I'm curious...how many of you give the flu shot to the kids?

[Mskanga]

I have been giving my kids the flu shot now every year since they were 2 and 3 years old.
My oldest started getting it at 3 because she was getting really bad bronchitis and as a precaution the doctor wanted to try it one year, she did wonderfully that year and she gets it yearly ever since, my youngest started getting it too. The most they get over the winter is one or two days of a slight cold and that's it. I find it interesting that the CDC now advises people to vaccinate kids with the flu shot . Some mothers I know used to criticise me for giving them shots they didn't need ( they said ) but this year they are the ones lining up to get them.

 

[Mskanga]

Nobody??? am I the only one??

 

[bumcat]

We have never done the flu shots. We are a family of 5 and I am the only one that got the flu once many years ago. Maybe we're just lucky? I see nothing wrong with getting them.

 

[becka]

I am thinking about getting a flu shot for DS especially since he is in daycare.

They are recommending that kids 6 months - 2 years get the shot but they can't give it until they are at least 6 months old. DS will be 6 months in mid-November so I will see about getting the shot then. Apparently kids have to have 2 shots to be protected a month apart so that would mean another shot in mid-December. I wonder if that will be too late?

DH and I will be getting the flu shot to try to protect DS. I HATE shots (actually HATE is not a strong enough word) but I know that I need to get one for his sake.

My only concern about giving him the flu shot is the egg. I know you should not give kids under 1 eggs because of the potential for developing allergies so that makes me nervous.

 

[SeaSpray]

I do, too.

DS14 has asthma that is generally pretty mild but when he gets sick with any kind of upper respiratory infection, he can end up in the hospital. The flu would absolutely land him in the hospital.

DH has insulin-dependent diabetes.

For these reasons, all 4 of us get the flu shot each year. We've never had any bad reactions from the shot at all.

 

[pumba]

that would make the flu bad for them......and the elderly people who are more likely to have the flu go into pnemonia.....my mother in law gets it because she is a diabetic.....none of the kids that I have taken care of ....or my grandkids have ever had the flu shot......they seem to be have done pretty good.....I thought I had the flu last year....but it was a bug....just a lousy bug that has nothing to do with the flu

 

[Smee]

Olga, my DS always gets a flu shot. He gets recurrent bronchitis and has had pneumonia. His M.D. has him on his "to call" list so that as soon as the shot becomes available, they call me to bring him in. I must say, since we started doing this (about 4 years ago) fall/winters have been a little easier "health wise".

 

[Mskanga]

SeaSpray I do it for the same reason with the kids too, and it works wonderfully for us , this year even dh wants to get it and I want to give it a try, I don't get sick that often but when I do , I do a good job at it , LOL.
Becka , if you are considering that for DS beeing as young as he is...please really talk to your pediatrician, I know the CDC is advising people to give the flu shot to infants but I still think he's too young and if it's not for a medical reason , I don't know if I would do it.

 

[Blondie]

Pumba, lots of people think they have the flu, when all they really have is a bad cold. I always have to laugh when I take a call from one of our staff that is calling out sick with "I have the flu" excuse! Honey, you HAVE A COLD!!! Not the flu!

We don't get the flu shots, we take our chances. So far.....so good.

My parents get the flu shot yearly, they are in their early 70's and get it on recommendation from their doctors.

Working in a hospital, they offer it for free....but I always decline.

 

[EROS]

Our DS, age 5, always receives a flu shot due to his mild asthma. Since my DW and I are in health care, we get inoculated as well ..........

 

[peg2001]

Yep. I get the flu shot every year and I get them for my DDs, ages 2 and 5, as well. They don't have any risk factors but why not reduce the chances of being sick?

My DH, on the other hand, would rather actually get the flu than get a shot.

Peggy

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

We all 4 have got it for the last 5 years. Kids were 6 and 2 when they started getting it. We all seem so much healthier and have had no problems. We started getting it for them as they had the flu when they were 5 and 1 and were BAD sick over a week, awful, and then it turned into all kinds of infections. Dr. recommended it. DH and I did not get it as we had the shot that year. I will never let them suffer that long if it is avoidable.
I too get annoyed when people call every illness "the flu". If they had ever had the REAL flu, they would know the difference!

 

[popeyeohoh]

MY DR RECOMMENDED THEM ALSO THE 2 YEARS THAT MY SONS WERE GIVEN THE SHOT THEY STILL GOT THE FLU (THROWING UP) THE FLU SHOT IS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT THE FLU FROM TURNING INTO PNUMONIA THE 3 YEARS THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT THEY NEVER WERE ILL

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

The flu shot does not protect against stomach bugs. I WISH there was a shot for that ! It protects against about 7 days of achiness, high fever, runny, stuffy nose, nausea, and feeling like you were fun over by a mack truck !

 

[Mskanga]

They also tell you, it does not protect against all of the kinds of flu, you may still get it but not as bad.
In my kids case this all started because of my oldest always getting bronchitis and being on the borderline ashmatic, the doctor was about to test her for ashma if she didn't do better with the flu shot but she did really well ( she started getting them at 4 years old and she will be 10 soon ) and my youngest started getting them as a precaution. All I know is it works for us, they still get colds but very mild but it doesn't mean that one year they may not get the flu, hopefully not so bad.

 

[Piglet]

My DD, 5 years old, gets it every year. She does have a disease where getting the flu would result in a definete hospital stay for quite some time. So I don't like to take any chances.

Melinda

 

[janette]

My 8yo DD has gotten it sometimes, she has asthma and her Dr has often thought it best.

 

[Blondie]

Is it the cold, or the flu? Check out this site, it's very informative.

 

[SeaSpray]

I know what you all mean about people who "think" they have the flu! LOL I know I've had the flu at least twice. You do literally feel as if you've been run over by a truck. Major, major aches and pains in your body, as well as all the other symptoms.

One time I heard a doctor say "If you're able to get yourself into my office, you probably DON'T have the flu because you'd be in bed, not wanting to get out." That pretty much sums it up. lol

 

[Straycat]

I got it for myself and my son for the first time last year after having the flu the year before. I didnt realize how bad the flu could be till then, so now i prevent it because I NEVER want to feel that bad again!