To not take my DCs for their flu vaccination?

[NickAngel]

I've been sent a letter inviting us to attend an appointment at the surgery for my DCs to have the flu vaccine.
They don't have any existing medical conditions and are both healthy.
Am I BU to decline the appointment?
Do they really need it?

Its up to you.

If you don't want them to have it then its fine but be prepared for a nightmare time if they do get the flu.

If you want them to have it then take them.

Neither of mine are eligible as primary aged but having had flu once (proper flu, not a cold) then I would take a vaccine for my boys without question. Its nasty.

My DDs will get the vaccination at school (it's a squirt up the nose.) We must be in a pilot area. We have to wait till November. For me it cannot come soon enough. I hate missing days of school due to flu or missing Xmas fun.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2198275-To-not-vaccinate-my-children-against-flu-this-winter

Asked this exact thing last week (link above). Concluded that I absolutely would get them vaccinated (nasal spray) despite them being low risk.

Thanks- I'm sorry I didn't see the previous post. Will move over there...

Im surprised you got a letter are they between 2 adn 4?

I am paying £30 for mine to get done this year , 2 and 7

I'd take it. My dd had flu a few years ago and it was frightening. There were a couple of times when I was worried she was going to die. I was so relieved when it was over.

Do it! The more it is isolated, the less likely the virus will continue.

Others have said this but, 'flu is NOT just a bad cold! It can kill!

The fact that your DC may not get 'flu is not sufficient justification that they should not be immunised.

its to protect other people as well - the elderly, cancer sufferers etc
its not even an injection
why not do it?

DS had the flu jab last year, it may be a coincidence but he had way less chesty coughs, colds and infections last winter.

People around me are having it to help protect ME. I can't stand selfish people who won't put their little dears through a sniff vaccine.

How affective it is has been massively over stated, big pharma will be the winners and tax payers the losers.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/oct/05/government-wrong-nasal-spray-vaccine

the evidence of harm may be under reported because of a lack of standardised safety-outcome data. The Cochrane review does say that vaccination can protect children from influenza but there is not conclusive evidence that vaccinations reduce hospitalisations and deaths in children.

Someone else's comment
While vaccine trials remain in the hands of the companies that stand to make fortunes from them, how can we trust the data. I believe all trials should be publicly funded and be entirely independent of industry influence.

Some people think that all vaccines work and are safe but when has science ever been as simple and black and white as this?

Thank you Lady I was going to post that link too. I am a practice nurse and largely endorse vaccination but there is insufficient evidence of benefit in terms of reducing death and hospitalisation and a strong reporting bias in this case.
It is not like the injectable form (inactivated) for which there is good evidence and trials dating back years and constantly refreshed.
I am going to find it difficult to be a great proponent of this until there is more robust evidence.

I have turned it down for my DS who is 6.

Vaccines are safe and effective.

www.mamamia.com.au/news/vaccination-myths-busted-by-science-cheat-sheet-on-immunisation/

Vaccines are safe and effective.

If only it was that simple, every single vaccine is safe and every sing!e vaccine is affective?

I'm turning it down. Remember it will only stop against the main strain of flu this year. There are several flu strains each year so the can still catch the other ones, and will still get colds/ etc if they do

So far I have never had flu in my life, neither has dh. Both near 30.

Both our ds's obv only children so not as many years, but have never had flu/ or even a cold really just odd sniffle for a day or so. They are healthy and no medical issues

Most people who get very ill/ due of flu are already compromised in some way ie old/ sick

I have had flu twice - mainly due to my occupation putting me in contact with lots of people. It's not nice! I was in bed unable to even walk a few steps for a whole week. I am young, fit and healthy otherwise. My grandfather died of 'flu in the days before vaccination. I have had 2 vaccines in this pregnancy as I don't want myself or my baby at risk.

artandco... Most people who get very ill/ due of flu are already compromised in some way ie old/ sick

You forgot the young! Hence the vaccination programme for children.

Lady People who say "big pharma" generally have nothing but conspiracy theories to share.

i would, i get it every year and i dont have so much as cold where as before i ended up in hospital ever year with chest infection/broncatoise which started from a bad cold/flu.

for me it works, and ill be getting it for my kids to.

My son gets his on Friday at school. I am so happy they are doing this and so is our GP.

Mustchoose where abouts are you? I'm in the midlands and public health England are doing a pilot at the moment for year 7 and 8 pupils