School wants to give all kids flu mist WWYD?

[Dancemom03]

It's the first day of school. I haven't even finished filling out the countless forms and emergency cards yet, but I've already received a paper sent home from class AND two emails telling me they'd like to give all kids the flu mist vaccine in the next few weeks.

We don't normally do flu shots and typically deal with ear infections and strep throats as they make the class rounds but nothing more serious. I'm not especially comfortable with vaccines unless absolutely neccessary. DD8 had some reaction to her MMR shots each time and we've been cautious ever since but I confess I don't really know a lot about it. Thought I'd ask a few hundred of my closest friends - would your kids be getting flu-misted if given free in school?

 

[pyrxtc]

no, my Dr will do it if/when I want to. I'm sure they are worrying more about the H1N1 but the flu mist vaccine won't stop that from hitting.

I would deny wiht a great big "No thank you !"

 

[coliebird]

We don't do the flu shot either so I would tell them no, they cannot give my kids the mist.

 

[Nancy]

Mine would be a great big "no thanks". I don't see any need to get it.

 

[MinnieMe87]

I'd tell them no. If you aren't comfortable with it, they can't make you. That's exactly what I told my employer today when they told us we had to get both the regular flu shot, and the Swine Flu shot. I politely told them no to both. I'll risk getting the flu thank you very much. I don't see a need for either of them.

 

[freckles and boo]

If I felt it was being administered properly, I would probably say yes.

 

[Anne MN]

They also have to take into consideration if ANY kid or parent or sibling.
If you have one of the above that is immunosupressed then the mist is a NO NO. flu mist is a form of the LIVE virus and will play havoc with that person who is immune comprimised. the flu shot is what is recommended for families of such people.

this is what was told to me by my DD transplant Dr. and any form will ask if you have any of the above in your household.

just an FYI

 

[Dancemom03]

Copied from the email attatchment...

Why?
•
Seasonal Influenza (Flu) causes fever and respiratory illnesses each year in people of all ages, especially children. Children are important “spreaders” of Flu to their families and communities.
•
Vaccinating children in their school is an efficient way to help protect them and their families against the Flu. Also, a school-based program means parents don’t have to miss work or other activities to vaccinate their children.

What?
•
The State of Maryland is conducting a school-based Flu vaccination program using a licensed nasal-spray Flu vaccine given in the school. The vaccine is being offered at no charge.
•
In September nurses in your child’s school will give the nasal-spray Flu vaccine to eligible children whose parents agree to participate in this program. A second dose of the nasal-spray Flu vaccine will be given to eligible children in October who are under 9 years of age and who received their first and only dose of the Flu vaccine last year.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

No. I would not allow my child to get it.

 

[Pigeon]

Under no circumstances do I want the school system to be practicing routine medicine on my children. We opt out of everything like that, including multiple screenings.

We have a perfectly good pediatrician, thankyouverymuch, who sees the kids on a routine basis, and with whom my kids have an excellent relationship. We also don't do flu vax.

 

[ameraumi]

As Nancy Reagan preached to us in the '80s: Just Say NO!

 

[mickeyboat]

I would consult with my pediatrician and most likely follow her recommendation. My children have never had a problem with vaccinations, although they have never received the flu vaccine. I would not have a problem with the school administering the vaccine.

As an aside, DD9 watches the news with us regularly, and has asked me to get her the H1N1 vaccine. The jury is still out on that one.

 

[minkydog]

If you don't like it, just politely say no. My children will not be getting the (live virus) flu-mist because DH has severe lung disease. Two of us have asthma and one has seizure disorder. We all get the injectable (dead virus) flu vaccine in hopes of protecting ourselves and him in particular. I'd rather take our chances with potential reactions(of which we have had NONE in the past 30 years!) The influenza would be a terrifying entity in our household.

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

Our school system has done this the past 3 yrs. Although we do get the FluMist, I have friends whose children do not. It's no big deal...you either sign a form saying you consent, or sign it where it says you do not want it. My child has never had a vaccine issue at all...so we get it.

DS2 has had all sorts of issues from vaccines, and we will probably opt out when he is old enough for it at school

 

[java]

While it is a nice freebie for those that want it- I would opt out. I don't want anyone other than my doctor vaccinating my child. And the flu mist isn't going to protect against swine flu.

Personally we don't do the flu shot. The only time we have ever gotten the flu was the year we did get the shot- exactly 10 days later.

My friend is already signed up for the shot. We spoke and I reminded her that her family all got the flu last year shortly after getting their shots. coincidence? I don't know. But as of now I am saying no to the flu shot.

 

[jwhtewolfd]

Well, working in a feline specialty hospital, we council our clients that vaccines are wonderful, but powerful, things. We want our patients to have what they need, but not more than what they need.

Why put unnecessary strain on the immune system? I use the same philosophy for myself. Contracting the flu virus doesn't usually have the same ramifications as contracting, for instance, polio. I'm just not convinced the benefit of the flu vaccine outwieghs the risk for a normal, healthy individual. Plus with all the recalls, side effects, law suits, etc. that are so common now I'm not inclined to trust most of the newer products coming out from the drug manufacturers.

Now I'll admit that while I am up to speed on feline vaccines, I don't know too much about this flu mist vaccine. But my opinion is unless your child is unusually susceptible to or would not be able to fight off a normal cold or flu for whatever reason, I don't see any reason to vaccinate against it. JMHO, YMMV.

 

[kangareaux]

They also have to take into consideration if ANY kid or parent or sibling.
If you have one of the above that is immunosupressed then the mist is a NO NO. flu mist is a form of the LIVE virus and will play havoc with that person who is immune comprimised. the flu shot is what is recommended for families of such people.

this is what was told to me by my DD transplant Dr. and any form will ask if you have any of the above in your household.

just an FYI

And given how wel these kids wash their hands (as in not well if AT ALL) and are chewing on things. *Digging For Gold*, rubbing their eyes, etc... is it really a good idea to have this live vaccine so concentrated in one area? (Face it, many of the kids won't inhale it properly. And even those that do, some will *drip down* their nose and out. And what are they going to do? WIPE IT WITH THEIR HAND! (See it in a school every day....you'd think half of them had never heard of a tissue!!! ) That vaccine will be smeared all ove rthat place in about an hour!

 

[minkydog]

Why put unnecessary strain on the immune system? I use the same philosophy for myself. Contracting the flu virus doesn't usually have the same ramifications as contracting, for instance, polio. I'm just not convinced the benefit of the flu vaccine outwieghs the risk for a normal, healthy individual. Plus with all the recalls, side effects, law suits, etc. that are so common now I'm not inclined to trust most of the newer products coming out from the drug manufacturers.

... my opinion is unless your child is unusually susceptible to or would not be able to fight off a normal cold or flu for whatever reason, I don't see any reason to vaccinate against it. JMHO, YMMV.

"Normal, healthy individuals" is the key phrase here. Most healthy persons can take on a case of the flu, feel bad, really bad for about 10 days and then life goes back to normal. Perhaps those people would rather take their chances with the flu than with the vaccine. For high-risk populations(young children, elders, health care workers, persons who are immuno-suppressed) the risks posed by catching the flu are severe. Those without normal immunity may face severe or life-threatening illness.

Healthcare workers are at high risk for both contracting the virus AND transmitting it to others. The reason most hospitals want their workers vaccinated is their hope for averting a labor crisis should the nurses, support staff, therapists, etc, be stricken themselves in the middle of flu season. A couple years ago the children's hospital where I worked ran at 200% capacity for nearly 10 weeks. It caught this area early, starting in late Oct, when most people had not gotten their shots yet. OMG, we had sick kids everywhere! Kids stayed in the ER 24hrs at times. The staff was exhausted, their own kids were sick, the staff was getting sick, the doctors were getting sick. Administrative personnel were told to go to the ICUs and ER to help with housekeeping, that's how bad it got. And this was in a NORMAL flu year!

I'm not a huge fan of vaccines, but they have their place. In normal people with healthy immune systems I don't see why you couldn't just choose to not vaccinate.

 

[C.Ann]

They also have to take into consideration if ANY kid or parent or sibling.
If you have one of the above that is immunosupressed then the mist is a NO NO. flu mist is a form of the LIVE virus and will play havoc with that person who is immune comprimised. the flu shot is what is recommended for families of such people.

this is what was told to me by my DD transplant Dr. and any form will ask if you have any of the above in your household.

just an FYI

I'm so glad you brought this up!! DGD is going to need to get a flu shot due to my health issues and I thought she could be spared the "shot" by getting the "mist" instead.. Clearly that would be a big no-no..

I'm glad I opened this thread..

 

[Dancemom03]

And given how wel these kids wash their hands (as in not well if AT ALL) and are chewing on things. *Digging For Gold*, rubbing their eyes, etc... is it really a good idea to have this live vaccine so concentrated in one area? (Face it, many of the kids won't inhale it properly. And even those that do, some will *drip down* their nose and out. And what are they going to do? WIPE IT WITH THEIR HAND! (See it in a school every day....you'd think half of them had never heard of a tissue!!! ) That vaccine will be smeared all ove rthat place in about an hour!

ewwwww... that hadn't even occurred to me. I was undecided on the vaccine but thinking now maybe it wouldn't hurt to keep her home for a few days following the scheduled "misting" either way, just in case...