Should we get flu shots

[go cowboys]

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.

You know, we don't know long term effects of many things but still our kids are exposed to them every day. We do know that the flu virus causes around 100,000 deaths in the US every year and that the vaccine can prevent or at least lessen the severity of that disease if you were to get it.

I am often amazed that we (myself included) let our kids eat fast food, smoke second hand, ride without a seatbelt or carseat, etc every day but when they have the opportunity to vaccinate against something and it is encouraged by every health professional we know, we are afraid of the long term effects. As an anesthesiologist I tell my patients everyday that there are always risks. For anesthesia the risks are greater driving to the hospital than having an anesthetic and I assume that is the same for the flu vaccine.

You can only be the best parent you know how to be with the information you are given.

 

[GPALANGE]

I understand what you are saying but it's still scary because these are my kids.

 

[tlbwriter]

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?

I was afraid we'd be in the same situation year before last, and I was told that DD would still have partial immunity (of course, the best you can get with the vaccine is partial immunity, but with only half the dose she'd get less than the normal immunity).

 

[go cowboys]

I understand what you are saying but it's still scary because these are my kids.

I hear you loud and clear. At my house we have researched every possible side effect and talked to every one we know. In the end we pray that God has shown us the right answer for the lives He has entrusted to us.

 

[GPALANGE]

I’ve been hearing a lot of controversy concerning the preservative Thimerosal in flu vaccines. Anyone have an opinion on this?

 

[Bird-Mom]

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.

If you are hesitant, do not do it. You can never take it back. Google vaccine ingredients. That makes me feel I could never put that stuff into my children.

Wash hands, wash hands, wash hands!

Coming from a mama who is vaccine damaged

 

[rt2dz]

I always get my kids the flu shot, better safe than sorry. But of course, I've done the research on vaccinating or not and feel that it is better to than not too. Both ways has its pros and cons. You might want to discuss it with your pedi if you are unsure/hesitate before making a decision.

FYI--a little info on the flu shot...

(1) The first time your child gets the flu shot, if under the age of 5 (maybe 6), there will be two shots. You'll receive the first one that will give you partial immunity and a month later you will receive the second shot for full immunity. If you get it a little late, not too much of a big deal. Very late, talk to your pedi, you might have a problem. Immunity either way starts within 48 hours.

(2) The flu shot does not use a live virus, so it can NOT make you sick. As with any illness though, you can have it for three days before any symptoms show.

(3) Flu shots must (optionally) be repeated each year. They are only good for the types of flu in the shot. A year prior to flu season they pick what they think will be the most common flus. If wrong, like last year they missed on two of them, too bad. However, your child is immune to those types of flus when and if they pop up in later years. So if those flus come up this year and you had your shot last year, lucky you. Two years ago, they did nail all three types of flu on the head. No way to know until later.

 

[hsmamato2]

I understand what you are saying but it's still scary because these are my kids.

You are right, it is scary. The negative side effects of vaccines is doumented. That said, research the subject yourself. Another poster said, google vaccine side effects, and efficacy of shots.No one here can honestly make you feel better about this big decision,but if you have a lot of facts- at least your decision will be as well informed as possible. Not trying to knock anyone here who uses the flu shot- just making a point. There are risks in a lot of choices we make, sometimes we have to calculate the odds and what we feel is the wisest decision.
BTW, we've never in our home taken this shot, and we haven't had the flu in our house in at least 10 years, maybe longer. The fam stays pretty healthy, on average about 3 days of a cold per year each, for about the last 8 years. I agree with a previous poster, wash, wash, and wash those hands again!

 

[GillieRose]

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.

I'm surprised that your doctors office didn't put the second one aside for her or the other kids who needed to get 2. I know when my son had his first one they then put one aside for the 2nd dose. I hope she is able to get the 2nd one.

 

[go cowboys]

If you are hesitant, do not do it. You can never take it back. Google vaccine ingredients. That makes me feel I could never put that stuff into my children.

Wash hands, wash hands, wash hands!

Coming from a mama who is vaccine damaged

Just Googled vaccine ingredients and saw a long list of ingredients that are sometimes used in various vaccines. Not all are used in every vaccine and not all are used in any vaccine. I did see things that are commonly used in antiperspirants, Dr. Pepper and take-out chinese food.

The list included things that are useful in the vaccine as preservatives (neomycin, streptomycin, thimerosal) to keep harmful bacteria from growing in the vaccine. It includes stabilizers (MSG) that helps maintain vaccine quality when subjected to extremes of heat and/or light. Just like the hunan chicken on the buffet line. They are also vaccine adjuvants that are able to work with our bodies to increase the ability of the vaccine to work.

Sometimes the web sites we "Google" have agendas of their own. Its always good to get views from both "sides."

 

[Bird-Mom]

Just Googled vaccine ingredients and saw a long list of ingredients that are sometimes used in various vaccines. Not all are used in every vaccine and not all are used in any vaccine. I did see things that are commonly used in antiperspirants, Dr. Pepper and take-out chinese food.

The list included things that are useful in the vaccine as preservatives (neomycin, streptomycin, thimerosal) to keep harmful bacteria from growing in the vaccine. It includes stabilizers (MSG) that helps maintain vaccine quality when subjected to extremes of heat and/or light. Just like the hunan chicken on the buffet line. They are also vaccine adjuvants that are able to work with our bodies to increase the ability of the vaccine to work.

Sometimes the web sites we "Google" have agendas of their own. Its always good to get views from both "sides."

We do not use antipersperants, Dr. Pepper or do take out Chinese. Using the mentioned products is no comparison to injecting them into the bloodstream and permanently altering the immune system.

 

[Bird-Mom]

FYI--a little info on the flu shot...
( However, your child is immune to those types of flus when and if they pop up in later years. So if those flus come up this year and you had your shot last year, lucky you. Two years ago, they did nail all three types of flu on the head. No way to know until later.

Could you point me in the direction of your source? Logically, this statement cannot be true. If it was true, there would be no need for "booster" shots of any kind. All my research shows that the anitbodies wear off as the flu season ends.

 

[Uuaww]

sorry folks but some of these make me think. We all know there is a limited supply of flu shots each year, so why are healthy adults getting them? I can understand if you are a doctor or teacher, somewhat, personally wouldn't but thats your choice. But why would an adult who is taking a shot away from someone who needs it more get one? a lot of the cases seem like people listening to doctors way too much, do some research, getting the flu once a year isn't the end of the world, so your sick for like 3-4 days, so what? its a way of life.

oh and if you really want your kids to have less of a chance of getting sick tell them to use a paper towel to open anything in the bathroom and carry a lot of hand cleaner with you after every ride, that is how you will stop them from being sick

 

[jenjersnap]

I am the only the one in my family without a flu shot this year. We waited until the thimerosal-free vax showed up in our town before getting our two boys done which required patience, since they just finally got it last week. My younger DS is immune-compromised with a serious heart condition.

I am pregnant and refuse to do the regular vax. They are making an adult thim-free version, but it is in VERY short supply. I haven't been able to get hold of it so no shot for me. A bit worried about Disney, since we always get sick at some point there, hoping it won't be the flu.

 

[go cowboys]

Booster shots are not always necessary. They are given to ensure the continued effectiveness of the vaccine. These boosters are very important for diseases that are especially life threatening and contagious.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

Thank you for all your replies. We are all scheduled for our flu shots for this week. DH is a college professor and is around a lot of sick students and it is very difficult for him to cancel classes, DDs are in school, and I am getting it b/c I was sick 5 times last year from Sept-March. Through prayer I feel this is the right decision for our family and I pray that we stay healthy, especially for our Disney trip in March!

 

[Bird-Mom]

Booster shots are not always necessary. They are given to ensure the continued effectiveness of the vaccine. These boosters are very important for diseases that are especially life threatening and contagious.

Your words contradict each other. So if they are not necessary, why are they given to everyone who vaccinates? It would be much less expensive to run a titer and check for immunity and give the "booster" to those who do not have immunity. Why overload our systems with something we do not need? If one vaccine (in this case flu) is known to be effective essentially forever, why aren't all vaccines made this way?

 

[go cowboys]

Your words contradict each other. So if they are not necessary, why are they given to everyone who vaccinates? It would be much less expensive to run a titer and check for immunity and give the "booster" to those who do not have immunity. Why overload our systems with something we do not need? If one vaccine (in this case flu) is known to be effective essentially forever, why aren't all vaccines made this way?

Obviously there is some confusion. The only vaccines that require boosters are those for diseases that are especially contagious and/or harmful to the infected. Hepatitis is an example.

I am suprised that in all your research you beleive the flu vaccine is " known to be effective essentially forever." Remember the flu vaccine is only an educated guess for the strains expected to be prominent this year. It is not a booster. It is a new vaccine EVERY year. This years vaccine does not protect you from last years suspected strain. That was last year.

As for the expense of running a titer vs. boosters I can not say which is less expensive to our "system." I will say that insurance companies run our system and if they are OK with giving boosters instead of running titers I suspect that the vaccine costs less.

It is obvious that this thread has strayed for the flu shot or not intent. I'll get mine, you skip yours and I will wish you the best.

 

[Bird-Mom]

I am suprised that in all your research you beleive the flu vaccine is " known to be effective essentially forever." Remember the flu vaccine is only an educated guess for the strains expected to be prominent this year. It is not a booster. It is a new vaccine EVERY year. This years vaccine does not protect you from last years suspected strain. That was last year.

As for the expense of running a titer vs. boosters I can not say which is less expensive to our "system." I will say that insurance companies run our system and if they are OK with giving boosters instead of running titers I suspect that the vaccine costs less.

No no no-I never said that. Please read more carefully before quoting me. I was asking another poster who said that once you get a flu shot, you are always protected from the strains included in that vaccine. I asked her to quote her source because I wanted to see it.

Very very scary that it is cost driven. So if it makes the pharmeceutical and insurance companies money, it is better to overload our systems than to see if we are truly immune. Essentially, that is making a human a guinea pig.

 

[ntburns22]

I'm surprised that your doctors office didn't put the second one aside for her or the other kids who needed to get 2. I know when my son had his first one they then put one aside for the 2nd dose. I hope she is able to get the 2nd one.

I asked the same question to the doc yesterday. They still had shots for DS. I was told that they were assurred that there would be more then enough vaccines this year. When they put in for more they told them they were already gone and now to only give them to the at risk groups. I called the health dept. and I was told they are only for at risk groups too. I thought the president said there was enough for everyone. My county is already in a shortage.