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

I wouldn't ask this, but I would expect people to stay away with any signs of illness. (Hopefully they would know to anyway.) You should also get the flu jab for yourself when pregnant.

🤣🤣🤣

https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/rsv-vaccine/

thankfully there is now a vaccine which is offered to Mums during pregnancy which has proven to be very effective

What an idiotic response.

Plenty of people choose not to have the flu jab for their own reasons.

Some can’t have the flu jab for their own reasons.

Added to which, the flu jab is against the dominant strain that year, doesn’t mean you can’t still catch the flu.

To declare that someone who doesn’t have the flu jab is not fit to be near a child is one of the most stupid things I’ve ever heard in my life.

most people don’t get the flu jab unless they’re over a certain age, immune suppressed, or vulnerable and at risk.

Some choose to if they work in certain settings, but it’s a personal thing.

As much as I think antivaxxers are at the other extreme, not having a vaccine is personal. The only time I would urge someone to do it would be if they fit one of the above categories.

Oh and, I am just over a year post heart transplant after I was diagnosed with a heart condition after my heart was attacked by … … … the flu.

I have it now. I had it while I was sick and in heart failure. Before that there was never any thought that I had an underlying condition. And while you can never say never in that regard, you have the right to make decisions about your own health. And whether you have the flu jab has 0 bearing on anyone else.

It’s simple. If you’re feeling unwell you don’t visit, but that’s basic common decency anyway whoever you’re visiting.

I’m now immune suppressed. My mum has the flu jab, my dad doesn’t. But I do. So I’m protected anyway. What they do is their choice, I don’t expect the.m to come to me with colds and such, and they wouldn’t dream of it. But neither would I cut off my dad because he’s chosen not to be vaccinated.

It's your baby you can make the rules. I also agree with people saying you shouldn't force people to have it, if they really don't want to, but if you think your family will be quite happy to but may forget, I don't think there's harm in reminding them.

But having the flu jab won't stop you from catching flu, it just means you won't get as unwell, maybe. So even if you've had the jab you could still have the germs, just not gone down with it yet.

I think it's ridiculous.
RSV is much more risky for newborns but there is no vaccination for that.
Asking visitors to practice good hygiene and stay away when ill is perfectly reasonable and will provide more protection. Asking them to get vaccinations is not reasonable and will not provide much protection.

The better option would be to limit your social contact and be extremely vigilant of hand washing and people who feel unwell. Even a flu jab doesn’t always prevent flu or sickness bugs.

I had a winter baby during an RSV outbreak (warned by midwives to be very careful so wasn’t being PFB) and yeah your social life will suffer for a few weeks but then at 8 weeks you have vaccinations for the baby and can start to relax a bit more. Christmas is an awful time for bugs due to the constant socialisation, not just flu but norovirus and general colds.

I think you’re entirely unreasonable telling others to get vaccinated to be honest. Unless you’re also telling them to shield and be like we were in Covid, they’re going to have a whole host of germs from the Christmas mixing, workplaces, their own kids etc.

Getting a flu jab is no guarantee that you won't get flu. It reduces the chances of it being bad (assuming they were able to accurately predict the dominant strains for the season when developing it). Better to ask people to stay away if unwell (which you would hope they would do anyway!).

It IS a big ask.

I have often had the flu jab over the years and definitely always get it now after being laid out with flu over Christmas a couple of years back feeling really really rough.

BUT, I don't think it's helpful to have a flu jab debate here. What is really important is your attitude and anxiety to risk. Which takes a turn towards to the crazy in all good expectant and new mothers! But it's worth thinking this through. As another anecdote only, I can tell you that the year I suffered badly with flu I was the only unvaccinated person in my household. My DH and children also suffered despite the vaccine. 🤷‍♀️ No that's not me denying it's effectiveness -anecdote again - it was me who was the worse affected, and I believe the vaccine is an important tool in keeping it under control at a population level. My convoluted point is that you cannot control everything, or much at all really, and the most useful thing you can do is to relax. Make sure your siblings know that you are a bit worried about winter bugs and a new baby (quite rightly to an extent) and ask them nicely to be mindful and not visit unless they are feeling healthy.

But from one uptight mother to another, trust me, the healthiest thing you can do you for children is to unclench a bit. Save the crazy for the really big battles! You are doing your best already which tells us you are going to be amazing. Good luck! x

I know that some people have previously had the flu jab and it’s made them feel unwell, so understandable that they wouldn’t chose to have it. Plus others have a needle
phobia. But aside from that, it’s only around £15 to have a flu jab in a pharmacy, so unless someone is properly hard up, I don’t get why people wouldn’t have it TBH. It probably costs that £15 in medication if you catch it and even more if you are losing pay if unable to work.

Are you never going to leave the house, OP?

They could also have colds, coughs, shingles, nits etc.

Breastfeeding will help with immunity.

You can't police other people's medical choices.

They could still have got the germs, just not gone down with it yet.

I'd happily get the flu jab if a pregnant family member asked me to. It's cheap, safe, and well worth it both to reduce the risk of passing on germs to a tiny baby and to give the new parents peace of mind.

More importantly make sure you get the RSV jab yourself when offered it.

As a family we do all get the flu jab because DS and some other family members are vulnerable but you can’t control others it has to be personal choice.

How on earth are you determining who has had a flu jab before you come into contact with them? Do you never go out in public? The majority of the population have not had a flu jab.

Incidentally, DH is having cancer treatment and his Oncologist said he needed to have a flu jab. I asked should I get one too if it helps protect DH and he said no, it won’t be helpful at all.

Is the correlation between not having a flu jab and being a general danger to children something that's been studied? Where are you getting such a frankly bonkers link from?

You can't seriously believe that surely

It's as valid as me saying that your post makes you sound like someone who still washes their shopping

But you are near people not having a flu jab. Unless you never leave home or have visitors. That's called life...

What about covid jab? Other jabs?

Surely if family and friends are unwell they’d not visit anyway?

I wouldn’t, don’t need it, might do more harm than good.
wouldn’t see you if unwell

As much as the flu jab might protect people to some extent from getting the flu in the first place, I think what would be much more reasonable and much more effective at preventing any spread of illness is making sure visitors aren't full of cold or unwell, and that they wash their hands or use hand gel before holding the baby. This is a really common ask. Someone can still have a cold or the flu even if they've had the jab, so i don't think it would make much of a difference - but hand washing and sending poorly people away will! X

You do realise unless you’re a hermit you’re near people every day who won’t have had the jab.

I'm one of those vulnerable people. I carnt have the injection for medical reasons. I would never ever expect anyone to have a flu jab and certainly wouldn't quilt trip them into having it like you have just tried.