Flu Shots for toddlers

I am hesitant to get Ethan a flu vaccine--that is if there is any left ANYWHERE! But, at the same time, I am concerned that he is at risk for exposure to it. My dh works retail, and is in customer service so he comes in contact with hundreds of people everyday. Does anyone know the pros/cons of the flu vaccine for small children? Would it be best if just dh was vaccinated?

My daughter had one last year and she was fine. Since she is in contact with so many people I just wanted it for her own protection. The last time I had it, I had it for 2 weeks with 104 and no voice. I didn't want my daughter to go through that. They don't inject that strand into you anymore.

http://www.vaccineinfo.net/immunization/vaccine/influenza/index.shtml

This site includes the package inserts for each of the various flu vaccines that are available.

"Every year, federal health agency officials try to guess which three flu strains are most likely to be prevalent in the U.S. the following year to determine which strains will be included in next year's flu vaccine. If they guess right, the vaccine is thought to be 70 to 80 percent effective in temporarily preventing the flu of the season in healthy persons less than 65 years old (the efficacy rate drops to 30 to 40% in those over 65 years old but the vaccine is thought to be 50 to 60% effective in preventing hospitalization and pneumonia and 80% effective in preventing death from the flu in the over 65 age group). However, sometimes health officials do not correctly predict which flu strains will be most prevalent and the vaccine's effectiveness is much lower for that year."

We, personally, don't do the flu vaccine - and we avoid anyplace that administers the spray vaccine because of the shedding.

I am thinking about doing it this year. My daughter got the flu last year after a trip to the mall during Christmas. My husband almost died from the flu while he was in college. We should be more vigilant about it, but haven't been.

I am going to make sure my daughter gets the shot this year. There were so many cases of childern dying from the flu last year and I don't want to take any chances. I usually don't get a shot myself, but now that I am pregnant they advise you to get one. So I guess we can get one together.

I had the flu while in college & had never been so sick in my entire life. Ever since then I get the flu shot & so will my girls.

They really are strongly suggesting it for children between 6 months of age and 24 months. Pregnant woman are another big group...lots of them ended up hospitalized last year because of it and I don't like to think of a fetus exposed to such high fever....

I'm leaning towards no on this one. My dr. orders all her shots thermisol free, except this one. I guess she isn't able to, I dunno. I'm not comfortable with the high amount of mercury in the shot.

I don't think she is able too either Laura, I think it only comes in that form.



I am thinking no, because there are so many strans of it, last year it was SOOOO bad and many got it because it was a different stran of the virus. My children are not exposed to many people.

What about vaccinating my husband and I? Would that help in preventing it from getting into our household? I am leaning towards not vaccinating Ethan, and just me and Michael getting the vaccine---that is if that will do any good.

I actually had a nurse say that the flu spray is what probably caused the flu epidemic--they shoot live virus up your nose, and then you can into a public place, and release it into the air if you sneeze or cough.

I would suggest atleast you and your husband getting the flu shot. I would also suggest having your child get the shot if they are around other people often. Hopefully the vaccine will be available.

http://vaccineinfo.net/library/images/cartoon_guessing.png

I highly recommend reading the links Cori posted.

We do NOT vaccinate as I am sure every one here knows. I would rather build mine or my child's immune system rather than take the risk of getting the shot and thinking I am free and clear of getting it. And I will not take the chance with mercury.

And I will not go anywhere that will be giving the flu mist. You are asking for getting the flu if you go anywhere that gives it. I would also ask any doctor that you visit if they give the flu mist. If so you should stay out of that doctors office. The virus from the flu mist last 48 hours in the air.

Both children 6months-24months and the elderly are at higher risk of having complications from the flu, so, yes, I think you should. Or, if you want to keep him away from society all season, you and your dh should at least get it. Look at it this way, the flu season is getting longer and longer each year and we still aren't making enough vaccinations for it...so that tells me that we are all at a higher risk of catching it and passing it on to our children. Jared got his last year and will be getting it this year as well. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

I do not take the flu shot and I am a RN that comes in contact with many people each day. I have never gotten the flu and I just make sure that I use good hand washing techniques. DH got "bullied" by his MD last year to take it...DH did not know to say NO and he ended up getting a mild case of the flu a few days later. Needless to say, I ended up feeling really bad a week later and I believe that it is all related to that flu shot. BTW, DH never gets sick. So long story short...NO I do not take the flu vaccine and neither will DH.

I thought I would pass this along. I posted this on another site last year when this same debate came up.

A serious concern: Alzheimer's Disesase

Hugh Fudenberg, MD, an immunogeneticist and biologist with nearly 850 papers published in peer review journals, has reported that if an individual had five consecutive flu shots between 1970 and 1980 (the years studied), his/her chances of getting Alzheimer's Disease is ten times higher than if they had zero, one, or two shots.[vii]
Dr. Boyd Haley, Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Kentucky, Lexington has done extensive research in the area of mercury toxicity and the brain. Haley's research has established a likely connection between mercury toxicity and Alzheimer's disease. [viii] In a paper published in collaboration with researchers at University of Calgary, Haley stated that "seven of the characteristic markers that we look for to distinguish Alzheimer's disease can be produced in normal brain tissues, or cultures of neurons, by the addition of extremely low levels of mercury."[ix]

THe levels of mercury in the shots is 25ug. This is absouletely crazy!!!

We HAVE To get the flu shot over here! Both of my boys have severe asthma, allergies, and lung problems. If they get the flu it is a guranteed hospital stay. No fun! Neither boy has the ability to get mucos out of their lungs once it is there, and their little lungs produce enough mucos all by themselves because of allergy season this time of year. It would be very risky for us not to vaccinate them against this.

My dh is at extremely high risk for alzheimer's anyway. His father is 60 years old and has had early-onset alzheimer's for three years now. I didn't even KNOW that a 57 year old could get alzheimer's.

I'm pretty certain that I won't get the flu shot for Ethan. The fact that they contain thimerosol just makes me too uncomfortable. I will leave it up to my dh if he wants to get it or not.

Thanks for the input!

I doubt i will get Carter done, But Michael and i will most.

We HAVE To get the flu shot over here! Both of my boys have severe asthma, allergies, and lung problems. If they get the flu it is a guranteed hospital stay. No fun! Neither boy has the ability to get mucos out of their lungs once it is there, and their little lungs produce enough mucos all by themselves because of allergy season this time of year. It would be very risky for us not to vaccinate them against this.

billie, will you get the shot for ela, too? i'm still up in the air on this one. i'm hoping to procratinate long enough that i won't have a choice because the vaccine will be gone lol.

I have never had a flu shot. Neither has my three kids. Crossing fingers we don't get it this year. One of my bestfriend's mom was an RN and she made her get the flu shot every single year when we were in grade school (till highschool). I always thought it was odd, but I guess it's not.