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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Why are all children being immunised against flu?

383 replies

MiniChedda · 13/10/2016 21:29

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?

OP posts:
Sallystyle · 13/10/2016 22:25

I just looked up the prices to get the flu jab for mine who won't get it through school.

Cost seems to vary between £5 and £12.99

A lot less than I imagined.

TheDeskIsMyHome · 13/10/2016 22:27

Because 'flu is not like a bad cold and it can kill

My son was hospitalised when someone brought swine flu into our house and he got pneumonia

Dawndonnaagain · 13/10/2016 22:29

DD has brittle asthma, she has her jab tomorrow. Flu could kill her. Get your children vaccinated!

Sallystyle · 13/10/2016 22:29

A woman up the school was pissed off because she got a cold and she thought the flu jab would stop her getting them.

honkinghaddock · 13/10/2016 22:36

If anyone has a child with a learning disability, they are in an at risk group and should be able to be vaccinated through school or at their GP's. (Pharmacies do not usually offer vaccines for children).

Cellardoor23 · 13/10/2016 22:37

This really worries me. My ds is 5 months and I have asked about the flu vaccination at the doctors. I was told he shouldn't need one until he is 2 years old. But I have just been having a read online and it says they can be administered from 6 months? Apologies if I'm being stupid, I'm just a bit confused.

Mummyto2bubs · 13/10/2016 22:38

There are so many myths about the flu jab, mainly that it gives you flu... IT DOESN'T!!!
It contains a small number of inactive flu strains, and takes a couple of weeks to be effective. So in the meantime, if you are exposed to those strains from someone with flu, you can still catch it, -and at any time, you can catch other strains.
However, I don't see any reason why people would not take up the offer of immunisation against flu, short of having previously having had an anaphylactic reaction.
I can remember having real flu once, and I cried because I could not bring myself to reach my bag on the floor next to my bed which had my paracetamol in (I didn't have any other medication to help) and so I went without.
I would never willingly expose my DC to flu, and so they will always be immunised if they can be.

honkinghaddock · 13/10/2016 22:40

I think it from 6 months for children in at risk groups. For under 2's it is the jab rather than the spray.

ChrissieLatham · 13/10/2016 22:41

For those that gave their child the nasal vaccine previously, did you get a second dose 4 weeks later as is recommended? My DD has been offered it in school but there's been no mention of a repeat in 4 weeks so seems a bit pointless if they're not going to do it as the manufacturers advise.

ChrissieLatham · 13/10/2016 22:41

For those that gave their child the nasal vaccine previously, did you get a second dose 4 weeks later as is recommended? My DD has been offered it in school but there's been no mention of a repeat in 4 weeks so seems a bit pointless if they're not going to do it as the manufacturers advise.

dinosaursarebisexual · 13/10/2016 22:41

honking is that new legislation?

FrenchDucksSayCoinCoin · 13/10/2016 22:41

I think a big part of the problem is misunderstanding what flu is. So many people go off work for a day or two "because of the flu". I probably said I had flu two or three times when I had nasty colds. Then I got actual flu and found out the degree of my error. As many PP have already said, flu is a very nasty illness. While there are many degrees of having a cold, that doesn't make any of them flu.
There is something to be said for getting various cold bugs out of the way in childhood, but flu isn't a cold bug and the vaccine undoubtedly saves lives.

ono40 · 13/10/2016 22:42

Flu is very serious and can kill the most vulnerable (children, elderly, those with long term conditions). I have had flu twice and I felt like I was going to die. I lay in bed crying as I needed the loo but didn't have the energy to get up and I was run down for weeks afterwards. I am getting a vaccine from my local pharmacy next week and will get one for DS who is in Y13. It will cost £10 which is money well spent.

Verbena37 · 13/10/2016 22:42

I refused to give it to my DD yesterday and told the nurse I thought people (including kids) should fight it off themselves unless they have significant underlying health issues or are immunosuppressed.

She said she absolutely agreed 100%.

Secondly, I can honestly say that have I never known or heard of a child in my vast circle of family and friends having, flu. D and V yes. Flu....no.

I would be interested in knowing annual UK flu deaths of the group of children who are receiving these vaccines.

There is a lot of research showing that mass vaccinations in nasal spray form can a) be transferred to those who haven't requested it and b) as it's a live vaccine can actually spread the virus more than if those people didn't have it.

Our bodies are designed to fight viruses. Big pharma want you to think we need vaccines. We are lucky that in theis country we have a choice. In the States, parents give their kids 30+ vaccines .....that just cannot be right.
The human immune system is pretty amazing.
I'm not totally against all vaccines but don't think the govt. are mass vaccinating the kids to protect the grandparents.....the grandparents are all offered it anyway!

Charley50 · 13/10/2016 22:44

I had no idea flu could be this serious in otherwise healthy people (e.g. Not elderly)!
Should my DS 12, who has mild asthma get the jab? And my adult brother who has a three month cough every winter?

honkinghaddock · 13/10/2016 22:44

Dinosaurs- which legislation?

TheProblemOfSusan · 13/10/2016 22:45

There is a lot of research showing that mass vaccinations in nasal spray form can a) be transferred to those who haven't requested it and b) as it's a live vaccine can actually spread the virus more than if those people didn't have it.

Have you any citations for that, Verbena37? Not being snarky, I've never heard this before and am interested.

Tarla · 13/10/2016 22:46

Well it got to page five before Big Pharma and brainwashing got mentioned Grin

MsJudgemental · 13/10/2016 22:48

I have had flu a few times and was hospitalised after one episode with post-viral breathlessness and fluid around the heart. My blood pressure fell through the floor and I thought I was dying. It is NOT just a bad cold. You are zombified for the best part of 2-4 weeks with aches and pains, shivers and sweats, sleeplessness, delirium and hallucinations, nausea and vomiting, etc. I now always get a flu jab as I'm self-employed (no sickness pay) and this year took my 16-year-old son with me as he has had swine flu twice and pneumonia.

JinkxMonsoon · 13/10/2016 22:48

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

I'm declining it for this reason. When the evidence base is so sketchy that even representatives from Cochrane say it's not worth it, then it's not worth it.

And, anecdotally I've heard enough reports of nasty respiratory side effects to not want it for that reason alone. I'm not "teaching my child to be selfish". She's five.

dinosaursarebisexual · 13/10/2016 22:48

honking relating to LDs, tried to get my eldest vaccinated last year and couldn't get anyone to do it, tried private etc, but she would qualify thru LDs if that's policy now...

imother · 13/10/2016 22:49

I read that even if the vaccine isn't for the exact strain of flu doing the rounds it can still confer some protection. Eg the H1 element is common to many viral strains even if the exact virus isn't H1N1.

Also that flu is particularly dangerous for young healthy people as their immune systems can 'overreact' to the virus and actually start attacking themselves. In the 1918 flu pandemic young people ie 16-30 year olds were disproportionately affected and died than they would to other infectious diseases.

BowieFan · 13/10/2016 22:51

I had a relative die of the flu when I was young. I've always made the kids have the jabs instead of the spray. DS2 gets it anyway because he's in an at-risk group, me and DP get them through work and DS1 gets it because he comes into contact with DS2 who is immuno-compromised. I'm glad really, I wouldn't want them to catch the flu.

JinkxMonsoon · 13/10/2016 22:51

The clincher, for me anyway.

Why are all children being immunised against flu?
Judydreamsofhorses · 13/10/2016 22:51

This thread has reminded me to reschedule my jab - we are offered it at work and I had to cancel my appointment because I had tonsillitis.