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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be beyond pleased about this flu vaccine petition

77 replies

lovelyredshoes · 02/12/2016 20:12

Finally! This is something that has really annoyed me and yet I've never other parents talking about it. FLU NASAL SPRAY VACCINES in school. It's wrong IMHO and I'm glad to see others are also feeling this way. Not flu JABS (de-activated), but nasal sprays given in schools. Anyone who has had one can be contagious - yes - contagious (it's in the medication leaflet). So if you are spraying it up the noses of school children, they could potentially infect elderly relatives or other reduced-immunity children or adults who have not been able/ have chosen not to have it. IMHO it has no place in schools - they are for education. I also find the 'state mentality' of the vaccine programme insulting. I imagine by rolling it out in schools makes parents presume it is 'okay'. Read the points of the petition. Are you being treated the same as parents in independent schools? No? Is it only state schools that should be used for 'herd' immunity with, frankly, scientifically ineffective and downright questionable drugs?

Before I'm flamed for being anti-vaccine, I assure you I am not. The Redshoes family have all had the flu jab and other vaccines at some point, although I don't do flu jabs now. Please read the reasonings on the petition because they are some of the most eloquent and clear arguments against the vaccine I have come across. Well done Justine Greening! www.change.org/p/department-of-education-secretary-of-state-justine-greening-stop-vaccination-with-the-influenza-nasal-spray-vaccine-in-our-schools?utm_medium=email&utm_source=notification&utm_campaign=signature_receipt

OP posts:
Mrsmorton · 02/12/2016 20:16

What's "insulting" about public health interventions OP? Do you find the national curriculum insulting as well? Given that its delivered in a state school...

hippoinamudhole · 02/12/2016 20:19

You realise your child doesn't have to have this.

hanban89 · 02/12/2016 20:20

I've refused the nasal spray for DD for 3 years now. After it is administered at school there's always a big outbreak of cold/flu so she gets it anyway!

Original poster
lovelyredshoes · 02/12/2016 20:21

MrsMorton, with respect, did you read the points on the petition? Did you hear I'm not anti-vaccine? Why would I think the NC insulting? I have children at state school. I'm talking about a flu nasal spray that is ineffective and can be infectious. That's not a necessary 'health intervention'.

OP posts:
iveburntthetoast · 02/12/2016 20:21

YABU. You're merging two separate issues--questions over the formulation of the nasal flu vaccination and the larger question of school vaccination programmes. So, yes, you are very much coming over as anti-vaccination.

StealthPolarBear · 02/12/2016 20:22

If it was ineffective why is it funded

Original poster
lovelyredshoes · 02/12/2016 20:23

Hippo - but if I choose not to let my children have it, they are in an environment with hundreds of children who may be contagious. Do I keep them off school on the basis the school has decided to be a medical centre and not a school?

OP posts:
Original poster
lovelyredshoes · 02/12/2016 20:24

Stealth - I hate to go all a bit Big Pharma, but I'm presuming the answer is there. In the petition it says that the drugs company have overstated the effectiveness.

OP posts:
whyohwhy000 · 02/12/2016 20:24

Is it only state schools that should be used for 'herd' immunity with, frankly, scientifically ineffective and downright questionable drugs?

So what you really want is for public schools to have them as well?

Iliketeaagain · 02/12/2016 20:25

You know it's not compulsory. You have to actively consent for your child to have it.

why is it bad for flu vacc to happen in a school compared to anywhere else?

Original poster
lovelyredshoes · 02/12/2016 20:26

I'veburnedthetoast - how can I possibly be anti-vacc when both I and my DC have had the flu jabs at some point and all of the usual vaccs too. This is about the NASAL SPRAY not the jab, which is a deactivated virus. It has no place in a school.

OP posts:
DisneyMillie · 02/12/2016 20:26

My dd goes to private school and they have it too so not sure why you think it's some sort of conspiracy against certain economic groups. (she had it - I have a baby at home - no one got ill.)

MollyRedskirts · 02/12/2016 20:28

Schools contain thousands of viruses, as does any place where you find people. I can't get worked up about the helpful addition of one more.

lostincumbria · 02/12/2016 20:30

Oh no, not again. Is it thought to cause autism too?

HairyToity · 02/12/2016 20:31

I'm pro it in schools. Saves me having to take DD to doctors. Never made DD poorly.

Original poster
lovelyredshoes · 02/12/2016 20:32

whyowhy00 no - I don't want ANY school to have a vaccine that is ineffective and contagious. My point is that because the 'state' schools seem to work closely with the NHS, it seems a given that it is okay to use the facilities as a medical centre and run flu vacc programmes. It seems a bit insidious to me. There may be someone on here that can inform me otherwise, but I have children in both types of schools and it seems odd that the NHS want to hear why I don't want the vaccine for one, but don't care for the others out of the system.

OP posts:
BroomstickOfLove · 02/12/2016 20:32

The children I know who have compromised immune systems know in advance when the vaccine has been given and arrange to have the injected vaccine several weeks before the nasal spray is administered in schools.

Duckyneedsaclean · 02/12/2016 20:33

The live vaccine more effective in younger children. That's why it's given, rather than the jab.

If they have at-risk relatives, they can have the jab instead - but it is less effective for them.

Soubriquet · 02/12/2016 20:34

I was all set to say yabu but all that petition asks is for children to have it done with a nurse in doctors instead of in schools.

I've read that right haven't I?

Duckyneedsaclean · 02/12/2016 20:34

Btw it is only contagious for those who are very immune compromised.

Original poster
lovelyredshoes · 02/12/2016 20:34

LostinCumbria, if you're going to comment like that, at least read the whole post. I haven't mentioned autism, nor do I have a view on the link. That is not my argument, but thanks for trying to discredit me without adding more facts to your statement.

OP posts:
Crunchymum · 02/12/2016 20:35

I have done a lot of research as I have a child old enough to have it and another who is too young (same issue last year but the older DC wasn't in full time preschool then)

A friend of mine got completely slammed with the flu recently so I opted to have it done for my 4yo even though 1 year old almost 2 but not quite can't have it.. I had it when I was 13 and it's the most ill I've ever been.

It's a live vaccine but in such a small quantity it is only potentially and innrare cases dangerous to those who should have the flu vaccine anyway (elderly, immuncompressed young)

eyeoresancerre · 02/12/2016 20:36

My children go to private school they got it last week at school. Odd and incorrect point there.

HeyRoly · 02/12/2016 20:37

I'm not anti vaccines either, but I do find the roll out of a vaccine questionable when it's primary aim isn't to protect the recipients, but curb the spread of flu to the elderly (who get flu and her hospitalised and bed block and cost the NHS £££).

However, no one is allowed to question the NHS vaccination programme on MN unless you want a massive flaming.

I'll say it again, I'm not anti vaccines. I'm pro science and pro evidence based medicine. But the evidence for flu vaccines is never very clear cut.

Tarla · 02/12/2016 20:37

My DC have all had the nasal spray and, yes, it contains live virus however it has been weakened and the amount shedded is tiny. It is very unlikely they could infect someone with the weakened virus without getting into very, very close contact with them. The way it was described to me is like pitting a newborn kitten (the weakened virus) against a full grown male lion (a healthy immune system), so the children wouldn't be going around infecting everyone they meet as the viral load isn't strong enough for this to even be possible. For families with immunosuppressive members this very small risk should have already been factored into their decision about whether to have the spray or not.

As for delivering the spray in schools, how is it any different to the school nursing programme delivering the rubella vaccine, the BCG (do they still do that one?), and others? It takes literally five seconds to deliver the flu spray, it's hardly going to compromise their education. GPS surgeries are stretched enough as it is without the majority of local parents descending on them to get the spray for their DC, added in the fact that parents work. Schools have the convenience of having all of the children in one place at the same time, they can be done quickly and efficiently. People can opt out if they don't want their DC to have it.

YABU and more than a bit frothy. If you don't want your DC to have it, don't let them get it, but don't deny others their choice.

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