college kids and flu shots

[Tiggeroo]

I have my three college kids living at home with me for the moment. Two will be leaving in two months. They are all reluctant to get the flu shot. They are adults. One gets pneumonia every year and works coaching track and cross country teams, another gets bronchitis pretty often, the third rarely gets sick at all. How hard would you nudge them to get the shot? Would you worry that if you encouraged them to get the shot and they had a reaction you would feel terrible?
I'm having the same problem with dh who right now is working in many of the DC schools and on the NYU campus. He turned 50 this year and I think he should get the shot. He'll do it if I set it up and remind him of the appointment but it will only be to humor me.

 

[mamacatnv]

My DH (51) gets the flu shot annually - the kids and I never.
DH is planning on his regular flu shot but none of us are considering the Swine vaccine.

I had a long chat with my Ped. re: the Swine vaccine and even she is on the fence at this point in time even for herself and she deals with all the sick kids. My Ped. also commented that she herself does not get a flu shot. She is in her mid 40's.

This year nothing will change - I am not encouraging my DS who is in college to get either one.

My BFF got pneumonia a few years ago, it kicked her butt for about a month so now she gets the pneumonia vaccine, but no flu.

 

[C.Ann]

That's a tough one - because as adults, you really can't force them (or insist) that they do something they don't want to..

Would they at least consider getting a pneumonia shot? It lasts several years, so they wouldn't have to be concerned with having the shot again for awhile.. At least that way if they did come down with the flu, they might have "some" protection..

Also, are you talking about the regular flu shot or Swine flu?

 

[blissventure]

My DH (51) gets the flu shot annually - the kids and I never.
DH is planning on his regular flu shot but none of us are considering the Swine vaccine.

I had a long chat with my Ped. re: the Swine vaccine and even she is on the fence at this point in time even for herself and she deals with all the sick kids. My Ped. also commented that she herself does not get a flu shot. She is in her mid 40's.

This year nothing will change - I am not encouraging my DS who is in college to get either one.

My BFF got pneumonia a few years ago, it kicked her butt for about a month so now she gets the pneumonia vaccine, but no flu.

I had the real no kidding seasonal flu about 4 years ago. I was very, very ill for about 2 months, had complications that went into a long lasting bronchitis...high temp, the whole deal. Since then we always get a flu shot. DH saw how sick I was and now he's onboard with the shot.
With young adults in school, I wouldn't push too hard. That just makes them less likely to take the shot.
What I would do is mention that if they get the seasonal flu, if they are lucky they'll be sick about a week. If they aren't, they could be very ill for a a surprisingly long time with complications. Long term illness usually results in a withdrawal, and then the student has to repeat the classes in another semester. This year, especially, I'd doubt if colleges and universities will be happy to have a feverish, sniffly, coughing student attempting to go to class. They'll tell them to stay home, and either attempt to eventually make up the work, or just repeat next semester.
Repeating classes in college isn't cheap.

 

[mamacatnv]

This year, especially, I'd doubt if colleges and universities will be happy to have a feverish, sniffly, coughing student attempting to go to class. They'll tell them to stay home, and either attempt to eventually make up the work, or just repeat next semester.
Repeating classes in college isn't cheap.

Sons University has already issued notices to students to stay home/in their dorms etc. if ill and at the same time they have issued guidelines and mandates to faculty to accomodate the students as much as possible.

Per my Ped if the kids have a high fever that lasts more than 18 hours they should seek diagnosis/treatment and H1N1 screening so that they could begin a course of anti virals if they are positive. They will still be subject to a 7 day quarantine but the school & university that my kids attend both have measures in place to get the kids their missing assignments and allow them the time to get caught up. This flu per my Ped is not as nasty as the "normal" influenza. What is very different about it is the target age group and how easily it is spread due to the age group. Large sections of the population could all be affected at the same time thus interupting the day to day course of commerce or education, health care etc.

IMO be smart, seek medical care a little more proactively and wash your hands. As I said to my DS - Don't be swapping spit (shared food, drinks, hookah, booze bottle, he is in college etc) Get lots of sleep, eat well and wash your hands often.

 

[trip]

I have my three college kids living at home with me for the moment. Two will be leaving in two months. They are all reluctant to get the flu shot. They are adults. One gets pneumonia every year and works coaching track and cross country teams, another gets bronchitis pretty often, the third rarely gets sick at all. How hard would you nudge them to get the shot? Would you worry that if you encouraged them to get the shot and they had a reaction you would feel terrible?
I'm having the same problem with dh who right now is working in many of the DC schools and on the NYU campus. He turned 50 this year and I think he should get the shot. He'll do it if I set it up and remind him of the appointment but it will only be to humor me.

Bolding mine.

Yes, they are adults but are you still paying the bills - tuition etc? Drag them to a local Walgreens and make them get it. It sounds like it is shaping up to be an interesting flu season!

 

[james'mommy]

we all get the flu shot... i've only skipped it once in the last 12 years... what do ya know... i ended up with the flu that year... kicked my butt... i figure if it's your house and their living in it if you say to get a flu shot they should get a flu shot...

 

[RyeCrimsonMoon]

The flu shots ran out pretty quickly at my college (in like two days!) Last year, the flu ran rampant through the school and at least like 25% of the students got it.
In short, I'd make them get it. Just to be safe.

 

[Muffy]

My DD19 is in college and she is getting the flu shot. It will be available next week at her school. She will also be getting the Swine Flu shot when available. I just don't want to take any chances with her away at school and getting sick.

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

The flu shots ran out pretty quickly at my college (in like two days!) Last year, the flu ran rampant through the school and at least like 25% of the students got it.
In short, I'd make them get it. Just to be safe.

Same here, since my university administers them for free. Not sure if that's the norm, but I plan on getting the shot.

 

[Rose&Mike]

I am strongly encouraging DS to get the flu shot and swine flu shot. He is 8 hours away at college and has a history of asthma as a child. I had the flu last year and could not get out of bed for days, I was so sick. (First time I'd had the flu in years.) I'm hoping he remembers that and realizes he doesn't want to go through that alone. They are adults, but I think sometimes they still need to be encouraged to make responsible decisions.

 

[locolala]

DH and I are both in college, and we will both be getting the flu shots. He doesn't have a choice in the matter since he's military, they are required to get both shots. I get mine every year, if I don't I end up missing at least a week to two weeks with the flu. I've been hospitalised for complications from flu, so I don't take my chances anymore.

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

well I am not a college kid, but in my 40's. There was the 1st confirmed case of H1N1 at my school today. But they will not say what Hall!!! I all ready had my seasonal flu shot, and I am on the first list for the H1N1 as soon as it gets here.

as for the pneumonia shot, that is not a yearly shot. It has a minimum of 5 years between shots. I got one in 2001. I have chronic asthma.


http://www.mysuncoast.com/Global/story.asp?S=11106402

 

[SeaSpray]

DSs are 21 and 18 and they (as well as DH and I) get the seasonal flu shot every year. They're used to getting it (DS21 has asthma so their pediatrician always recommended that everyone in the house get it), so they don't complain about it at all.

As for the H1N1 flu shot, I'm hoping that we'll all get it, but I'm going to re-evaluate the pros and cons, once it becomes available.

 

[Feralpeg]

Load them in the car and take them to Walgreens. They are giving the shots now, everyday until they run out. I got mine today. I told my daughter that when she comes home for a weekend visit, I'm taking her for the shot. She also gets sick easily. I'm not giving her an option.

 

[Ephany]

I've had to go to my university clinic twice in the last two weeks (not because of the flu) and each time I'd say at least 1/2 of the kids being seen are wearing masks and are there because of the flu. It's bad enough that if you're a suspected flu case you're handed (and must put on) the mask upon check in and you're immediately taken to a separate part of the clinic away from everyone else. Many of the local pharmacies are out of Tamiflu also, it's crazy. I had mild-flu like symptoms two winters ago even with my flu shot and it was awful, I can't imagine what a full blown case would be like. I know many stores like Walgreens and Publix are already offering shots, and many health departments do walk in/drive through clinics for a reasonable cost. How much work or school will they miss if they get the flu? It's well worth the preventative shot for us.

 

[minkydog]

I had the real no kidding seasonal flu about 4 years ago. I was very, very ill for about 2 months, had complications that went into a long lasting bronchitis...high temp, the whole deal. Since then we always get a flu shot. DH saw how sick I was and now he's onboard with the shot.

I know how sick is that kinda sick--I got two different strains of flu about 5 years ago, one in Jan and the other in March. I was very sick, 10 days in bed both times, and I developed pnuemonia after each bout of flu. My DH has never seen me so sick! I felt like I was going to die. It took me a full 4 months to get my strength back.

No question about it, we will get our flu shots; in fact, DH had his yesterday. I'll take the kids Thursday night. I have a 23yo living with us this year.. I can't make him get the shot, but I will gladly pay for it if he'll just go over there with me and do it.

 

[disney1990]

My DD goes to college in New York. Last week they gave out flu shots (for free) and they were all gone before she got hers. They are supposed to be giving them out again this week -- and she will be back in line.

She wasn't worried about the flu, or H1N1, until the outbreak at Cornell U. where one 20 year old has already died. She has a history of asthma.

If I were you, I would be encouraging them to get both flu shots.