To be worried about the nasal spray flu vaccine?

[BoopTheSnoot]

My eldest DS (who is two) is scheduled to have the nasal spray flu vaccine tomorrow afternoon.
Both of my children are up to date with all their other vaccinations, we've never missed one.
But this one bothers me. I've heard a lot of people saying that it has some nasty side-effects, and that it is not particularly effective anyway (although the NHS says that it's more effective than the injected flu vaccine). Loads of people that I know with children in the eligible age bracket have chosen not to receive it.
It's left me unsure of whether my DS should have it or not. I know how dangerous flu can be in the very young and very old.
WWYD? Any experiences?

My DS has had it 5 times. He's never had a problem with it.

I know this is a controversial opinion on MN but if children are vaccinated it stops them being the super vectors that can spread the virus to vulnerable people. Part of a role in wider society as well as keeping the children flu free.

I never got the flu vaccine in pregnancy with any of my 4 children and none of my children have had or will have it. THEY have had all other immunisations but flu is not one that I feel they require. It was t around when my 13 year old and 12 year old where small but with my 3rd and 4th who are 2&4 I am constantly getting letters offering them it .

Dd is 3 and had it 2 weeks ago. She came down with a chest and ear infection and was really poorly a few days later. When I took her to the doctor I asked if it was because of the flu vaccine and she said no It was just bad timing.
Having seen my aunt nearly die from flu dd will be getting the vaccine again next year.

DS2 had it 3 days ago. No side effects at all so far, and he had no side effects the last time he had the vaccine either.

DS1 also had the vaccine when he was eligible for it - no side effects at all either.

The only side effect I have come across personally was with the flu injection (for adults), which gave my dad an aching arm for a couple of days.

Thanks for the info and advice everyone. He will definitely be having the vaccination as planned tomorrow.

The effectiveness rate is below 50% this year s mine aren't having it.

Do your own research and decide for yourself if it's completely necessary or not.

DD has never had it as I don't think it's necessary. She's had all the other immunisations, but this is a step too far. More than half my daughter's school went down with a serious flu bug this spring, but my daughter didn't get it. I personally think you need to give children the chance to build up their own immunity to things.

(They would only have been having it for herd immunity anyway, but I don't see the point with such low effectiveness).

Talk it through with your doctor. The problem with doing your own research as it were is that many source of vaccine info on the web are biased/utterly insane. If you have the knowledge to cut through that then great, otherwise you can end up with a very inaccurate and possible dangerous viewpoint.
the vaccine is never 100% - scientists need to predict which strains will be the prevalent ones in the coming season and create the vaccine then get it into production ahead of time. It's an educated guess every time. Some years we do better than others but even if you still catch the flu, the illness is likely to be much less severe if you are vaccinated
My son had the jab last month.

Please ignore the comments of everyone you know apart from medical professionals.
There will always be anecdotal evidence about reactions to immunisations. This does not tell you the full picture.

DS was poorly after the spray last year so was advised to have the jab this year.
He's just had his tonsils out so, touch wood, he'd have been better with the spray this year but I opted for the jab instead.

Research does state that it's been less effective this year in comparison to last but given the severity of full blown flu, I opted in.

My eldest has been having the vaccine since it piloted in our area 3 years ago, no side effects. My youngest had the spray for the first time 2 weeks ago, again no side effects.

I had the flu aged 11, it was horrendous, my temperature was so high I was hallucinating and can still vividly remember it.

DS1 has had it twice now, no side effects at all either time.

I've had flu once and it was horrendous - wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Oh Golden that sounds awful, I bet you were frightened as well as feeling dreadful.
Touch wood I've only had flu once, years ago but I still remember how rotten I felt with it. After hearing nothing but negativity about it, it's reassuring to read some success stories. We will go along to the appointment and I think I'll ask the nurse a couple of questions, but I'm fairly confident that he'll be receiving the vaccine.

I've had flu three times as an adult - a healthy thirty something who was fighting fit. All three times I've been really really ill. Twice I've ended up with pneumonia.
Flu is an absolute shit. I must get my jab this year - with a baby to look after I'd be screwed if I got flu.

It's your decision. You are not guaranteed to be flu free this year if you go ahead though.

There is the question of whether the flu strains that have been selected to be used in this year's vaccine will be the ones that are passed around by people this year.

There are so many different flu strains, it's a bit of a crapshoot/lottery. If they don't get lucky and select the right ones and there is an epidemic of another strain of flu, the vaccine will be no protection for your DS.

And it's my understanding they have not selected the right ones for the year for last 2 years running.

So that factor is worth thinking about I think, as you don't have to consider that with other vaccines.

My friends household got wiped out by the flu last year apart from her 8 year old son who had had the flu spray! He was off colour for a day but was back at school the next day, walked down with us chatty and full of energy. As long as they are eligible for it my twins will get it as flu is something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy!

They can still get flu even after the vaccine.

What sort of side effects did you hear about, op?

www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/misconceptions.htm

Good page. Yes you can still get flu - if the strain is very different. However if the strain is similar you're likely to have a much milder illness if you've been vaccinated.

Talk through any concerns you have with your doctor - flu in kids can be very unpleasant.

One of my friends' has a DD aged four who spent a night on the children's ward with extremely high fever.
A couple I've spoken to said their DC seemed to come down with a milder but still nasty case of flu for several days.
Another friend's DS had an allergic reaction. And one of DH's colleagues isn't taking his two DC for it this year as one of them ended up with flu last year despite the vaccine.

My friend's son was hospitalised with a fever and fitting after last year's vaccine. It was horrible. She's a virologist so pretty clued up on this stuff.

No drug or vaccine is side effect free - it's a matter of weighing risk vs benefit for the individual. Again, talk to your doctor and they can discuss your reservations.
Serious side effects are rare

Ds has had it for 4 years with no side effects. The previous year he had flu and was very unwell with it and took several months to fully recover.