Flu vaccine yes or no?

[Onesecondofsummer]

My local surgery has just called and offered the nasal spray vaccine to DCs 6 and 3. I'm in two minds what to do. Both are generally very healthy children though DC 1 has had an on going cough/ cold which nurse said was a virus he needed to fight.
Is it worth having it done? Has anyone any experience of it?

[FrozenPonds]

Mine all had it last year. No side effects at all.

I'm not sure how effective it was, as I can't recall anyone we we know actually ever having had flu.

We opted for it as my father has COPD and we wanted to minimise any risks.

[daisydalrymple]

They're doing it at out primary school, we had leaflets home and have had to sign consent forms if yes. Dd is having it. I think it's becoming much like the routine baby/ pre-school imms, in that it is as much about protection of the childen, as it is protecting the vulnerable all around us, those with reduced immune systems, for whom flu could be fatal. As well as reducing the risk of flu epidemics in the winter months.

[VikingVolva]

Flu is a really horrible thing to have.

My DC are out of the age group that the sniff version is offered to, but if they were I would definitely have them done.

They're also too young to get the jab at pharmacies, so we just have to hope there isn't so much going round (or that it's milder than ordinary flu). I did seek out a private jab for them one year (because of specific family factors that meant we really didn't want major illnesses at that time).

[Onesecondofsummer]

Thanks. I hadn't actually thought about protecting people with compromised immune systems. I was selfishly only thinking about the impact on my DC.

[ScienceBased]

Please think VERY carefully before having this vaccine. It is notoriously ineffective and side effects (including "flu like symptoms") are very common. Flu is not a serious illness in healthy, well nourished children, and thus it is not worth the risk.

www.nbcnews.com/health/cold-flu/flu-vaccine-doesnt-work-europe-either-n301011
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2912065/Flu-vaccine-not-working-23-percent-effective.html
www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/new-winter-flu-vaccine-given-to-millions-barely-works-according-to-public-health-officials-10027186.html

As for "the immuno-compromised", they are actually more at risk from recently vaccinated people than the unvaccinated, since vaccines often "shed", e.g. the virus injected into the vaccinated person can shed for up to six weeks and can infect less healthy people, whether they're vaccinated or not (since no vaccine is 100% effective).

Bottom line: a healthy balanced diet with plenty of whole foods, fresh air and exercise and enough sleep, are all much better at protecting from the flu than the flu vaccine, for your child and for the immune compromised.

[Icantstopeatinglol]

science where do you get that the vaccine can be 'shed' upto six weeks later?? I'm immunocompromised and my dc are getting it next week. They will stay with gp for two days as I have been advised by nurse and specialists upto 48hrs and risk is minimal.

[SnozzberryPie]

Dd had hers yesterday and has been fine. I had mine a couple of weeks ago and the only side effect was a sore arm. If it's on offer then I can't see why you wouldn't have it.

I don't want dd to get flu as it is nasty,nand also because I am having a baby in a month or so and really don't want any of us to catch it and pass it onto him.

[scaevola]

The reason it 'didn't work' is because the predictions of which would be the dominant strains were wrong (ie the vaccine was effective, but against the wrong thing). It's actually very rare for it to be that far adrift, I think last season is the only time.

All immunisations carry risk, and it'd always wise to read the pack information carefully (it's available online, so you can do this before an appointment, so you don't have to absorb all the info on the spot).

But what needs to be said emphatically is that you cannot count on flu being 'nor serious'. It's been a while since there has been a big outbreak, but flu is not a mild illness, and unfortunately it can and does kill including the young, well-nourished and healthy.

[Bellebella]

My 2 year old ds just had his an hour ago. For me I thought it was worth it since he has had some chest problems when ill before. The nurse just told me to look out for a temperature and a runny nose but hopeful he will be fine.

[Sirzy]

Ds is having the vaccine tomorrow as he cant have the nasal spray. Having had flu (as a perfectly healthy adult) I will do everything I can do to minimise the chance of him getting it.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Yes. DD has had it very year with no issues at all. Reducing the amount of flu in the population can only be a good thing - and small children are generally snotty and unhygienic so do a great job off spreading flu if they have it.

[scaevola]

"e.g. the virus injected into the vaccinated person can shed for up to six weeks and can infect less healthy people, whether they're vaccinated or not (since no vaccine is 100% effective)."

This is a garble. The injectable form is not a live vaccine.

[expatinscotland]

Mine are having it. They had it last year and had no side effects.

[EldonAve]

Mine had it last year and will have it again

Although I have to say the radio ad for it annoyed me as it just says it's for the benefit of the child as flu can be serious etc
No mention of the other reason they are targeting kids - cos they spread the virus

[Icantstopeatinglol]

scaevola the injectable one isn't live but the flu mist spray is a live vaccine.

[Icantstopeatinglol]

Sorry scaevola read that wrong!

[mumofthemonsters808]

Mines having it, I would not wish flu on my worst enemy it is lethal.

[nephrofox]

I can't stop eating - you're kids can have the injection instead of nasal spray you know? That one is not live so no risk to immunosuppressed people

[anotherdayanothersquabble]

I am unconvinced.

The nasal vaccine is live and can shed and transmit for up to three weeks according to this report. The injection is recommended for those in contact with immunocompromised individuals.

The strains are based on strains found in previous years, they cannot predict the future or predict mutations. In the case of this years vaccine it is swine flu from 2009, bird flu from 2011 and two other strains from 2008 and 2013 NHS link

The lay person in me questions the wisdom of shedding swine flu, burd flu and other strains that may or may not be circulating into the population at large.

[Icantstopeatinglol]

nephrofox yea the drs did say that but then I'd feel terrible giving an injection to a 4&7yr old when they could easily have the spray. My dm is going to take them for the spray and they're staying at hers for a few nights after. Might get a lie in!

[Mundelfall]

I can't believe some of the bullshit on here. Flu is serious and can and does kill. End of story. I've severely asthmatic and have had the injection, dd is having the nasal spray at school. We are seeing elderly relatives for Christmas. I do not wish to infect my 89 year old father with flu and bump him off. Simple.

[jazzandh]

Elderly relatives are entitled to have the vax for themselves.

I have a 93 year old grandmother who is as stubborn as a mule..she may get the flu jab or not - it is up to her.

[EeyoresTail]

This is an interesting read. Apparently their have been deaths in America from a similar vaccine. The daily fail had a story recently about a boy who has ended up with narcolepsy after having the vaccine last year. I refused permission for my daughter to have it

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Eeyore's Do you have any sources that arent the DM or an "alternative" website?

[scaevola]

That article is somewhat misleading.

One known case of transmission, from shed virus really isn't much given that hundreds of thousands of doses have been given yearly for a decade or so in US.

Also, I think the choice of language ('genetically modified') is just designed to scare. The vaccine uses an attenuated strain. This is what live vaccines have always done, way back to the middle of the last century.