Flu jabs for prem toddlers - anyone else offered one?

[Bobo23]

Hiya

My 21 month old DS who was premature (IUGR, 34 weeks, 2 pound 12 oz) and is still small (on the 0.4th for weight but fairly tall) has been offered a flu jab as he's considered a high risk.

He hasn't had any health problems since leaving SCBU - and he hasn't had any bad reactions to his other vaccinations (including the swine flu jab, MMR etc).

Anyone else been offered this? We're in two minds and would love to know other parent's thoughts....

[Bobo23]

Possibly completely irrelevant but I'm still breastfeeding once or twice a day....

[chibi]

Hmm

Ds was born 34+6 , have not heard anything, he is probably 9th centile and is 16 months

Well done for still bf, Ds self weaned over the summer

I am not keen on vaccs for the sake of it (i had ds vacc'd with swine flu at 6 months as he was tiny and i worried about his vulnerability) and would take advice from my gp

Good luck

[duncandisorderly]

I haven't been offered this for my twins who were 23 weekers weighing just over a pound. Both have chronic lung disease so I think I will ask on Thursday when they go for their RSV vaccines.

[Sidge]

My DD2 has had a flu jab yearly since birth as she is vulnerable. She was born at 34 weeks, ventilated then on CPAP. No chronic lung disease but has a susceptibility to respiratory infections so has the jab.

She had it today actually! She's never been unwell afterwards.

[sweetie66]

My DD born at 31 weeks is offered the vaccine each year. She has a heart and lung problems so is vulnerable.

To be honest she had it the first time and still caught a cold which required hospitalization. I kind of thought it was pointless, although it cannot stop flu I did think it was supposed to lessen its affects if caught. She also had the pneaumonia (sp?) one and for the first 2yrs had the RSV injections.

We discussed it at length with our heart and lung doctors and both agreed it wasn't really helping and not to have it again.

She still gets her "annual" cold (started just now actually!) which will probably last till April and will require antibiotics, but I expect it now.

I would discuss this further with your doctor before going ahead if you have no underlying medical reason other than prematurity.

[Bobo23]

Thats really helpful! I think we will talk to our (lovely) GP and see what she thinks rather than just letting him get jabbed!

[slinkyfish]

28 week twins here, now age 2 1/2. Both of them have the flu vax each year and this year they are having the Swine/seasonal flu combined. Only one has CLD but they both get it xx

[crazymum53]

My dd was born at 27 weeks weighing under 1 kg. She has never been offered a flu jab and has had no problems.
Hope this helps

[scarybiscuit]

yep.... dd now 7 and she has them each year - and doesnt seem to get as many sniffles

[Tw1nkle]

Hiya,

My DD was prem, and had the swine flu jab last year (Can't remeber when though).

Should she have it every year?
Thanks.

[slinkyfish]

Yes, SF is a yearly jab and is now part of the seasonal flu jab xx

[johnworf]

My DD#2 is an ex 24 weeker. She's 2 and half now and has had the H1N1 jab 2 years running without problems. I debated with myself about having it done again this year but as she's just started nursery, felt it would be silly not to.

Our GP offered the jabs (she has seasonal ones each year) and also myself and DH get the jabs too as we are her carers.

I suspect it depends on your GP surgery as I know from speaking to other people, sympathy and support for prems varies wildly. Luckily our practice nurse is brilliant to just go along and talk through the pro's and con's. Do you have the same sort of set up at your surgery?

And lastly, if ever in doubt and feel you're getting nowhere, speak to NICU where you baby was discharged from or your paediatrician (if your child is still having check ups). They're usually very understanding.

HTH