OT: NJ Preschool Parents...Question re flu vaccine

[DVCinderella]

My twins just started Pre-K4 this fall. This is their first time in school. I remember during their 3yr checkup (Feb 2008), our pediatrician (whom I trust wholeheartedly) offered the flu vaccine. I told him that neither my husband nor I ever get it, and the one year I did get it (vaccine offered at work), I was never so sick. He said it was optional and our decision, but if we don't normally get it, he agreed with my decision not push it on our children. Part of why I really like him is he is not a drug pusher. He also tells you what he has to say as a doctor, and then offers his personal advice as a father. I like that honesty.

In late 2008, he partnered with another pediatrician. Due to constant scheduling conflicts, I was unable to get my kids in to see him for their 4yr checkup, and instead we saw his partner (Feb 2009). I do not recall if she offered the flu vaccine.

What I didn't know then (and just learned from the school nurse) is that NJ now requires mandatory flu shots for children in pre-school and daycare. This law was passed Dec 2008...so why didn't the new pediatrician mention this? I'm sure if she said something about it being a law, I would've remembered.

The nurse sent home a note listing all of the required vaccines, and noted that my children were missing the flu vaccine. I went on-line and read about NJ's new law (the only state in the country which requires this). I called the pediatrician's office, and specifically asked to speak with my pediatrician (not the partner) because I knew he would give me an honest answer. He does not personally believe in this, but it is the law...not much he can do.

He did say that the flu vaccine is more benign than some of the other vaccines they have received. But I don't know...I just don't feel right about this vaccine...a mother's instinct, 6th sense?...I don't know what it is, but something does not want me to put this in my children.

I was just wondering how other parents out there who feel as I do are handling this?

According to the pediatrician, they have until 12/31/09 to be vaccinated. I swear, I was even considering not returning them to school after Christmas break just to avoid this shot, and letting them start Kindergarten in Fall 2010. As I understand it, it is only required for children age 6-month to 5yrs in preschool or daycare. They will be 5 by the time Kindergarten starts. In fact, it dawned on me that they will turn 5 in early Feb, and if I took them out at the end of 2009, could I return them after they turn 5? This way they would only miss a month. Or does 6-months to 5yrs, mean "through the 5th year"...in other words they need it until they turn 6?

 

[tiffsix]

NJ is the first & only state that mandates the flu shot for pre-schoolers. You should check out

www.njvaccinationchoice.org

It is the website for the NJ Coalition for Vaccintation Choice. It is a great website and I believe there is a discussion group and maybe you can connect with other parents who are in the same situation as you.

Good Luck!

 

[dizneechic]

If you ask your pedi, would he be willing to write you a note for medical exemption for the vaccine?

I have 1 child who had a bad reaction to MMR (brought on ITP, a blood platelet disorder) and due to this he receives a true medical exception to vaccines. We have 2 other children who have been selectively vaccinated but received *almost* everything, just on a very delayed schedule. Our pedi wrote letters to their schools medically exempting them (the younger 2 kids) from state mandated requirements noting we would do them when we were ready. Here in MA we are only allowed medical or religious exemptions, so our pedi was more than willing to work with us knowing our stance on vaccines.

 

[jboysen]

I too, feel the same way about the flu vaccine. I did get my DD's the shot this year and am now regretting it. We are going to WDW Nov25-Dec5, so I thought I was being proactive. DD4 who has never done well with any vaccine got so sick, and I too proceeded to get sick taking care of her. My DD 9mos took it like a charm though. I've decided against the H1N1 for them now. I would call your Ped and find out if there is anyway around it, he would know forsure.

 

[ellenmiele]

I believe the law was put into place in summer 2008 with the school year 08-09 being the first year it was required in NJ. Parents had until 12/31/08 to have their child receive the vaccine (with only one dose being required). And I think because it was new, the state then extended the deadline an additional 30 days. The law applies to children age 6-59 months in childcare or preschool and pertains to seasonal ("regular") flu vaccine. The H1N1 vaccine which will become available shortly is not part of this requirement and is so far going to be voluntary but strongly recommended for this age group.

 

[pollypeanut]

I have 4 children ages 13, 10, 5 and 2. I am vaccinating all of them for flu and the law is really irrelevant to me. Between the fact that full blow flu leaves the person bed ridden for a minimum of 14 days in addition to the potential of the illness being fatal, it's really a no-brainer. We've all had flu vaccines before and never had a problem. But even if any of my kids had become ill from the vaccine, I feel its worth mild illness now in order to avoid what is at at best a severe illness and at worst fatal. Furthermore you risk not only your children getting traditional flu but your older relatives who will undoubtedly be in contact with the kids? Afterall, there are over 35,000 flu deaths per year and most of those deaths are in the elderly. I have elderly parents and in-laws who are around my kids all the time. I couldn't live with myself if one of them became seriously ill from one of my kids carrying flu. If you factor in the added threat of H1N1 for which there is no vaccine yet, I can't see not taking a vaccine to prevent a potentially deadly disease when there is something that can prevent it. That's just my opinion.

 

[allison443]

I remember a lot of protesting when NJ was considering this law, but then it passed anyway.

OP have your kids had bad reactions to other vaccines? What type of reaction are you concerned about?

 

[badblackpug]

The ped probably did not offer the flu vaccine at your check up visit because, as you said, it was in Feb. and, generally the flu vaccine isn't available until Oct.

We all vaccinate every year. The only reaction anyone has had to the vaccine was some tenderness at the injection site. My elderly mother lives with us, and it cuts down on school absences. Also, there is some research that the influenza A vaccine offers some coverage for H1N1.

 

[bellebud]

DD4 who has never done well with any vaccine got so sick, and I too proceeded to get sick taking care of her.

did your dd get sick just after getting the shot? just curious if you think it was a *reaction* to the shot.

 

[LisaNJ25]

NJ preschooler mom here also.. Honestly I had more issues with the whole chicken pox vaccine than I do with the flu shot. All 4 of my kids had the shot 2 weeks ago. They get them yearly.

My pre-schooler has been home all week from school with a low fever and no voice. Its just a virus he picked up.. dont think it had anything to do with the shot.

 

[doclegler]

I just wanted to add that you can get FluMist, the nasal spray dose of the flu vaccine. Kids under 9 will need 2 doses, a month apart. My ds's (3,7,9) each got a dose of the flumist just a week ago and did well - no signs of illness. Be aware though, this is a "live" vaccine in a very minute dose.
To me, its truly a parents choice. If your child is immuno-compromised, in this case it might be wise to actually get the vaccine (as with other vaccines, they suggest waiting until the kids' immune system is stronger to vaccinate).
Best of luck with this tough decision. Do what you need to do!

 

[kymmyk13]

you have to do what you feel is right. The flu vac does have mercury in it, small amounts but it is there. My DD4 has mild autism and she will never have a flu shot or any other vac from this point further.

 

[KelleyD]

I was pretty perturbed when this passed in NJ. My daycare/preschool didn't really push it as I don't think the owners/director really care for it.

My doctor however loves the flu shot. I don't care how many opinions come out about this but I do believe these vaccines aid in making my child sick.

Yes yes I know coincidence, but my son was born late feb, so his annuals are late winter. I am so tired of him getting/being sick after these that i finally said summer only. He still gets something in the summer, but at a much less scale.

I honestly believe that his body is busy dealing with whatever was injected in him that he picks up every random small bug. The flu shot last year for daycare was no different.

I would appreciate reading studies about the many vaccines and how the seasons may or may not effect a child. So yes, it is a law in NJ. And you better believe I will make a very large protest and i will fight for an exemption if they decide the swine flu is mandatory!

 

[janets]

We will get the shots as soon as they are available at our drs offices. My office brings nurses in each year to vaccinate everyone in the office. Our office cannot afford an outbreak of the flu, given we have some people with compromised immune systems in the office.

My kids will also get them. We are fortunate that we have not had reactions to any vaccine, and given the fact that my 73 yo mother helps with them regularly, I can't risk her getting sick as well.

This year, NJ mandated that 6th graders needed to have the meningitis vaccine as well as a booster of the TDaP shot. I did not hesitate to do it.

Everyone needs to do what they feel is best for their children.

 

[loritemp]

You CAN NOT get sick from the flu vaccine, the shot version. SOme children may have a reaction to some component used to make it but that info is listed in the warnings and you should be advised ahead of time if you child falls into the warning groups (such as egg alergies). There is a very slim chance of getting sick from the mist version but again, very very slim.

I do believe it is a parents right to choose (I choose to vaccinate my child) but I just wanted to make sure people knew you can not get the flu from the flu vaccine, it is dead virus so can't make you sick but your body can still make antibodies to what you get, protecting you from future illness.

If your child does happen to get the flu after getting the flu shot, it is because a different strain popped up. The vaccine does not protect against every possible flu strain, instead the vaccine is made after scientific prediction of which strains will arise that season.

Don't mean to sound preachy or anything cause again, I do believe it is an individual decision, just wanted to put this out there.

 

[nancy01]

OP, I completely feel for you. We live in Canada, and we also have certain vaccines that are supposed to be "mandatory", but as parents we are allowed to exempt our children from them by signing a certain form of exemption. Does NJ have anything like that?

I feel strongly that my children not receive the Flu shot because of the mercury content. I am a social worker and work with children with autism and other disabilities, and regardless of what many doctors say, the parents that I work with are adammant that their kids were fine until they received certain vaccines. Most kids will be fine after being vaccinated, but for some kids, the additives that are part of vaccines will cause a reaction, sometimes deadly and sometimes causing life long disability. I know of two families that sued the US gov't and won based on this, but of course it is all kept very quiet so as not to scare people.

Another thing you may want to research is some new research out of Canada suggesting that people who got the regular flu shot were more prone to get
H1N1. The research came from some very reputable Canadian scientists. Because of this research, Ontario (a province in Canada) has opted to NOT give the regular flu shot to anyone under age 65 until AFTER they receive the
H1N1 shot. I don't have enough posts to post the link, but if you google about this research you will find it.

 

[princessmom29]

The risk of complications and death form the vaccine is far lower than from the disease, as is true for just about every vaccine out there. After my cousin alomst died of measles at 11 months b/c he was exposed by an unvaccinated child, I will be giving my daughter her shots on time.

 

[kcromley]

just fyi, you may wish to consider that there are mercury-free vaccines available, according to my doctor, albeit more expensive that the normal shot. Flu has reached pandemic proportions in Texas and Colorado, according to CDC, and will likely spread across the rest of the country soon. 55% of my child's school is out with flu this week, and those children seem to be really suffering. good luck with your decision.

 

[mrsg00fy]

My son went into shock from the chicken pox vaccine when he was 4. The most TERRIFYING moments of my entire life were those few precious moments watching him screech and have hives form all over his face. The look in his eyes was horrifying. He had no idea what was happening.

I told the nurse there was a serious problem. She said, oh that's ok, he's just scared. I told her to look at his face...she took a second look and ran out of the room to get the doctor back in.

His doctor stabilized him and then mandated allergy testing assuming it was the eggs that caused the severe reaction. He tested negative for eggs. They have no idea what caused the reaction, but I don't even want to think about what could have happened if I had not noticed how bad that reaction was. The doctor reported the incident to the state. I will never blindly agree to a vaccination again. To this day, I well up with tears when I think that my child might not be here today due to a vaccination that was needless.

I get upset with these newer "mandated" shots and worry that my younger nieces will be forced to get them.