Why are all children being immunised against flu?

[MiniChedda]

I am curious about this, my y1 DC is due to get it at school next week.

DD had flu but it was no worse than a sickness bug.

Wouldn't it be better to give the meningitis vaccine instead as it's so much more serious?

[Owllady]

It's really nasty this year :(
I never get it but thus year I'm going to

[monkeysox]

Because it can make young dc very very ill.

[BingBongBingBong]

Because it can kill people. And if DC have it they're likely to pass it on

[Wolfiefan]

Flu isn't like a normal bug. Proper flu can make you really ill. I've had it twice. Think cant leave bed, uncontrollable high temperature, can't catch my breath, delirious and unable to ask for help or even get a drink of water. Fucking awful.

[Squtternutbosch]

If it was no worse than a sickness bug, it almost certainly wasn't flu. Flu hits like a train and can make people very sick for weeks.

[Sirzy]

"Proper" flu is awful. Even as a fit healthy adult I was bedbound for 10 days and just avoided being hospitalised with flu.

I wouldn't wish that in anyone let alone a child!

[hildredmubble]

Because children are vectors.

So, it's to protect the grandparents, their friends with asthma, or on immunosuppressive drugs, to protect their best friend's mum who's having chemo.

It's a spray up the nose to protect the community, and an opportunity in educating your children that sometimes it's best to think of others before themselves. No man is an island and all that.

[Horsegirl1]

I have never and will never give my kids the flu vaccine. I'm very pro vaccines but there are 100 of Tues of flu that it's just pot luck whether vax will work or not

[ReallyTired]

Small children spread flu to everyone in the family. Older children have some concept of covering their mouth when the cough and washing their hands properly. Flu kills more people than mengenitis, but most of those people are elderly. My grandfather died of flu at 87.

I declined the flu spray because last year it was ineffective and made my daughter poorly for two days.

[KittyVonCatsington]

I think it is also because as a group, they are most likely to pass it on to the elderly or other vulnerable groups

[mrsblackcat]

I'm not sure how comfortable I am

[Chippednailvarnishing]

'cause kills people...

[Horsegirl1]

Types not Tues

[MiniChedda]

Does it contain the swine flu vaccine too?

[Trooperslane]

I'm not sure she really had flu if it was no worse than bug.

I've had it properly twice in about 20 years and physically couldn't get out of bed and had to be nursed.

I would never not vaccinate.

[Shurelyshomemistake]

You can't generalise from your DC's experience. At population level flu is deadly.. part of it is to protect your child, part to improve herd immunity for those who cannot get immunised. Either way it seems the responsible thing to do to me, unless you have good reasons (allergy to ingredients etc) for not doing.

[Figgygal]

There's no way your child had flu if you think it was no worse than a bug!! Real flu can kill you I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy let alone a child!!

[CocktailQueen]

If your Dd had flu but it was no worse than a sickness bug, it wasn't flu! Probably a bad cold.

The meningitis vaccine is much more expensive than the flu vaccine and many fewer people catch meningitis, so it's not cost effective.

[NameChanger22]

I've had flu twice and it was really awful, but I honestly think my immunity is now stronger for having had it. I would never get my child vaccinated for flu. I have vaccinated against everything else, but this is one step too far. I think children need to build up their own immunity to common bugs, without medical interference.

[Jinglebellsandv0dka]

I'm trying to find the link but I'm sure I read that the strain that's out this year is t even the one that they are immunising people with so its obsolete.

[MiniChedda]

The doc did a nasal swab on DD as thought it might be swine flu, turned out it was normal flu.

She was given tamiflu to take incase it was swine flu as I was pregnant at the time.
I gave it to her to be on the safe side (docs advice) and She was better by the afternoon after taking it.
Could not believe how fast it worked

[hildredmubble]

Horsegirl sigh. You do know that they carefully research the most likely strains expected? And put those in the vaccine? So the vaccine covers this year's likely strain? That means that, yes, sometimes they get it wrong (see 2 years ago), but mostly they get it correct (last winter was pretty spot on).

If swine 'flu is a strain expected this season, it'll contain swine 'flu. If it's not, it won't.

[NameChanger22]

And 'herd immunity' is a terrifying concept. We are not cattle.

[justgivemeamo]

But name changer you simply do not become immune to flu!

[Zenzie]

Read up on herd immunity and please vaccinate your children. It's not for shits and giggles.