Why should my DS have the flu vaccine?

[Fettuccinecarbonara]

He is in year 4, and in good health. The flu vaccine is offered at his school next week. He is up to date with all vaccines.

DD is at the same school, in year 6. It is not offered to her because if her age. There is only 20 months between them.

Neither DH or I will be eligible for it, so it’s jot about herd immunity.

I’m not ever anti-vac, but I cannot see the benefit in only one out of our whole family having this vaccination.

Could you please tell me why he should have it?

Surely the benefit would be one member of your family less likely to be ill ?

Because if he could catch flu and be extremely ill. My healthy son had it when he was 9 and it took him 6 weeks to be fully recovered and that's without complications.

They offer the flu vaccine to young children in part to protect the elderly for whom immunisation is less effective because they have weakened immunity

I'm in a,similar position op...both my dc are primary age...2 years apart. My dd can have it but it's not offered to my ds. I'm very pro vaccination...but I remain utterly unconvinced by the flu vaccine.

"Older child can't have protection so why should I let younger child have protection?"

Google ‘Flu in Children’.

Take the vaccination.

Because it could potentially prevent that DS from getting flu, which can be horrific?

Take your other DC off to the GP and get them vaccinated then surely?! That's what I do. 5YO gets it at school, 3 YO at the GP. You and DH CAN also get it as well, you just have to pay for it unless you're in an at risk group. My OH gets his free and my work pay for mine.

Get the vaccine to whoever it's offered to.

I am thankful I live in a country where vaccines are offered to those most vulnerable.

So that he doesn't get flu. And so that he doesn't pass flu on to you, your dh and your dd.

So that he's less likely to get flu?

Young children are the major vector for spreading flu virus. The vaccine is much more effective in young kids than it is in older people. Therefore the logical and most cost effective way to prevent the maximum number of cases is to immunise the youngsters.
It may not seem of much benefit to you personally, but it will save the NHS a fortune this winter, so your taxes won’t need to be wasted on treating so many flu complications such as pneumonia and heart failure in us oldies!

Even if the rest of you get flu, why would you not want him to potentially be spared the illness? I’ve had it because I’m pregnant. The DD’s have had it due to their age. DH hasn’t had it. He would never say ‘no point you three having it because I’m not’. Not really sure I understand that attitude to be honest? Last year only DD1 was eligible, so she had it.

Because at least one of you will be protected?

Also, just to point out the flu vaccine isn’t given on a herd immunity basis, it’s given on an individual risk basis. Obviously the herd immunity aspect is an added benefit.

I was ill for a week with flu, apparently I should have expected to be ill for twice that if I hadn't had the vaccine. I hadn't had flu before and I previously thought flu was a 'bad cold', honestly I felt like death and would not want my kids to feel like that.

Both my kids have had the vaccine this year (nursery and Y5) and I'm badgering DH as he gets it free. Just in selfish terms it is better for me and DH not to be dealing with a sick child for two weeks, possibly more.

In 2010 we had a really bad meningococcal season, both sepsis and meningitis. Some adults, but mostly children. Some of them incredibly sick. What was unusual was that because it was the 2nd swine flu season, we were testing pretty much all admissions for flu. Of the patients we saw with meningococcal disease, 50% of them were also positive for flu, and had a history of flu like illness in the last few days. That's how badly flu fucks over your immune system. Personally, I'd be the first in the queue.

Someone I know died of flu this week...

That's such bizarre logic OP it really is.... if you don't realise just how flawed your thinking is then words fail me!!

I was in the position last year that my younger children had the vaccine but my year 6 child didn't due to age. He got flu. He was so ill. It swept through his class at school.

This year the younger ones have had the vaccine at school and I've paid to have the older one done.

Yes, you are right that they should not have the cut off where it currently is.

That is not however a reason to turn down the chance off immunisation for those who are eligible. Children are immunised because they are 'superspreaders'. Reducing the number of superspreaders will reduce both the likelihood and the scale of major outbreak, despite full herd immunity not being the aim. Your older DC stands to benefit from good take-up in the eligible groups. Do you want it to be the best it can be for her?