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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:
BalthazarImpresario · 13/10/2016 23:30

Are all children being vaccinated?
I've never been told it's happening for mind and they are yr10 and yr4?

SofiaAmes · 13/10/2016 23:30

I have 2 dc's. One could get the flu and go to school the next day. The other has a genetic disease and is generally not even healthy enough to have the vaccine much less the flu. Anyone who gets the vaccine is helping my ds stay alive. And even though my dd would survive the plague, she will get the vaccine because it helps keep my ds alive.

chattygranny · 13/10/2016 23:31

Sorry to hijack topic but sounds like there are some medical people on here. I had my flu jab on Monday. I'm immune suppressed due to drugs for an auto immune disease. I am feeling exhausted and achy. Coincidence or a reaction? It wouldn't put me off having it either way. I should mention I'm very reactive with raised IgE etc.

Lynnm63 · 13/10/2016 23:34

I really hope all of you who think flu isn't serious never catch it. I hope you never sit by your loved ones ICU bed praying they'll survive. I hope you never watch someone die with it knowing you have the same condition. I hope you never need to write, on Christmas Day just before you are put into a medically induced coma, a note to your DC that if you don't survive it wasn't because you didn't love them enough to fight the virus. If you get it you could die or become permanently disabled.
Maybe you could run across the M1 tomorrow and not get hit by a car but why take the risk.

StStrattersOfMN · 13/10/2016 23:34

Please, please, please have the vaccine if you can. Flu is a killer, at best it's absolutely awful to have, and you will feel v unwell for ages.

The flu vaccine is different every year, and contains the vaccines for the three mostly likely strains to be around for that flu season. It is not live, you cannot 'catch' flu from it, if you do feel poorly after, it is your body's immune response to the vaccine. Children are offered it because they are 'super spreaders', it is important to include them, to obtain herd immunity. Herd immunity is for us all - no vaccine is 100%, but the fewer bodies around for the virus to infect and spread, the less likely it is for anyone to catch it.

And on a purely selfish note, I have severe brittle asthma, but cannot have the flu jab. So you could be helping me, and my family too. Or another vulnerable person.

Please Flowers

bellie710 · 13/10/2016 23:38

I should maybe have pointed out my main reason for initially refusing the vaccine was it was only my 5 year old that was getting it not my 2 or 7 yr old, since it started my children have not been ill and lots of their friends have. This is not like refusing to vaccinate against measles or anything else, my children have had everything but I refuse to give them this as it has been proven that they can never combat every type of flu!

hildredmubble · 13/10/2016 23:38

chattygranny you may be mounting atm immune response, which is what you want.

It's like running. The vaccine is your body's training jog, before a big race (fighting off the real vaccine). The training may make you ache a bit, but if you're trained, the race is no bother and a bit of fun.

You want a "reaction". If you had the vaccine, and your body did nothing, it wouldn't work! If you feel a bit off after the vaccine (and that's your body fighting dead 'flu) think how much you don't want real 'flu!

Verbena37 · 13/10/2016 23:39

Yes I most definitely have had flu. It was really awful and I was laid up for almost two weeks. But my body did its thing and I got better.

The nail spray is not vegetarian and contains GMO products.
It is a live attenuated vaccine.

Verbena37 · 13/10/2016 23:41

nasal spray details

hildredmubble · 13/10/2016 23:42

And some people, their bodies do their thing, and die.

Lynnm63 · 13/10/2016 23:42

Because the flu virus really respects that you're a fucking vegetarian ffs.
I'm going to hide this thread I'll be vaccinated don't come crying to us if your PFB dies from this nasty virus.

hildredmubble · 13/10/2016 23:43

If your child goes to ITU, the stuff they give you there isn't vegetarian, and probably has GMOs all over the shop.

They'd also pump you full of dihydrogen monoxide, which is known to be deadly.

redspottydress · 13/10/2016 23:43

The problem is the vaccine is ineffective and increases the risk of catching other respiratory illnesses. Hospital admissions have increased significantly year on year and all this increased flu vaccinations have not slowed this. In fact it has got worse.

hildredmubble · 13/10/2016 23:45

Source for your stats, please?

StStrattersOfMN · 13/10/2016 23:46

Please read my post bellie, it explains how the vaccine make up is decided for each year. It doesn't need to include every type or subtype, just the most likely for each season.

Your 5yo is the age when they are superspreaders, closeted together in a stuffy classroom is the perfect environment for flu to spread. And 5yos are more touchy and tactile (and grubby) than 7yos, less likely to wash hands effectively (or at all). Your 2yo isn't at school yet, or preschool.

Quietlygoingmad67 · 13/10/2016 23:46

My DD had flu - was very poorly took her 6 weeks to recover. So the following winter she had the flu nasal vaccine. She hasn't been well since - she has now been dx with ME and they think the cause is either the reaction to be flu nasal vaccine or a viral infection. So sadly she won't be having another flu vaccine Sad

hildredmubble · 13/10/2016 23:47

In fact, evidence for the whole post? A source for "ineffective". A source for "increased risk of other respiratory illness". A source for why the increased demand over winter is anything to do with vaccination, and that it wouldn't be worse without vaccination?

littlepeas · 13/10/2016 23:47

You can give your child the vaccine and take a good step towards preventing them from getting a horrible illness. No, it isn't guaranteed, but at least you have done everything you could have to stop them getting it. You have also done what you can to stop the same horrible illness spreading to vulnerable individuals whom it could kill. I can't have any opinion other than it is utterly naive and selfish to refuse a free flu vaccine.

Lorelei76 · 13/10/2016 23:47

Verbena, glad your body did it's thing, I have asthma, have had pneumonia so not sure what my body would do.

btw why does this "herd immunity" thing worry you? No we aren't cattle, we are more prolific on the planet and sadly multiplying in ever increasing numbers. It stands to reason that herd immunity has to factor in in terms of keeping people healthy.

redspottydress · 13/10/2016 23:48

Hildred are you asking me?

hildredmubble · 13/10/2016 23:49

Yes.

Verbena37 · 13/10/2016 23:50

Lynn and hildred a few people had asked whether it's a live vaccine, more about the vaccine details.....me saying it's not veggie/it's G O was giving information you could find anywhere on the information sheet. They have to legally put it because some people do care what's in them.

I'm not veggie and I'm pretty sure I consume gmo food stuffs/medicines....I was purely going info for those that had asked.

And the bit lynn where you said:
don't come crying to us if your PFB dies from this nasty virus was mean.[frown]

People can give contrasting opinions. I haven't been nasty. I was merely saying my dcs won't be having it.

StStrattersOfMN · 13/10/2016 23:50

The problem is the vaccine is ineffective and increases the risk of catching other respiratory illnesses. Hospital admissions have increased significantly year on year and all this increased flu vaccinations have not slowed this. In fact it has got worse.

I'd laugh, but the level of ignorance and stupidity is too frightening.

80schild · 13/10/2016 23:50

Simple response to non vacciners is a raised eyebrow and refusal to be drawn into the argument. I had flu when I was pregnant and it was awful - I took me months to feel vaguely normal and since then I have developed migraines which are crushing to the point I can't remember my own name. I would have taken it then if I could and I probably will do it this year. I think the avoiders are people that just don't understand how sick people can get.

StStrattersOfMN · 13/10/2016 23:51

Do you consider a virus to be veggie friendly?

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