Help! Pediatrician Just Called; Recommending Flu Shots for Kids

[debster812]

Mom to a slightly asthmatic child here. He has been receiving the flu shot since he was a year and a half old. His peds has called us in every year to get the innoculation.

I have had mine this year as well, and DH is going to the doctor tomorrow, and will ask about his.

 

[CindyBeth]

I was wondering, has anybody gotten the flu mist instead of the shot? My dd is scared of shots and so I was thinking about her getting the mist instead!

 

[mtemm]

from what I understand the flu mist is a live virus. I'm not sure if its being offered to children, but something you might want to ask about.

 

[IloveDMB]

Originally posted by jwsqrdplus2
I hate to dissuade people from doing things that help their children, but isn't this year's flu shot Type B?? Meaning that it would have little to no impact against the Type A that is going around?

Please don't get me wrong; my DDs shots are current, but I do have a hard time getting a flu shot that only protects against one strain when so many other strains are out there. I suppose there is a logic that says there is one less strain that they could get, but...

Right now I am doing an internship in infectious control at a hospital. This is such a hot topic. The flu vaccine is made from a yeast and actually protects against 3 strains of the flu virus. The news around the hospital is that this is going to be a particularly nasty flu season. I am trying to find my literature on the flu to post it, but I am having trouble locating it.

 

[IloveDMB]

Depends on how old your daughter is. Here is the CDC's website on Flu-Mist

Flu-Mist

Oh and from what I heard, this is not being covered by insurance.

 

[twinmomplus2]

You posted before I had the chance to! I was asking the same question. I had asked my pedi about the flu mist as well.

It is offered but is not covered by insurance because the shot is cheaper. He said for us it's $85 per child. I am not sure however if it has to be done twice like the shot. I had really wanted the flu shot for my kids. I have one 3 year ols who gets really sick. And he hasn't been well enough since September to get his! So we are off to disney without it. I too am going to be a broken record about handwashing!


Another side note my Pediatrician came back from Beach club. yesterday and she said Disney sounds like a croup factory. That kids are sick all over the place!

 

[mickeysaver]

A couple of things.....

Flu Mist, the nasal flu vaccine, is expensive and is only licensed for use in people 5 years to 49 years. I is not covered by most insurance companies yet. We charge about $70/dose and the flu shot is only about $20, but it's also covered by the vast majority of insurance companies. The first year it's used, you have to get two doses. You can't get the Flu Mist if you have asthma, cardiac problems, cancer, immune system problems, on steroids or chemo. The steroid part includes nasal steroids like Flonase too. These at risk people include family members because the live virus is shed through mucous membranes from the vaccinated person for a period of time after the vaccine is given. In other words, the people that usually are at highest risk of influenza complications are the one's that can't use this vaccine.

As for the fact that the Type A Influenza isn't matched well in the vaccine this year, yeah, it's true. The Type B was matched much better. The Type A that is included in the vaccine will still cause the body to produce some antibodies that should be useful to an extent in warding off the Type A Influenza that is making the rounds. I can say that none of the flu cases we have seen so far have been in children that were vaccinated with this year's flu vaccine. Something in it must be working.

There are risks to any vaccine. I encourage everyone to take a look at these Vaccine Information Statements because it details the side effects and the people that might not be a good candidate for the vaccines. Also, please talk with your pediatrician. They know your child's need best. Maggie

 

[Cindyluwho]

Mickeysaver, we've all had a bad bout of some kind of virus around here. And not just the family, but so many people around the Seattle area. It comes on quick. One night a scratchy throat and then bam! the next morning: high fever, body aches, totally tired can't get off the couch and a nasty sore throat. Is that the symptoms that are going along with the flu that's going around? The only reason that I'm asking is that it only seems to last a few days and I thought flu lasted for about 10 days? My DH and I did get the flu shot but our DD9 didn't and we all got the virus but she got it much worse.

 

[wuv tigger]

but dh & I will be getting ours next week.

 

[eeyore0062]

Made my DD's appointment for her immunization today. She and DH will both have theirs on Wednesday. I had mine about 2 weeks ago-- I work with the public where people from all over the world gather, so it was absolutely not an option. It was a surprisingly painless injection. My arm did hurt when I laid on it at night, or if touched for the next 2 days, but nothing that Ibuprophen didn't help.

I definitely would heed the advise of the pediatrician. Better a small ouch that doesn't last long than a week in bed, or worse!

 

[dianeschlicht]

With the high flu season expected, I would get them the shots. The flu causes FAR more deaths each year than the shots. Only those allergic to eggs should not get flu shots. I suspect some of the deaths from shots were caused by that.

 

[suzannen]

All of this information has been really helpful, everyone. I called the pediatrician and made an appointment for DD for 4:30 this afternoon. (Haven't told her yet). I've never worried about it before but with all of these news (scare) stories, it's made me more nervous. This pediatrician has always felt in the past that the flu shot should always be given to kids with asthma, diabetes, crohn's, and other compromising illnesses, but not necessary for other kids. The fact that they actually called to say that this year they were changing their normal policy really got my attention.

You guys are making me feel better and that I'm not just being an overreacting mother.

 

[Lorix2]

I'm sure you're DD will be fine. My DS6 didn't even flinch. My DD11 had to be (gently) held down though She's the one with asthma, so it had to be done.

No such thing as an overreacting when it comes to your children's health, decisions are hard to make when you're unsure, I think you are doing the right thing.

Have a good day

 

[hipporina]

Another note to the negative side. We have decided not to get the flu sot for any of us this year either because it is in a large part not effective against the strain that is going around this year. In fact, I went to my dr yesterday for a sinus infection and he did not encourage me to get one. He told me that it is usually recommended for people with asthma, which I have, but this year's isn't really working. He had seen 2 people yesterday alone that had gotten the flu after having had the shot. Since he is usually the very cautious, follow all recommendations, type of doctor, I feel better about my decision. Its just not worth it to me to put my kids and myself through the ordeal of getting a shot if there is that much likelihood that it will be ineffective anyway. Just my opinion..

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by hipporina
Another note to the negative side. We have decided not to get the flu sot for any of us this year either because it is in a large part not effective against the strain that is going around this year. In fact, I went to my dr yesterday for a sinus infection and he did not encourage me to get one. He told me that it is usually recommended for people with asthma, which I have, but this year's isn't really working. He had seen 2 people yesterday alone that had gotten the flu after having had the shot. Since he is usually the very cautious, follow all recommendations, type of doctor, I feel better about my decision. Its just not worth it to me to put my kids and myself through the ordeal of getting a shot if there is that much likelihood that it will be ineffective anyway. Just my opinion..

I am rather amazed by this statement! Around here they INSIST if you are asthmatic, that you get a flu shot unless you are allergic to eggs (which I am). They did say that the flu vaccine does not match the strains exactly, but if you do get the flu it will be much less severe. I can't get the shots, but DH getting them has always had a protecting effect for me too. Two years ago, he didn't get the flu shot, and we both got violently ill with the flu! We were able to get to the doctore soon enough to get the antiviral drug though, so it wasn't as severe as it could have been.

 

[RUDisney]

Our pediatrician was featured in USA Today about 2 months ago for being one of the only drs in the country who immunizes all of their patients (or at least most.) He was mentioned because he also has one of the lowest percentages of patients who come down with the flu each year. That's testament enough for us.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Wow, I find that very interesting too as both the CDC and American Lung Association advise people with asthma to have the shot. Maybe a second opinion would be in order . . .

 

[Christine]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
I am rather amazed by this statement! Around here they INSIST if you are asthmatic, that you get a flu shot unless you are allergic to eggs (which I am). They did say that the flu vaccine does not match the strains exactly, but if you do get the flu it will be much less severe. I can't get the shots, but DH getting them has always had a protecting effect for me too. Two years ago, he didn't get the flu shot, and we both got violently ill with the flu! We were able to get to the doctore soon enough to get the antiviral drug though, so it wasn't as severe as it could have been.

You know you can still get the vaccine if you are allergic to eggs. My son is severely allergic to egg white and mildly allergic to the yolk. He has been getting the shot for many years now with no side effects. The first year he had it done, we had to do it at the allergist's office and it took about 2 hours to give him the whole shot. Since he had no reaction, he is "good to go" now for shots. Have you investigated having it done?

 

[Lorix2]

hipporina - if you have asthma, why would you put yourself at risk if you can be provided with some level of protection? I don't understand. Asthma patients are more prone to pnuemonia when they get real sick and it's harder for them to recover. It can be very serious for you if you get the flu.

I know the flu shot currently does not provide 100% protection from all strains, but some protection is much better than none, don't you agree? It's really not an ordeal, just a little stick

 

[Mskanga]

I don't get this. We give kids shots for diseases that you basically do not hear much about anymore like polio , or give them the chickenpox shot so that they don't get it or get it mild ( chickenpox usually doesn't kill unless you have a compromised immune system , but yet the flu kills 35-40.000 people every year and we question as to if it's a good idea?
I'm not saying the flu shot works for everyone or that everyone should get it, but I hear more people die from the flu than they die from polio or the chickenpox, and actually the shots for those are more painful than the flu shot.
My kids have been getting them for years and I don't plan on stopping now. I know one thing, they get colds , but they never got the flu since they started getting them.