kind of double-whammy?

Personally, I can't imagine any situation in which I'd be comfortable administering the shot, but do your own research and your own risk/benefit analysis.
post #16 of 39
11/3/08 at 11:44pm
NEVER. Not even after death.
post #17 of 39
11/4/08 at 12:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gitti View Post
NEVER. Not even after death.
Gitti, you are really serious about this "no junk in my bod" vibe, aren't you?

Now, now, don't be a fanatic.
post #18 of 39
11/4/08 at 2:11am
I bet Gitti does not want her zombified corpse to get sick with all those toxins. It would interfere with her chasing the pharmasellouts. After all, zombies don't move that fast to begin with and toxins slowing her down would make it really hard to catch them.
post #19 of 39
11/4/08 at 2:20am
I say NEVER. Never ever, ever.
post #20 of 39
11/4/08 at 2:35am
In agreement with all the NEVERS. Especially not in someone with immunity or health issues. I would be doing other things, however.
New Posts  All Forums:
 
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Vaccinations
Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Health › Vaccinations › When WOULD you give/get the flu shot?