Flu Shots? - Wondering thoughts on them....

Kaitlin'smom wrote: I was just wondering with this to be an expected bad year for the flu what your thoguhts are in getting them for the little ones, and you. DH broght this up last night, but I dunno what I will do for Kaitlin, he siad he will call the ped and ask there opinion. Whats yours?

booey2 replied: DH got one at work only because they brought in a nurse to give them out. Now they are saying that the flu shot this year is not the same as the really bad flu that is killing people right now. I have posted my thoughts on a previous thread, basically I am against them.
Just my 2 cents.

jem0622 replied: I have never had one and don't plan on it for myself or my family. Just don't see the need. Maybe for the elderly or others with low immunity. I have heard that the vaccination is not effective on all strains, especially the strain that has taken lives in Colorado.

Julie

maliksmommy replied: Malik has gotten his first dose and will get his 2nd next Friday. My mom is a pediatric nurse and recommend it and so did our pediatrician. I didn't do a lot of research but I trust my mom so we did it.

jcc64 replied: Was gonna post the same thread this morning. I know the media loves to whip up a frenzy over the disease of the week- sells a lot of newspapers. But is starting to make me wonder whether I should get the baby a shot. I spoke with my brother who is a pediatrician at a major teaching hospital in NYC, and he recommended against it. He said it's only warranted in immune compromised individuals (cancer, aids, etc), and otherwise healthy kids shouldn't be vaccinated. And btw, he is generally very pro-vaccination on all the other standard immunizations, including the chicken pox one. I spoke with another friend who is a doc, and he's also against it, b/c the shot contains mercury. I called my ped, and they are administering flu shots, but I don't always trust them b/c I think they practice what my brother calls CYA medicine (cover your a$$). So now I'm totally confused, but will probably end up not doing it.

mckayleesmom replied: I usually get the flu shot because I use to work in a hospital, but haven't since I left. I hate the fact that it usually gives me the flu and my arm is sore and I can barely move it. I honestly didn't know that they could give babies flu shots.

DansMom replied: I've been totally confused too. We had 4 child flu deaths here in my county last winter, along with 2 deaths of children where they never identified the virus or infection. It was an unusual cluster, so the CDC paid attention to our town and got involved. It scared the heck out of me. They were all school-age children, not babies. One six year old girl who died attended a school that is 1 mile from my house. The oldest was a boy who was 14 years old and was a trumpet player---you just don't expect someone that age with good lungs to die from the flu. In all cases, the flu had progressed to pneumonia and the children just stopped being able to breathe.

On the other hand, I'm completely paranoid about Thimerosol, the mercury preservative used in the flu shot, a preservative which has been removed from vaccinations for children because some studies have linked it to autism. My nephew had all of his vaccinations when they still contained Thimerosol and he's fine; but there was a sharp increase in autism that seems to parallel the increase in the number of Thimerosol-laden vaccinations given to children in the early 1990s, especially when multiple vaccinations were given in one day. (For example, one seemingly normal child received NINE innoculations in one day and became autistic.)

DH and I went back and forth and decided not to get the flu shot four ourselves or Daniel. Daniel is due for his MMR December 6, and I definitely won't give him any vaccinations on top of that just to be safe. But understand that I'm paranoid! I know lots of babies that have gotten the flu shot, along with their other shots, and they are all just fine.

coasterqueen replied: I voted no because I think they are worthless except for those who are at high risk, low immune deficiencies, etc. My mother gets one every year and every year she gets the flu anyway.

I have only had the flu once in over 10 years and that was last winter and it was a very MILD case of the flu. Kylie did not get the flu, thankfully, because she was nursing at the time. Since she is still nursing, I am hopeful that she will at least escape it this year as well.

Dh did not get the flu from me last year and hasn't had it at all in over 10 years.

My understanding of the flu shot is it's always "last year's flu strain" that it protects against, and since the flu strains are multiplying like mad dogs I just don't see the need for a vaccinne that won't really help.

Kaitlin'smom replied: this is why I ask cause i am also confused about it all, and hate the thought of giving her a shot that is not even covering the strand thats killing kids. I will not get it myself, I have never gotten the flu, if I get sick in the winter is usually bronchitas. I am leaning against it for her as well, but still a little unsure gues sit will be interesting to see what the ped recomends.

Thanks for everyones input!

Shooter replied: http://www.cdc.gov/

See the above address for the official webpage of the CDC. In the spotlights section are the words "flu vaccine" which are highlighted and if you click on them, it will take you to the CDC's flu central area with multiple articles on the flu vaccine, including their view on the safety of Thimerosol containing flu vaccines.

momma2jenna replied: My ped. didn't recommend one- I thought..before the 'outbreak' that I saw on t.v. that kiddo's under 2 yrs. should not have them-now I see that they should?? We're not getting one for Jenna-besides, we just don't go around that many peeps.

jcc64 replied:
Hmmmmmmm, why do you suppose they removed it if it poses no significant risk? And furthermore , why would Congress pass legislation to prevent families of children believed to have been affected by Thimerosol from suing the companies that manufacture the vaccines? Remember, powerful well connected pharmaceutical companies probably have far more lobbyists than organizations representing childrens interests. Kids don't vote, nor do they contribute to reelection campaigns. Not to turn this into a political debate, b/ c I think what we all want is to do the right thing by our kids, but I wouldn't necessarily trust everything the gov't (CDC) tells us.

5littleladies replied: I've been trying to make a decision about this as well. We've been sick almost non-stop ever since the cold weather arrived and now that I've been hearing how horrible this flu season is going to be and how 5 children have already died from it I am petrified! We haven't even been out around other people very much. I'm leaning against it just because like every one says, the shot doesn't seem to protect from the current strain so why bother. I'm pretty freaked out though.

Shooter replied: And just for the record, since my post is the one being quoted above, I didn't post that condoning or condemning the CDC, the use of the vaccine, or otherwise...it was posted as this thread was one not only taking a poll of who was doing what in regards to the flu vaccine, but I felt it was one also seeking information on the vaccine itself and the site I posted the addy to does exactly that, provide some information on the vaccine.

jcc64 replied: Shooter, Definitely not trying to criticize you, and your post was pretty neutral as I read it. I was just throwing that out there, b/c too many people assume that the CDC is the last word on things, and it's easy to lose sight of the politics behind it. Like I said, I'm as confused as everyone else is.

jem0622 replied: Just remember that the current flu vaccine is not going to take care of the deadly strain that is out there. And I have only had the flu once in my life. And too many otherwise healthy people I know develop the flu after their vaccination...so what sense does it make if you are otherwise healthy?

I just do my darndest to keep the kids in hand washing practices, daily baths, and cleaning surfaces.

You have to decide what is right for you, really.

Julie

amynicole21 replied: We ended up getting the shot for Sophia last week. The ped said in normal cases she would say it was unnecessary, but this year she felt the risk warranted getting the vaccine. I agree that most of the hysteria is media hype, and from what I understand, all of the deaths from the flu so far have been kids with compromised immune systems. Still, I felt comfortable getting it for her.

aspenblue1 replied: Isabella goes for her check up on thursday and I am going to speak with her ped on getting the flu shot. I have never had one but I want to do what is best for her.

Jamison'smama replied: We are getting the shot--doing a lot of traveling so we are going to get it--at least for Jamison--she is getting hers tomorrow

Who knows if it will cover eveything--every Doctor says something a little different--mine told me that the shot is taking care of most of the strains of flu in our area but is only 80 percent effective in the deadly strains --so who know--just sharing what we are doing.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Nope, nope and nope.. nope for me, too.

boyohboyohboy replied: I usually do not get it for us or my kids....
but this year, both dh and I did, and two of the kids did..because we are baby sitting all these kids and the germs are just so increased right now...
and the kids we watch have such bad medical care and are always sick. I was hoping to protect my kids some what....

However Jake has the egg allergy so that he cant get one..
and caleb has asthma so we did get his for his sake..

we got them late though and since it takes 6 weeks to start an immunity I dont know that it was worth it...