Should we get flu shots

[ADisneyQueen]

My dds are almost 9 and almost 5 with no health problems. How many of you are getting flu shots for your children? I need to call my Dr. soon if they are going to get them.

 

[Lulu's Mom]

My Dh and I got our DD her flus shots last year when she was 6 months and this year... her shots come in a series of 2 a month apart. I would get them done, especially for little one.. when my DD had an ear infection she was so sick it made me so sad... I cannot imageine how sick she would be if she got the flu.

 

[Lulu's Mom]

I am sorry I read the ages wrong..... I still think I would get them the shots though.

 

[jojowentbyby]

we went and got the shots for ourselves and our children. I got them more because my daughter will be having chest surgey in a little while. I must say I feel better knowing we have one disease under watch. Now all I have to do is figure out a way to protect from the other 80,000,000 things they could pick up @ wdw.

 

[In a hurry]

Remember the flu shot only works for the flu it is developed for. It won't stop any other illness. My husband works in a hospital, and gets the shots. I won't worry about it this year, staying home. Next year, when I am back to teaching, I may.

 

[kldmom2000]

We all got them this year-I used to work in medical, so got it every year before becoming a SAHM... last year was the first time I didn't get one due to the shortage. The week after we came back from Disney in December, my DD who was in preschool contracted influenza... gave it to DH, then my 2 yr old DD.... needless to say it was a scary and depressing Christmas and New Year's! I miraculously did not get it and I was the one caring for the 3 of them for almost 3 weeks. My younger DD was diagnosed this year with a kidney disorder and her pedi recommended that we ALL get it so as to not subject her body to any more than it needs right now. GL to you in your decision!

 

[D L and K's Mom]

DH and I are teachers and DS is a special needs child. We already got ours for this year. The whole family gets them (DD 14 and DD 2 also) as the Dr recommeds we all get them so we dont subject DS to the flu. We have always gotten them except for 2 years ago and DD DID get the flu in WDW . We had to use anti viral meds etc...it was horrible. He didnt move, just layed on the bed for 3 days and slept and groaned....NEVER AGAIN!!!!

 

[skiwee1]

Our ped recommends all kids under 12 get flu shots. DD, now 6, has gotten them every year. Even my older kids get the shots along with DH and myself. We already got them 2 weeks ago so your ped should have them now.

 

[go cowboys]

Absolutely! Get them.

I am a physician and have four children. They get them every year. True they only work for the suspected strain this year, but they might limit symptoms with a milder case of a different strain and the regular flu virus does cause many deaths each year. The deaths are usually in elderly/immunocompromised people but I don't like to take the chance.

Children over five can request Flumist nasal spray if they do not want and injection. It is approved for those over five and under 50.

Our pediatrician also does infectious disease and she recommends it every year.

 

[02bBarbie]

keep in mind Flumist uses a live virus as opposed to a killed virus

 

[ntburns22]

We got the flu shots this year for the first time. We just figured with her starting school this year it couldn't hurt.

 

[Servants of Evan]

And keep in mind, the flu shot doesn't cover simply one strain of virus -- it is a blend of several of the viruses that are suspected to be the "hot ones" for that particular season. Granted, if you happen to catch a strain which isn't in that year's shot (or a previous shot you've gotten) you're still going to get sick, but with the shot you are minimizing your risk.

Servants of Evan

 

[GillieRose]

My son who is 3 recieved his flu shot first because he has asthma then my daughter was put on a waiting list and she recieved hers last week. Both of them go to school and they bring so many germs home I figured it couldn't hurt them to recieve the shot.

 

[go cowboys]

keep in mind Flumist uses a live virus as opposed to a killed virus

True - But it is a live attenuated virus. The antigens are there but the virus is not active.

 

[CleveRocks]

My wife is a pediatrician. Every year, she makes sure our kids and she and I get the flu vaccine (as long as there's no shortage, etc.). I believe this fact speaks for itself.

-- Eric

 

[In a hurry]

I thought it truly was only for one flu! Thank yo for the information!

 

[Nancyg56]

My grandaughter gets it every year, as recommended by her pediatrician. Last year she was not able to because of the shortage, and she was no longer in a "danger zone" for weight. She got hers on Friday. I am sad that my DH nephew will not consider it for his son. Says that flu is injected into the child. I cannot explain it properly to him, and gave up trying. They drag the little one everywhere...I mean everywhere... and I am so afraid that he will get the flu. Hope he takes our advice and at least discusses with his pediatrician.

Edit to add that I get the shot every year (except last year) and never get the flu. DH refuses to get the shot, and you guessed it. He gets the flu every year.

 

[igitur]

To those of you who work in the medical field, our kids (ages 5 and 7) got their first dose on Saturday, Oct. 30th and they now have to wait 30 days to get the second dose. We'll be down at WDW Thanksgiving week so my question I guess, is, when does it start protecting them...right away or not until after the second dose?

thanks of any info you can offer,

Deb

 

[ntburns22]

Sorry for hijacking


OK, I have a question now. My DD5 was supposed to get her second flu shot today. Her doctor's office just called and said they are out of the shot for her age bracket and they don't know when they will get back in. Will she be OK with just one since it is her first time or do we need to go to a clinic to get her second shot? The woman that called said they are really backed up right now because there already is an outbreak in our area so it could be until tomorrow afternoon until a nurse could call me back.

 

[GPALANGE]

My kids 9, 7 & 5, have never gotten a flu shot. This year there is a wait list for the flu shot at my doctors office but not for flu-mist so we are going to get that next week. I was kinda hesitant and truly the only reason I'm getting it is because we went to Disney in October and they have unexcused absenses at school, and I want to try to prevent them from missing anymore school. Injecting them with drugs that we or I don't know the long term effects of, scare me. Someone make me feel better about doing it.