Struggling w/ flu shot decision*Please help*!

[TrueGRITS]

I am really, really struggling with getting my three kids the flu shot this year. Last year, I did get my middle son the vaccination at a good bit of coaxing from his pediatrician because of his asthma. He said that asthmatics are generally the flu cases in the hospital, so that sort of scared me. Lo and behold, my daughter and my youngest son got the flu and my middle boy didn't. Since then, my youngest has been labled asthmatic as well. So...now I have two asthmatic children. I don't want my daughter to suffer thru it again, either.

I don't know whether to get the shot this year for all three of them. I mean, I know it only protects against certain strains...what are the REAL cons and pros for the shot. I googled and got totally overwhelmed!!! There is so much information out there! Is the nasal spray any better than the shot?

I am not anti vaccination ~ but we do a delayed vacc. schedule and there are a few vaccs. that I don't get for my children. Also...we get the flu shot for free thru our insurance.

[Babyblue]

no one in my family has gotten a flu shot in more then 15 years. and altogether out of 8 people in 15 years there has been only one or two true cases of flu.

[Tweet]

If I were in your shoes, I'd get the asthmatics vaccinated, absolutely. Probably not the other one. However, I am vaccinated and so are my kids.

[Tweet]

The shot is an inactivated vaccine..the spray is alive.

[TrueGRITS]

I have never had the flu shot ~ ever and I have never had the flu. That is another reason why I am struggling. My daughter will be 9 in November and last year was her first flu. Noah, my youngest, had the same symptoms as my daughter (she tested positive on the nose swab...but Noah tested negative ~ I think he was tested too early, though).

Do both the vaccine and the spray contain thimerserol (sp?)?

[Tweet]

You can ask to get a thimersol free injection..don't know about the spray. You need to ask your ped.

[Joyto5]

I'm struggling with kind of the same thing. Our newest baby is due in the middle of cold and flu season. I have 3 kids that go to public school and could very likely bring it home. I can keep the 2 younger kids at home. Mine are 13 (asperger's syndrome) 12, 9, 4 and 2. I am choosing to delay Vax our last baby especially with a bad reaction my oldest got after his 13 year shot. My first 2 didn't start getting anything till they were well over 3 years old.

[madelsmama]

We don't do flu shots, but I think you are wise to consider it for your children with asthma. For the average healthy person, the flu is not a huge threat. But there are certain high-risk categories of people that the 'pros' may outweigh the 'cons'. An asthma exacerbation can definitely be triggered by viruses, such as influenza.

[GirlsMama]

My dh got the spray recently, he's military and they give him Everything. My kids and I haven't had the flu shot in 4 years and no one has gotten sick.

I think airing out the house, getting fresh air outside, and hand-washing go a lot further than shots, but that is just my opinion based on my experience.

[SarahFae]

Flu deaths up among children for 2006-07 season. (http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/family/10/06/kids.flu.deaths.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch)

[KaraJ]

I wasn't thrilled to give flu shots to my kids (anyone I've ever known to get a flu shot has gotten horrifically sick that year), but my husband really wanted the whole family to get it, so we did. I told him this would be the last time if we got majorly sick.

[SingingMom]

I've had the flu. It wasn't good. I was sick for almost two months and just about incapable of caring for myself.

I would definitely consider giving to all the children in a household with asthmatic children. In this case, I think the benefits outweigh the risks by a pretty good margin. Unless your children have a history of vaccine reactions or an allergy to egg products, they are probably safer getting the vaccine than not.

[Tweet]

Anything I've ever read about asthmatics and flu is not good..I'll also add that I had asthma as a kid and got the flu twice and ended up with double pneumonia both times and in the hospital for a good long while. I would absolutely do the flu vaccine for that reason. No doubt. And also if the kids had a condition that comprimised their immune systems.

[Tweet]

I've had the flu. It wasn't good. I was sick for almost two months and just about incapable of caring for myself.

I would definitely consider giving to all the children in a household with asthmatic children. In this case, I think the benefits outweigh the risks by a pretty good margin. Unless your children have a history of vaccine reactions or an allergy to egg products, they are probably safer getting the vaccine than not.


ITA

eta duh! It would make more sense for everyone in the house to get, for the good of the asthmatic kiddos.I wasn't thinking about that.

[Sashahomeschoolmama]

I'm a brittle asthmatic. I've been on life support twice because of asthma. I also have never had a flu shot. I did get influenza last spring, while pregnant, and it was the pits. But I lived--was never in any danger of not--and will not be getting a flu shot.

My thinking is that the flu vaccine is also full of toxins. I want my body to be as healthy as it can be so that it's in top shape to fight off different bugs and viruses that are floating around. Instead of relying on an imperfect flu vaccine I'll eat whole foods and work to keep my body working well.

My kids have also never had the flu shot, nor will they.

FWIW my mother, who is also an asthmatic, had the flu shot. She ended up in the hospital with the same flu that I had.

[nelsonwife]

I want to add that the Flumist (spray vaccine) IS a live virus, but it is engineered in multiple ways so it won't cause the flu illness.


(It just so happens that I work for MedImmune- who produces the flumist.)--

It isn't reccommended for children under 2, and children who have asthma, or allergic to eggs, egg proteins, gentamicin, gelatin or arginine. OR with life-threatening reactions to previous flu vaccinations.


|SOrry-- I had to add that in-- Just so everyone can be well informed. etc.

[pawprint]

I'm with Sasha. I'm an asthmatic and I would never get a flu shot again. Ds1 has asthma attacks when sick and I wouldn't give it to him either. If he gets the flu we'll set up the nebulizer and camp out in the livingroom for a week. Such is life. Now ds2 is the healthiest creature I've ever seen, but he is a nursing nearly five year old so I imagine there's a reason.

[Tweet]

I want to add that the Flumist (spray vaccine) IS a live virus, but it is engineered in multiple ways so it won't cause the flu illness.


(It just so happens that I work for MedImmune- who produces the flumist.)--

It isn't reccommended for children under 2, and children who have asthma, or allergic to eggs, egg proteins, gentamicin, gelatin or arginine. OR with life-threatening reactions to previous flu vaccinations.


|SOrry-- I had to add that in-- Just so everyone can be well informed. etc.


When we received flumist the doctor said you could get the illness if your body was already ill from a cold or somesuch. That isn't true?

[melissab]

I'm also an asthmatic that doesn't get the shot, I've had the flu before and it was miserable but I didn't suffer seriously. My oldest does get it but she's relatively healthy, when she get's sick she goes to the extreme and last year she got a booster for the chicken pox and got shingles. I'm horrified to know what could happen if I got her the flu shot. My other two though I do get the shot for. My Ds is an asthmatic and right now we're dealing with a cold and having trouble controlling his breathing, he's currently begging not to go to the doctor. I'm undecided on my youngest right now.

[whitnessforhim]

My thinking is that the flu vaccine is also full of toxins. I want my body to be as healthy as it can be so that it's in top shape to fight off different bugs and viruses that are floating around. Instead of relying on an imperfect flu vaccine I'll eat whole foods and work to keep my body working well.

My kids have also never had the flu shot, nor will they.


This pretty much sums up my feelings on it...since I've gotten smarter about the foods I eat (changing over from a processed foods diet to a whole foods/organic foods diet) I've noticed a world of difference in my health during the flu season...basically others around me are getting sick while I am not.

[Tweet]

You're all very fortunate to not have been hospitalized. I would have much rather been able to have the comforts of home. After how painful and scary it was, though, I personally just feel better having it. My kids have all been almost on the verge of hospitalization at various times (one is asthmatic and the other has global hypotonia so it makes breathing difficult). I hope I don't come across as saying what I think others should do..I'm just talking about our bad luck with the flu and why I do it, that's all.

[Funmommy]

I plan to get the flu vaccine. My reasoning is if mommy gets sick the house falls apart.
DS3 will get it too, because he's asthmatic and we've already had problems with it this year.
DD who is only 8 months I don't think will get it. I figure BF is enough especially if I get the vaccine.
Everyone else in the house is old enough to make their own decisions.

[pawprint]

For me it's a risk vs benefits things. The likelihood of me getting very ill vs the likelihood of the shot working and not causing side effects- it's just not good enough for me.

[cream_city]

How old are they? If they are under 3 or so and asthmatic or at particular risk, I'd probably get the shot.

We don't typically get them. This year, because I'm pregnant, we all did. Mainly because my dh and I came down with the flu when my ds was 6 weeks old, and then he caught it, and got bronchiolitis and nearly had to be hospitalized, etc.

It seems like people often get the flu even when they are immunized.

[Tweet]

Right CC, because it's not going to protect against every strain. I did have the shot once when grandma was very frail and I was helping to take care of her. I still got the flu , but it wasn't as bad and did not last quite as long. I've heard of that happening to others, but don't know if it's just a coincidence.

[TrueGRITS]

How old are they? If they are under 3 or so and asthmatic or at particular risk, I'd probably get the shot.

We don't typically get them. This year, because I'm pregnant, we all did. Mainly because my dh and I came down with the flu when my ds was 6 weeks old, and then he caught it, and got bronchiolitis and nearly had to be hospitalized, etc.

It seems like people often get the flu even when they are immunized.



My oldest will be 9 in November and my boys are 6 and 3.

thanks for all the information, girls...will be reading over all of it!

[nelsonwife]

Tweet, if the doctor said that, then I would go with that.

Of course if your immune system is compromised from something else, then the Dr. would see that, and you would not be eligable for the shot, at that time. (you as in, anyone)

[cc1003]

We won't be getting the flu shot. I don't think that it is effective enough for me to risk it.

[Michele]

We get the flu shots yearly. I think we are simply fortunate that there has not been a massive flu epidemic in our lifetimes. No doubt we are certainly due for one. Flu can be deadly. I do not know why anyone who has access to a vax and no history of serious reaction wouldn't take it. JMHO.

FWIW, I vax all my kids and I am current on all my vaxes as well. I do stagger the vaxes when they are young, so they never get 4 shots at once. I do see a greater potential for adverse reactions when you load a person up with several vaxes at once. Just makes sense.

[KerryS]

I got the flu shot two days ago - the first time for me ever. I got it as sort of a personal experiment. I know, intellectually, that the flu shot doesn't cause one to get the flu. But there are so many anecdotal stories that it's hard for me to accept it on a gut level.

[cc1003]

I know, intellectually, that the flu shot doesn't cause one to get the flu. But there are so many anecdotal stories that it's hard for me to accept it on a gut level.

I don't really agree with you here. It can cause the flu.

ETA: I believe that it can cause the flu.

[KerryS]

No, the flu SHOT cannot CAUSE the flu. The fluMIST can. The flu SHOT does not contain live flu virus.

[Tweet]

Tweet, if the doctor said that, then I would go with that.

Of course if your immune system is compromised from something else, then the Dr. would see that, and you would not be eligable for the shot, at that time. (you as in, anyone)


Yep, he did say they wouldn't give it to anyone with a cold or other illness until they were better.

[Florida_Mom]

This is from Generation Rescue (not the most objective point of view but food for thought)

Top Ten Reasons to Avoid Getting a Mercury-Based Flu Vaccine

(FluMist is NOT Mercury based!) this winter:

1. Avoid injecting mercury into your body. Everyone knows how dangerous mercury can be to your health but very few know that it is a common ingredient used in flu vaccines. A majority of flu vaccines this winter contain a preservative called "Thimerosal" that contains mercury, the third most toxic substance on earth.

2. Protect yourself from heart disease. Ohio State University researchers published in May 2007 that Thimerosal activates an enzyme that causes plaque build-up in the arteries which has been linked to heart disease and heart attacks.

3. Reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease. A scientific paper to be published later this year will describe tests showing that mercury in the laboratory causes the same brain abnormalities found in Alzheimer's disease.

4. Play the odds. An American has less than a 1 in 150,000 of dying from the flu. An American is far more likely to develop heart disease, Alzheimer's, or autism, all of which have been linked to mercury toxicity.

5. Stay healthy this winter. The mercury in flu shots can impair your immune system, making you more vulnerable to infections. Good hand washing and avoiding those who have the flu are the safest ways to stay healthy this winter.

6. Prevent your body from becoming a hazardous waste storage site. According to EPA guidelines, the flu vaccines contain 250 times the amount of mercury that is defined as hazardous waste. And unused flu vaccine at the end of the flu season must be shipped back to the manufacturer to be disposed of as a hazardous waste.

7. Take control of your own health while the government agencies debate. The Surgeon General's office recommended removal of Thimerosal from childhood vaccines in 1999. The CDC has not yet followed the Surgeon General recommendation regarding flu vaccines. The NIH reported to Congress in 2006 that there were serious flaws with the statistical evidence used by the CDC to support their position.

8. Avoid an unproven and possibly unsafe health treatment. The British Medical Journal reported last October that the evidence froma comprehensive review of flu vaccine studies shows that the flu vaccine has little or no benefit, and also that little comparative evidence exists on the safety of these vaccines.

9. Prevent toxic overload. Thimerosal is a particularly toxic form of mercury because it blocks the process used by the body to get rid of mercury and also other toxins. One dose of Thimerosal could push a person past a "toxic tipping point."

10. Don't be one of the last Americans to take a mercury-based flu vaccine. Seven states have banned Thimerosal from most vaccines, and the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment in July that prevents taxpayer money from being used in 2008 to administer mercury-based flu shots to young children. It is only a matter of time before Thimerosal is banned from all vaccines.


http://www.safeminds.org/alert-flu-vaccine-2008.pdf has lists of vaccines that do not contain Thimerosal.

[Sashahomeschoolmama]

More than just mercury, the flu vaccine (and all vaccines, IIRC) contain aluminum, which has also been eyed as an Alzheimer's culprit. It also builds up in the system. That yearly flu shot might cause an alarming amount of aluminum to accumulate in the body.

[kohlby]

I have asthma and get the flu shot every year. I've probably had the flu shot about 12 years now. I did skip one year and ended up with terrible bronchitis for two months. I don't even have severe asthma, but even mild asthma makes someone more prone to problems. So, for me, I strongly feel that the benifits outweigh the risks. There's no way I'd have my healthy kids get the flu shot who have absolutely no risk factors though.

Any medical procedure is about benifits vs risks. I strongly believe that the risks are worth it for me as an asthmatic. And past experience has proven that the flu can easily go into bronchitis with me. I'm strongly against routine flu shots - and putting perfectly healthy children in the risk category simply because they're children. All the risks need to be weighed for each individual - and only you can decide how much weight each risk gets - just like with other vax's.