Did your teenager get a flu shot/mist

[Lynn CC]

I never thought of getting DS16 a flu shot before, until DH brought it to my attention that 20 teens have died fromt he flu already this year. They say the Bay State is being hit hard and early with the flu this year.
I called his doctor and asked for the nasal mist but he said he didn't recommend it for his age group, and there is none to be had anyways..... Too Late. Now I'm nervous, so I thought I'd spill my worries here like I always do.

 

[Lorix2]

Are you sure it's 20 teens? I really think there have only been 2. One in Worcester and one somewhere else.

Anyway, I know it's scary. My kids and ourselves have been vaccinated, but the strain A that is causing these complications and death is not included in the shot this year. So...we really have only 50% cross protection at best.

I don't know anything helpful abuot the Flumist though...sorry..

Frequent hand washing and disinfecting is the key. Obviously, keep them away from sick people that you know are sick.

Does your son have any health issues, like asthma? It would be recommended that he be vaccinated one way or another.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

No, she just got the flu and we didn't...figure that out. She was sick for a week. It is wierd that it is hitting the older kids more than the younger.

In fact her middle school was hit hard but the elementary just slightly.

 

[holycow]

I started to feel anxious too...my DS is 15 and has asthma I am really concerned with him getting it so I keep making him was his hands and at the mall and school avoid touching any door knobs!!

silly I know but hey, if it will help I'll do it!

Holyow

 

[Liz]

Yes, our whole family gets the flu shot every year. We got ours in mid-Oct. before we knew this was going to be an especially bad year. But we have a daughter with a heart transplant so we have always done it to help protect her.

Its very scary. Even though 75% of the serious flu going around isn't the exact virus in the shot, our doctor said its a form of it so having the shot would help lessen the severity if we got it.

Any time we come home from being somewhere in public we wash our hands immediately so I feel like that helps. I'll just be glad when the kids are out for Christmas vacation because I'm sure there are a million germs at school.

 

[DisneyObsessed]

Nope. None of us got the flu shot. I'm worried, but hoping for the best.

 

[Muffy]

All of us got the flu shot even our 13 y/o. We leave for WDW in 9 days and this is one less thing for me to worry about. Call your local hospital to find out who still has the vacine. It's not to late!

 

[DawnCt]

There is still plenty of FluMist available and it is recommended for people 5 to 49 without asthma. Check out the FluMist web site. While it is expensive, there is a $25 rebate on the website.

 

[Evil Princess]

I haven't gotten one yet, but my boyfriends mother owns a hospice/visiting nurse service and has some shots left. She is going to give it to me this week, better late than never.

Sickness travels fast in the dorms.

 

[Snowysmom]

Both my sons got flu shots this year. They have asthma so I try to get the shots early for them. I am especially concerned with older DS in college this year. Dorms are hot beds of germs! He comes home Friday for semester break so hopefully he comes home healthy!

 

[LisaTx]

We've never gotten the flu shots.

My teen would rather have the flu than get a shot. I thought he was going to have a heart attack when we went to pick up his school schedule in August and he found out he had to get a shot before he could register. The last time he got a shot, about 7 or 8 years before, it took the Dr. and two nurses to hold him down. Thankfully he didn't cause a scene this time.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

The kids...15, 13 and 10...and I got them about 2 weeks ago. It was quite the runaround trying to find it. I think I'm just going to get them for everyone every year.

I had the flu once, and it was horrible. I was sick for months, with pneumonia and a fever that I couldn't shake. Ended up seeing a pulmonary specialist and having a CT scan, but it eventually fizzled out. Not fun.

 

[floridafam]

Our doctor said that our 7 yr old could have the FluMist but I found out the health dept. had some children's doses of the shot left and my 7 and 4 yr old had those.

Any idea why your Dr. said not to get the FluMist?

 

[SeaSpray]

Our DSs ages 12.5 and 15.5 both had a flu shot. So did DH and I. DH has diabetes and DS15.5 has asthma, so we get out flu shots every year, as early as possible.

Don't feel bad about not having gotten the flu shot for him before this, most people didn't even think about flu shots until this winter.

I hope your DS, and all of you, stay healthy this year!

 

[mudnuri]

I was under the impression- originally, say- back in October, that they recommended the flu shot for anyone at risk, young children, children with weakened immune systems, older adults, etc...

My employer offered them, however after talking to my DR. I did not get one. DD's did not either...I was worried about DD6, since she did have breathing problems/asthma which she hasn't had since she was 4....but..still... Dr.s told me that nobody in my family is high risk.

Now, even though our DR has the vaccine, she will NOT give it to anyone who is not high risk. I think a lot of people who were not at high risk got the vaccine, and now there are people who really need it, and didnt get it for whatever reason...financial, etc... and now they cant find the vaccine.

I never heard about 20 teens dying either...

Brandy

 

[Lynn CC]

Now after reading C.Ann's post about the 17 year old teen that died I'm wondering if I should call Cape Cod Hospital to see if they have any mist.