NJ first state to mandate flu vaccines for kids

jcc64 wrote: What do you guys think? I think it's significant that most pharmaceutical companies are headquartered in guess which state?? Guess profits are down...
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/nyregion...ner=rss&emc=rss
Fwiw for anyone who does get the flu vaccine, last time I checked, it was still being made with thimerisol, the mercury-based preservative that has been linked to autism. If you want to get your kid a flu shot and don't want the exposure to mercury, be sure to ask your dr to read the insert before getting the shot.

lisar replied: Lexi and Raygen both get the flu shot already. I mainly get it for Lexi because her immune system is weak as it is so if she was to get the actual flu it could be bad. And I get it for Raygen because she was so early when she was born that we have just done it every year since.

~Roo'sMama~ replied: That makes me mad. I don't think the flu shot should be mandatory - it should be the parents decision to make not the states.

ZandersMama replied: both my children have the flu shot, i think the risk is worth it for us because of all of Zavs issues. His lungs are still crap. BUT i dont think anyone should be forced. for some the risk isnt worth it. me and the kids only get it because of zavs problems , if it wasnt for his issues none of us would have it.

MommyToAshley replied: OMG... I don't think the flu vaccine should be mandatory. I am glad I got it for Ashley last year because her entire class was out but she didn't get it. There were a few days when there were only three kids in her class, everyone else was out with the the flu. But, I still don't think it should be mandatory.

FYI, you can get the flu mist which does NOT contain thimerisol and has less side effects. I double checked last year to make sure it did not contain thimerisol before I gave it to Ashley. Ashley didn't get one this year because she had allergy symptoms going on at the time of her check-up and I didn't want to introduce anything else at that time.

boyohboyohboy replied: I guess as with most of the other "mandated" vaccines, there is the option to opt out..
although look what happened with gardisil....the side effect and children that have died from that are starting to climb....

Kaitlin'smom replied: I dont agree with it being forced on anyone. We dont get them in my house. I did one year and thats the year I got the flu.

jcc64 replied: I don't have any judgment about people getting the flu shot or not, but I do think it should be a parent's decision. My issues with the flu shot stem from the fact that there's no guarantee that the strain in the vaccine will be the same one that my kids may be exposed to, making its efficacy a crap shoot in the first place.
My kids have all of their other vaxs, but I have to say I think our public healthy policies have gotten completely out of control with the amount and manner of delivery of routine childhood vaxs required. My oldest and youngest are 10 yrs apart, and it blows my mind how many more vaxs have been required of my youngest. The health of my 16 yo is no worse than that of the 6 yo, he made it through childhood unscathed, so where's the proof that all these new vaxs are all so vitally important?

mckayleesmom replied: Ya...that shouldn't be mandatory.


Mckaylee did get the flu mist before the start of school.

A&A'smommy replied:
I completely agree, I didn't have HALF of the vaccines Alyssa had my health is FINE I get sick once a year and I survived chicken pox and I'm fine!!! Autumn has had more vaccines than Alyssa and it DRIVES me crazy!!!

boyohboyohboy replied: does the flu mist contain a live virus? does the shot?
I am just curious as to why they use the thimarisol in one and not the other..

punkeemunkee'smom replied:
The mist is the live virus. We give it to cattle too.

As far as mandating more and more vaccines in our children's bodies I am sure it is not a big suprise that I am 1000% against it. It is getting to be nothing more than a mandated guinea pig program at the expense of our children.

HuskerMom replied: None of us has ever gotten one. The kids have never had the flu and it's been probably over 10 years since Dh or I caught it. I agree it shouldn't be mandatory.

Kaitlin'smom replied:
and a way for us to spend more and them to make more.

My2Beauties replied: That's a load of crap. I don't get my kids the flu shot at all. My DH does every year but me and the kids don't. I think they're already given enough shots.

boyohboyohboy replied: does the flu mist contain a live virus? does the shot?
I am just curious as to why they use the thimarisol in one and not the other..

MommyToAshley replied:
I remember reading about this last year, but from what I remember, they have stopped putting thimerisol in the flu shot as well. But, they did not recall the vaccines that already contain it, so that's why you should ask to see the insert. To be safe, I would ask for the flu mist if you are considering the vaccine. Last year was the first year I gave Ashley the mist because it was supposed to be a really bad flu season and I am glad I did. But, I would not be happy if it were mandatory as I don't think I would give it every year.

redchief replied: Flu mist contains live virus. The flu shot does not contain live virus. Those allergic to eggs must have the mist if they desire a flu shot.

First of all, I've been getting an annual flu shot for around eight years (give or take), and have had no side effects. That's just so you know where I'm coming from.

I think it's absolutely outrageous, and bordering on the criminal, for our government to mandate flu vaccines. I also think it's a darned good idea for kids to get a flu shot, but that should be every parent's choice, not a poli-doc's (political doctor - one with a medical degree who practices more politics than medicine). Further, I call on all good voters of my great state to toss this administration out of Trenton in the next election.

If you really want to see big government intrusion into local affairs look up NJ DCA COAH. On the surface it might seem a good idea, until you understand that COAH has almost single-handedly brought economic development to a standstill throughout the state.

Why is it that big government thinks it knows what's best for us even when it is proven to them that they don't know what's good for them?

boyohboyohboy replied: Ed, we tried to get Jake a flu shot this year just because of all the things our home is exposed to this year..and with his severe egg allergy we were told that he was not allowed to have one at all. and that included the mist..
I didnt ask further about it, but I wonder then if the amount of egg used is just less?
we asked our allergist not our ped.

Boo&BugsMom replied: From what I have been told by medical professionals at work....the flu shot still does contain a small amount of thermisol. Other vaccines do not, but like someone mentioned, they did not recall the old ones that did contain thermisol. However, the flu shot is not thermisol free.

As far as making it "mandatory"...any and all vaccines can be refused by the parents or legal guardians. There really is no such thing as "mandatory" (at least here there is not). All you have to do is sign a refusal form or sign the portion of the vaccine form where it says "parent refusal" (which is usually a universal form).

Also, I'm not sure if this is just a "state" thing, but I have had cases in the past where parents have refused vaccines and it would have been discrimination for daycares (me) to not enroll the children based upon that (something a lot of people do not know but try to get away with). That is around here. As long as the refusal portion is filled out, daycares can not base enrollment on that. I don't see why that would only be here. I mean, on the daycare forms it says "mandatory", but there is still a way around it.

Also, do these stupid government officials not realize that someone not getting a vaccine doesn't put other children at a higher risk? It doesn't make them less of a carrier for diseases or viruses. You can still be a carrier for a disease regardless if you get it or not! Even if a child is immuned from something, it doesn't mean they can't be a carrier for someone else to contract it.

jcc64 replied: You can opt out of vaccines in every state, I'm sure, but not everyone is aware of that, and unfortunately, many parents don't realize they DO actually have the option of refusing to vax.
What pisses me off is that what started out as a noble public health campaign has turned into an enormous cash cow for the pharmaceutical companies who have way too much influence over the gov't that is mandating use of their products. It's all very dirty, and it's at the expense of our kids' health. 85 kids died of the flu last year, that's a very very small number, and who knows of that 85 how many had other mitigating factors. Life comes with risks, and we can't vaccinate our way out of everything.

Mommy2Isabella replied: Isaia went yesterday for his 1 year check up, and they offered the flu shot, and I decided against it, though now thinking about it, he got RSV and that was horrible and with Bella in school this year I am kind of rethinking it. I am sure I could make an appointment but at the same time what if that isn't the kind that goes around?

AHHH

Either way, it isn't mandatory here!

BecauseIsaidSo replied: I would not be a happy camper about being ordered to have a flu shot. I had maybe 2 flu shots in my lifetime. I am not big on putting vaccines into my body when I am pretty darn healthy! Same thing with that shot for girls for cervical cancer~it is a 3 shot series. I am not having dd get the shot because there hasnt been enough research/statistics on the shot.

redchief replied:
Here, here! Heheh... no you probably won't see me do that very often. Most of you who've known me for any length of time know I'm a proponent of most vaccines. And I'm not averse to the pharmaceutical companies making money... that's capitalism. I am indeed against government mandating vaccines. This is a choice that belongs to families, not elected officials. I'm all for educating families about the benefits and possible adverse reactions, but the choice should be a parent's to make.

I see people saying, "Yes, but most states allow us to decline if we fill out a form." And other such things. The problem with that is that government is still removing choice from a lot of people. How many think that if they demand to opt out they will feel they are seen as trouble-makers? Should a parent of a child who, in their mind, is doing what is best for that child have to question whether or not a government agency sees him as a detractor, or even a bad parent? Again, after discussing options and risk vs. benefit with my doctor regarding vaccinating my kids, I'm nearly certain that I'd choose to vaccinate them. But that choice should be mine to make... Not the health department's.

The only reason I see where truly mandatory vaccinations would be acceptable and in the interest of public health would be in the case of an epidemic outbreak. Flu may indeed be deadly to the medically fragile, and that's where this mandate comes from. Flu happens, and even though they usually do a very good job of forecasting this year's most prevalent strains, they can indeed blow it, which happened last year. It's my understanding that even when they miss the call, the vaccine isn't totally worthless because of the boost it gives to the immune system.

One thing that I do see a lot of that I so wish would stop is the overwhelming amount of bad and old information that is out there regarding vaccines, and unfortunately continues to propagate. Perhaps an inoculation can be developed to kill BS.

Regarding the post above about mist not being given especially to the highly allergic, I don't know why for certain, but you're right... Highly allergic children should only be given a flu vaccine under the direct direction of the child's allergist if the parent desires a vaccine. From what I've read that could be a real crap shoot, and I'd likely not opt to risk the shot so long as my child wouldn't be at further risk of death if she got the flu.

BecauseIsaidSo replied: What is scary is that when schools wont enroll a child if certain vaccines (mandated by the state) are required.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
That is illegal if the parent signs a refusal form. It's discrimination.

jcc64 replied:

Hooray for capitalism, but not at the expense of what's best for my or anyone else's kid. Make your money somewhere else....

I'm not anti-vaccine, my kids are all fully vaccinated. But I'm against the routine schedule, and I'm against vaccinating for routine illnesses that are not life-threatening. If it ain't broke, don't "fix" it.