OT-Do you get your kids flu shots?

[runwad]

I have 3 kids no health problems, they're 10, 8 & 6. Last year for the first time they all got the flu-mist. Well they all ended up getting the flu, in fact the then 5 yr old had it about 3 times. I even got a flu shot and I ended up getting sick too. (I realize if there is a new strain of flu the shot is unlikely to help) So now here we are again and I'm in a quandry what to do as far as getting the mist for the kids and the shot for me. I can get the shot for free at work and insurance covers the mist for the kids. DH absolutely refuses to get the shot and he works around kids but if I want to get them for our kids he's ok with it. I just don't know what to do, I feel unsure about it for the kids when it seemed like it didn't help last year and then I'm always worried will they find out in the future that all these drugs will cause problems in the kids later in their lives. So I just wondered does anyone else grapple with this issue, let me hear your thoughts both pros & cons so I can make up my mind once and for all. Thanks

 

[ProudMomTo3Boys]

First let me say that you can NOT get the flu from the flu shot. I always get a flu shot and I get it for my youngest, he is 18 months old now, but my older 2, who are 10 and 8 I don't. They are healthy kids and my insurance won't pay for it and I just don't have the extra money to pay for it.

 

[EthansMom]

Our entire family gets the flu shot every year. My kids both have mild asthma. Our family tends to get one to two flus each year, despite getting the flu shot.

 

[magicmato]

We started getting the flushots when my dad was having chemo. They were required if we were going to see him.

Since then, we have gotten them because our kids needed them and DH gets them through work... so I get one too, as I do not want to be the only one out of commission!

 

[whogirl'smom]

We always get flu shots every year. DD5 has had one every year since she was a baby. I have mild asthma and just don't want to worry about any of us getting sick when we might be able to prevent it.

 

[james'mommy]

We all get the flu shot EVERY year. DH and DS are both asthmatic and I end up either hospitalized or with walking pneumonia when ever I get the flu. Our local clinic starts giving the shots tomorrow. You can bet we will all be there at some point this week to get ours.

 

[daisyduck123]

I've never had DD12 or DS8 get a flu shot & they've never had the flu.

I'm a 1st grade teacher & I don't get the flu shot either. I never get the flu. But if they come out with a shot for Strep throat....then I'll be the first one in line. That's the only illness I ever get, at least once a year.

BTW, I'm knocking on wood right now!!

 

[suffolkprincess]

My DD4 has had one every year and so have I-- and never one flu since then, even when the family next door had it (and we see them constantly-- we get everything they have and vice-versa-- except for flu.)

Calling my pediatrician tomorrow to schedule DD's for this year!

 

[minkydog]

I've never had DD12 or DS8 get a flu shot & they've never had the flu.

I'm a 1st grade teacher & I don't get the flu shot either. I never get the flu. But if they come out with a shot for Strep throat....then I'll be the first one in line. That's the only illness I ever get, at least once a year.

BTW, I'm knocking on wood right now!!

I bet there would be quite a line behind you, too.

OP, I get a flu shot and I make my kids get them. My DH has some pretty hefty chronic lung/heart disease and the only way to keep him healthy in the winter is to keep the rest of us healthy(he nearly died 2yrs ago from a sinus infection ) Of course, he also gets his flu shot, plus the pneumonia shot every 5yrs(I think) and whatever else he can do. We use soap & water and hand sanitizer like it's going out of style.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Our whole family gets the flu shot or Flu Mist (if we can't get the shot) every year. DH is high risk for asthma and DD3 used to be high risk because she was a premie with some health issues (but not anymore! ). None of us have ever gotten the flu. We are doing the Disney Cruise in January, so we would get them this year no matter what, but we always get them. The kids still miss a day or two with colds, but we had a neighbor whose DS got the flu (no flu shot), and it was very bad for a whole week!

 

[melissac]

A couple of things to help you better understand the flu shot. What you and your family may have had was the stomach flu which is diferent from the influenza virus, which is a respiratory illiness and is what the flu vaccine is used to protect against. As you can see a lot of others writting have children with asthma or other respiratory illiness that get the shot. People a lot of times get the two mixed up and think that the vaccine was not effect when in fact it may have been. Our whole family gets the shot and have been lucky and have been pretty health every year. I would reccommend it for everyone. You might want to check out the the CDC website for more facts that can help you decide http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm Good luck

 

[badblackpug]

I am a nurse, I get a flu shot every year. The shot won't necessarily keep you form getting the flu, but you may end up with a much milder case than if you weren't vaccinated.
About FluMist. The year that the vaccine was in shortage, our hospital offered FluMist to everyone under 50 who did NOT have any health issues. The thing you need to know about the mist is that you can "shed" the virus for several days after receiving the mist via droplet or nasal secretions. This is NOT a good option for anyone who is going to be around ant immunocompromised people. (chemo patients, HIV patients, etc.) or any others at "high risk." (infants, elderly, or people with chronic respiratory issues) It is an especially bad idea (IMO) for samll kids. Read: wiping your nose on your sleeve.

 

[tigger2on]

My 9 yrold daughter contracted the flu in 1998 and had a severe prolonged seizure which left her non-mobile, non-verbal and 100% dependent for the rest of her life. Before this, she walked, talked and was ahealthy child. This is rare but it does happen every year to various degrees in children, who get the flu.
I love my child unconditionally and she is ALOT of work. I would never want to see this happen to another child. Please...unless allergic...get the shot... your child's life could depend on it.

 

[glavine47]

Our entire family gets the shots.

 

[runwad]

My 9 yrold daughter contracted the flu in 1998 and had a severe prolonged seizure which left her non-mobile, non-verbal and 100% dependent for the rest of her life. Before this, she walked, talked and was ahealthy child. This is rare but it does happen every year to various degrees in children, who get the flu.
I love my child unconditionally and she is ALOT of work. I would never want to see this happen to another child. Please...unless allergic...get the shot... your child's life could depend on it.

Thanks for responding and I'm so sorry this happened to your daughter, I guess something like that happening in reverse is what scares me. I need to read up on that CDC site, but sometimes I don't know I don't trust everything that I read and it is so hard when you are making decisions for your children. My friend got me paranoid about this thinking that maybe thermasol (sp?) may be in the flu vaccine and honestly I've just not had time to read up on everything concerning this, she is just telling me not to do it for the kids and it's now gotten me paranoid. I totally understand if you have an asmatic kid or child with other respitory problems but we have none of that but as someone said we probably get the stomach virus every year and the flu shot won't help with that anyway. I think I'll call the doctors office tomorrow and see if we can still get into one of the flu clinics for this month.

 

[CleveRocks]

My wife is a pediatrician. In her opinion, she would be a bad parent if she didn't have ALL of us get the flu shot every year, to keep us all as safe as possible -- schools are very fertile breeding grounds for communicable diseases. Our kids are now 6 and 4. And by the way, she would NEVER tell a parent that they were being a bad parent if they elect NOT to get their kids flu shots, it's just her personal opinion about herself.

That being said, she's a wimp and hates seeing the kids in any sort of pain, so she makes me bring the kids into the office for their flu shots every year.

 

[mimif1]

Our school system offers the flu mist for free to every teacher and student. Both of my oldest DDs have already received their flu mist and my youngest DD is due to get the flu shot this month with me. A few years ago, my oldest two DDs and I got the flu and we were out of commission for two full weeks. We've gotten the shot or mist every year since.

 

[Groovee]

Nope in the UK only vulnerable people get offered it.(older people and those with respitory problems and asthma) I've had virus's but not had flu for a fair few years. I'm off the opinion we spend too much time vaccinating these days and not enough exposure to germs means we are not building up a natural immunity. I have vaxed my kids for the childhood MMR and DTP etc but we don't do chickenpox or flu.

 

[Missy Mouse]

No, for many personal reasons that will just cause controversy.

 

[noodleknitter]

No flu shot, and none of us has ever had the flu. I think there are better ways to a healthy immune system.