In not wanting to tell Boots my decision for declining DD's flu vaccine?

[Quills]

DD (Year 3) came home with a letter and consent form today, all branded with the Boots logo, asking my consent for her to have the seasonal flu vaccine at school.

DH and I don't want her to have it at school, for reasons we're comfortable with, and made the same decision last year, when all we had to do was not take her to the pharmacy to get the vaccine.

However, this year I have to fill in the medical history form, and then, and I quote If you decide not to provide consent, please return the consent form detailing your decision.

Why the hell should I tell Boots our private reasoning? Surely a simple yes or no should suffice. AIBU in finding this rather intrusive?

It's for feedback. It only says boots because they won the chance to do the programme in your area. Other areas have other companyou names or nhs. It's the same form.

'Parental choice'
That's what we wrote!

Is this the nasal spray vaccine?

My DD (5) has never been offered it, but in the event she does I'll decline. It seems the evidence behind it just isn't very strong, and Cochrane are basically the last word when it comes to evidence based medicine. Also, anecdotally, I've heard lots of reports of nasty respiratory side effects.

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

John4703 If your child has multiple allergies, including an allergy to egg, then you might feel you want to decline.

I think your very lucky I have not heard a thing about the vaccination yet, no one knows whats going on and I will pay for it privately if they don't get it - have done last few years.

Anyway re the form, they are being cheeky tyring to get a survey out of you, just ignore!! better still write on the form - NO if you want feedback PAY ME FOR IT!

Ive declined for my son as he's anaphylactic to egg. My other son had it and was off school ill with flu symptoms for the 3 days after it. We decline for those reasons and have don't mind saying so. If you do mind, then just don't say. It's not illegal, so you'll be fine

I too decline as my son is anaphylactic to egg. On another note the nasal spray is no longer used in the USA as it was only found to reduce flu rates in young children by 3%. I 'll b damned if I am pumping my kids full of, as yet unknown, drugs for a reduction of 3%.

It's badly worded but I think that all they are asking is that you return the form confirming that you do not consent - probably so that they know it hasn't got lost or forgotten.

Just return it signed stating that you do not give consent, no need to go into detail or provide any medical history.

john, not all children can have the nasal vaccine. For example, children with congenital heart defects. They will need to have the jab rather than the nasal vaccine given in schools.

I didn't know that about congenital heart defects. Is there a reason?

I just put "because I don't want her to"
Last year I quoted the side effect percentages buy I couldn't be bothered this time.

UK data showed fluenz nasal spray worked much better than the adult flu jab last year www.gov.uk/government/news/final-flu-vaccine-effectiveness-data-published and last year was a fairly bad season for them, even if it's 35% that's likely to translate to 35% less school missed, 35% less hospital admissions, 35% less deaths (if the reduction affected all demographics equally). It's your decision whether you want your child to have it, but why not tell them, it saves public money if they know why and can decide how/ if they want to raise the percentage agreeing, it's not to judge you. Public heath England spends loads of public money investigating why vaccine uptake is low and trying to change that as herd immunity won't work unless a certain percentage is achieved and lowers effectiveness.

YANBU. I'm a practice nurse and declined it for my DS and when asked why on the form, gave them chapter and verse. Bet they wish they'd never asked!

YANBU. It's nosy and makes it sound like it's compulsory to give a reason. Just leave that bit blank.

I would tell them. I think it's important to help improve health services in any way we can. The two seconds it takes for you to respond could make a difference.

I hate this tendency for pointless secrecy. It's helpful to know why it's declined.

DS1 was growing out of an egg allergy, so our Drs practice gave it to him as an injection instead of nasal spray for a couple of years until we knew he'd grown out of it.

There's more benefit to stating a reason for the decision than witholding it.