To ask my family to have the flu jab this year?

For some people it is a big ask. Not everyone's immune system is the same.

There are potential side effects and allergies. I wouldn't visit until the baby was 21 years of age, or older, I guess.

I would honk it was madness if someone suggested I got the flu vaccine to see their baby.

I wouldn’t do it.

you do realise that the doctors basically guess what flu we will have and then flu vaccine is a guess as to what flu it is and it might not even protect that variant of the flu that hits us.

You wouldn't want them catching a cold, COVID, herpes, chicken pox, scarlet fever, norovirus, or the flu. Why just be worried about flu?

I'd just say don't come if you are ill in any way and make sure they have washed their hands.

Don’t be so ridiculous.

I agree

You can ask and they can refuse. I haven’t had a flu jab in over 15 years as when I did have it, I was really ill after a couple of hours and on my arse for over 6 weeks. Haven’t had one since and haven’t had flu either. It’s not really up to you to decide what vaccinations people should get. I had family see both of my boys hours after they were born without knowing their vaccination status, both winter babies with colds and viruses rampant at both times. My boys never got ill.

I would object to being asked to have the flu jab just to protect your PFB.
Firstly you should have it yourself while pregnant this will help baby and bf if possible to reduce the risk further.
I will be having the flu jab myself as I wish to protect myself as much as possible and also protecting my patients who have increased risk of flu complications.

Nope. Merely pointing out that you just can't guarantee who has had the jab or not

But why is it a big deal to get the flu jab? Ofc you can’t vet every single person (although I think NHS staff are all offered it for free) but why not just ask visitors to try to reduce risk given it’s £15, has v minor side effects and helps you avoid flu anyway. Obviously family members can choose to decline and see the baby when flu season is over.

I always get the flu jab in any case because I bloody hate being ill and £15 is worth it to me.

Are you an anti-vaxxer or something?

Hmmwhat about the hospital staff if you arent having homebirth? Visiting midwife? Health visitor? Husband?

Thinking of it myDD had the jab when pregnant but no one said anything about her husband should have it

Assume it must be a first baby or are siblings being kept away?

I am going to go against the grain here and say I think this is reasonable. They can obviously choose to not visit, but really getting the flu jab is no big issue. I also got a flu jab in pregnancy which I understand provides some protection but only for the first few weeks of life.

Yes, I did. That doesn't mean I didn't want to be cautious. None of my family had an issue with getting a flu jab to help protect their tiny new relative. It's hardly a big ask, whether you think it helps much or not

Didn't you have the flu jab when pregnant? That would pass antibodies to your baby

Can't believe so many people think protecting your tiny baby is unreasonable, I'm shocked! I did exactly this for my baby born early January this year - nobody had an issue with it, and if they had said no I don't want a flu jab id have just said fine, you'll have to wait until flu season has passed to meet him. Your job is to keep your baby safe - don't feel at all bad for doing that! A friend's baby caught bronchitis at 3 days old and spent over a week in hospital on oxygen, it's not worth the risk.

The flu jab only helps the person who has it and prevents nasty complications

its of no benefit to your baby

a healthy person can visit you then leave develop flu after . Having spread it around your home unwittingly

i personally have it to reduce my potential complications

kindly - get a grip

So you want people to cough up money and maybe feel crap as you are having a baby??? Hmm

Thought you get flu jab yourself when pregnant anyway

Totally unreasonable. If you care about your baby getting sick breast feed It's the best immunity you can give it.

I mean you can ask, but you will come across completely batshit- because you are to even think its reasonable to ask. And you'll be back in mumsnet in a year or so wondering why you dont have a " village" .

You can ask but they can say no.
Just be aware that sometimes the flu vaccine is not particular affective some years so I would focus more on asking people stay away if they are feeling any bit unwell. They may assume because they got the flu jab that they are fine to visit.

Yes it’s too much imo (I’m also pregnant and think it’s a bit of a PFB request) I would personally just ensure to have the flu jab during pregnancy which will protect your baby as much as possible. Anyone that comes over and sees baby has to wash hands and no kissing, limit bit groups and that’s enough.

Skipped to the end. Myself and DH are immunosuppressed so have some scope here in regards to people protecting us.

Honestly your best options are to have the flu jab whilst pregnant as it offers baby some protection. Ensure people don't come if showing illness or have sickness in their household. If all ok then they wash their hands on arrival and don't kiss baby. If that's not enough you could supply some medical grade masks and ask people to pop one of those on. You however can't ask for people to be vaccinated against something that they wouldn't ordinarily do I'm afraid.

You can ask, and they can say either yes or no. But there are so many other horrible viruses, so protecting against one virus wouldn't be a massive benefit to you really (I say that as someone who has the flu jab every year).

You can now only get the Covid jab if you are over 75 or otherwise vulnerable, so few visitors will be covered by the Covid jab.

Bonkers. It takes a village OP - be very careful how you tread or else there will be no villagers!

FWIW the flu vaccine is rarely very effective due to constant strain mutations that occur each year. Scientists have to take an educated guess based on the Australian flu season and hope for the best. Last year for example the efficacy was at an all time low and the vaccine didn’t prove very beneficial at all. I am sure your family have the common sense to stay away from baby if they’re ill, just like millions of people have done for centuries.

It’ll be up to you as parent to control who/how many people you mix with when baby’s here it’s up to you who holds baby and for how long and you can ask people to wash hands and refrain from kissing baby but imo it’s a big step too far to suggest they get vaccinated. Obviously make sure to get all the prenatal vaccinations that you can and yes, breastfeeding is another fab way to protect baby.