Why are all children being immunised against flu?

[MiniChedda]

I am curious about this, my y1 DC is due to get it at school next week.

DD had flu but it was no worse than a sickness bug.

Wouldn't it be better to give the meningitis vaccine instead as it's so much more serious?

Foggy - my comment on animal, vegetable, mineral was in response to those objecting to vaccines on vegetarian/GMO/etc. grounds.

Everyone at my place of work is being offered the flu-jab, it's an office based organisation but they've paid for anyone who wants it, to have it.

But why isn't my 1y/o offered it - www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/Pages/child-flu-vaccine.aspx

I hadn't even thought about getting her jab because I haven't had anything inviting me to book an appt and looking at the NHS she isn't eligible because she's 1 (19m) and not high risk. I guess if we want to get it done, I'll have to pay for her to have it but wonder if greater education is needed too. I honestly hadn't considered getting it for her because no-one told me I needed to (if that makes sense).

And for the record I'm pro-vax - I've paid privately for her to have the Varicella vaccine but I didn't realise the potential seriousness of flu.

School nurse here. I've had my flu jab at work and will take my 3yo to have his nasal spray. It's about protecting them as a vulnerable group, and others who they come in contact with. Having worked in ITU and nursed previously young, fit and healthy individuals who were in life threatening conditions due to the flu, I take it very seriously.

I ended up getting mine at Boots yesterday, it was free because I'm pregnant but would have been anyway because I'm a carer. I was meant to get it done at the GP this week but DH was getting his done and the pharmacist offered to do mine while I was there. I had my arm out of my sleeve before she'd even finished asking

She said I might feel a little bit ropey for a day or two, nothing major, just like I have a low grade bug but that this isn't the flu as it's a deactivated virus in the jab and it can't give you flu. She said that the reason some people feel dodgy after their jab is simply that your immune system has a minor response to it, it isn't harmful and is sort of a good thing as you know it's working. I'm usually one of the people who has an immune response, have woken up today with a slightly tender arm and a mild headache. Small price to pay IMO.

I asked her about the children's nasal spray, they don't offer it in branch but I wanted to ask about the potential for them spreading it around if they shed flu virus afterwards. She said that the virus in the children's spray is massively weakened and the chances of them passing it on to a healthy person are almost zero - the analogy she used was pitting a newborn kitten against a full grown lion, the lion being a normal immune system and the newborn kitten being the weakened flu virus in the nasal spray. She said there is a very slim chance that someone with a very weakened immune system, such as someone undergoing chemotherapy, could catch it from them but they would need to be in very close proximity to one another and even then the odds are small, but the nurse doing the vaccine should ask about such circumstances and issue advice accordingly.

I have zero qualms about vaccinating my children and reading the personal experiences on this thread of people who have been seriously ill with flu has only strengthened my resolve.

This time around flu was so bad I went to A&E and they were convinced I had leukemia or something siimilar until the tests came clear. I had severe joint pain, fatigue to the point where I couldn't even get up, fever, nausea, and hallucinations. I'm a healthy woman too no pre-existing medical conditions etc. Thankfully for me dd was vaccinated (though from what I understand it's not a guarantee) - dread to think what might have happened otherwise.

Still undecided whether to let my little one have this or not agh!

Dh and I decided not to have our ds done. He's had all the other jabs but I'm not convinced. This thread has certainly made me think!

, just like I have a low grade bug but that this isn't the flu as it's a deactivated virus in the jab and it can't give you flu

I never normally react to it and of course it could be coincidence but thats how I felt - low grade mini version, vaguely ill - hope its my iumme system responding

so needle flu jab is dead - but the nasal is live and covers 4 strains - jab only three. my dd has had hers done privalty - 15 but huge weight off my mind.