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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not give my kids the flu jab?

135 replies

MerryMarigold · 28/09/2017 09:18

Every year this comes round and every year I don't do it, because I don't feel I know enough about it, so I think better to leave it. This year I have a few days left to decide. Anecdotally some kids seem to get quite sick after it (and it's just before half term - coincidence?!). And why do they need it every year if it gives immunity? Plus how many people actually get real flu? I know it's not pleasant, but is it worse than getting a mild version of flu every year after the jab?

So, if you are doing it/ not doing it and know something 'proper' about it, please let me know.

OP posts:
SelmaAndJubjub · 28/09/2017 09:39

As a PP said, there is a serious flu outbreak in Australia that will almost certainly reach the U.K. Children have died. Even if you don't usually vaccinate, I would strongly recommend that you do this year.

The vaccine is NOT to give herd immunity- that would be impossible as we only vaccinate high risk groups. It is to protect the individual child.

sashh · 28/09/2017 09:40

flu not a very serious thing for most healthy children

Flu can kill, it is more likely to kill someone who has other health problems but it does kill children.

And why do they need it every year if it gives immunity? Plus how many people actually get real flu? I know it's not pleasant, but is it worse than getting a mild version of flu every year after the jab?

You need it every year because it is a different strain of flu every year.

Not pleasant? It's fucking awful and the symptoms some people get after the jab are nothing compared to flu.

Coffeethrowtrampbitch · 28/09/2017 09:40

The strain of flu being vaccinated against this year is meant to be a really serious one, so even if you haven't let them have it before, they are at more risk this year of serious harm if they fall ill. I have been advised by HCP to have it done for this reason.

I get it for my kids as I had flu when pg with dc3 and have never been so ill or terrified for the welfare of my baby. It was the most awful experience and I wish I'd had a flu jab.
I'm also immunosuppressed as I'm having chemotherapy for an auto immune disease, so if my children pass flu to me there is a real prospect of it killing me.

Original poster
MerryMarigold · 28/09/2017 09:41

Thanks Selma, that makes sense.

OP posts:
PsychoPumpkin · 28/09/2017 09:44

My kids are getting it and I’m going to pay for my husband and I to have it as we’ve done for the last few years.

CaptWentworth · 28/09/2017 09:45

It will give herd immunity protection in a nursery where two children cannot receive it.

OP, if nobody vaccinates, some children will get flu. Some of them will become seriously unwell due to complications. If everyone vaccinates, there will be no children infected with that strain of flu, and even the ones who cannot have the vaccine will be protected because none of their classmates will catch it and spread it. Not sure if I've explained that well...

NinonDeLenclos · 28/09/2017 09:46

My mother had a really bad reaction to a flu jab & that totally put me off.

I think they're un-necessary unless you're very old or very little. If you're healthy with a good immune system you'll be fine.

The 1918 flu epidemic was not typical.

ParsnipLeekAndLemonSoup · 28/09/2017 09:47

apologies for hijacking the thread but does anyone know where/if you can get it for under 2s? I'd like to get my 18 month old vaccinated but the NHS website just mentions it for over 2s.

Tazerface · 28/09/2017 09:49

The vast majority of people don't know anything about any vaccinations. That's why we rely on the advice of doctors.

Personally, I have it, and my kids do too. I've got no reason to believe any of us will have any adverse reaction and if we're talking about 'was really ill with a bad cold right after' that still wouldn't persuade me to not have it.

LuchiMangsho · 28/09/2017 09:50

If you don't know what's in the flu jab, look it up. Medics like my DH have spent years working on it to try to perfect it. We don't have a universal flu vaccine yet (it's the holy grail). Look up the clinical trial results. Public Health England has them. They are very good for the flu vaccine for children. And you CANNOT get flu from the flu jab (it is not live), the spray is but it is mild and a day of Calpol (according to DH) should sort it. But flu is a serious disease and we are heading for a bad winter. That's not medical scare mongering. You don't want to be the parent scrambling around to vaccinate if there is a bad outbreak like Australia.

LuchiMangsho · 28/09/2017 09:51

Under 2s can't get the spray because they weren't part of the clinical trial. Certain vulnerable babies can get the jab.

user1494409994 · 28/09/2017 09:54

My two kids have had it done every year it's been offered to them. Neither have every suffered side effects (nasal spray version) and they have daily contact with older grandparents so I think it's a responsible thing to do. Grandparents and DH also have it done. They are old and he's asthmatic. Not worth the risk when it's offered to them. Apart from a bit of a sore arm, none of them have ever suffered side effects either

IggyAce · 28/09/2017 09:59

I refuse the nasal flu vaccine for my DS who has asthma, this is because on the two occasions he had it he was poorly 10 days later with asthma attacks. I do however take him to the gp and he has the jab, in fact he is having it tonight after school.

SelmaAndJubjub · 28/09/2017 10:00

Anyone considering not vaccinating should think about what would happen if we get a flu epidemic like the one in 1918-19, which infected 500 million people (a third of the world's population) and killed up to 50 million, half of whom were young adults.

You're thinking, "Yes but medicine has moved on. That wouldn't happen now." Wrong.

Flu is a virus, so antibiotics do not kill it. Tamiflu, which the government wasted millions on stockpiled during the swine flu outbreak has been shown to be useless. The only treatment for flu is 'supportive' - fluids, painkillers, intensive care if you're really sick. That's Ok now, if a few people in your community get serious flu. What would happen if a third of the entire population gets infected, 10% of them potentially fatally - as in 1919? Do you think your local hospital could cope with tens of thousands of extra patients, especially when many of its own staff are ill?

I hope we never get a 1919-type outbreak again but, if we do, tens of thousands - possibly hundreds of thousands - of people in the UK will die. Protect yourselves and your kids.

ParsnipLeekAndLemonSoup · 28/09/2017 10:03

thanks luchi, that's a shame.

CaptWentworth · 28/09/2017 10:05

I'm getting the vaccine at work, which we get to protect our patients. It will also protect my baby who is too young to get the vaccine, but will get the antibodies from my milk. DH is going to Boots at the weekend for his. £12.99 well spent.

Littlebelina · 28/09/2017 10:05

DH gets it for free and is already booked in. I used to get it for free but will be paying for it this year (probably from Asda or boots). DS will also be having it.

On that note do folks know if primary school kids usually get it in school? We haven't had a letter for DS yet this year but seem to remember schools give it?

lovelycuppateas · 28/09/2017 10:10

PLEASE have the flu jab. My partner has MS and is completely debilitated by flu, like many other high risk people - disabled, elderly, asthmatics; this can be a life and death situation for some people. The more people are vaccinated the more we are all protected. I have very little patience about people who make a fuss over vaccinations tbh - it's not just about you.

Hullabaloo31 · 28/09/2017 10:12

Littlebelina this year it's reception to Year 4 in English schools.

They've extended it a bit, so I think all reception get it at school this year (last year I had to take my reception age son to the GP as he wasn't old enough).

Schroedingerscatagain · 28/09/2017 10:20

As others have said under 16's now usually receive the nose spray version, it's not licensed for over 16's so my 15 year old ASD DD is not going to be happy next year when she has to go back to injections again

Many years ago there was a problem for 2-3 years of people including me reacting to a then live vaccine. This was discontinued in that form and since then I've generally been fine with perhaps a couple of days under the weather after vaccination

This year is already shaping up quite scarily with the news from Australia and New Zealand and I for one will feel much happier when we are vaccinated this weekend

I am always cautious about vaccinating just for the sake of it but not when it comes to flu, it's a killer and as someone else described there really is very little treatment available once you're ill

Why take the chance?

For anyone else who is like me (immune deficiency) and wants to boost their defences, take a look at emerging research on vit d and flu

I've now been taking it due to deficiency for 6 years and have barely had a cold let alone flu since

StiginaGrump · 28/09/2017 10:21

Is there anyone here who has actually had proper flu who would dream of refusing it?

I would vaccinate because of the valid science behind it because some protection is better than non. I would also vaccinate because flu is a killer and for most of us would make our children more unwell than we have ever seen them and would leave others with life long complications and kill some.

Anatidae · 28/09/2017 10:23

ninon

I think they're un-necessary unless you're very old or very little. If you're healthy with a good immune system you'll be fine.

1919 was not typical

It will happen again. Not if, when.

the 1918 outbreak killed the young and strong BECAUSE they had healthy immune systems

Flu can flatten you regardless of strength, and a severe outbreak uses your own immune system against you. If you google 'cytokine storm' you can read about it. But basically your own immune system goes into overdrive and you drown in your own fluids as it attempts to defend you. And that is not a good way to go.

Flu can and does kill people, healthy people, in normal years. In normal seasons the elderly and vulnerable are a bit more at risk but flu is not trivial even for a young strong healthy adult. I've had it twice - I was young, strong and super fit (used to run, bike, climb, everything.) it gave me pneumonia. I was very ill.

MuddlingThroughLife · 28/09/2017 10:31

All five of us - me, dh, dd1 16, dd2 almost 13 and ds 10 - have been told we have to have it this year as ds has recently finished cancer treatment.

My dad has it every year as he had a kidney transplant 13 years ago. 🎗

elliejjtiny · 28/09/2017 10:37

Yanbu. My 4 year old is vulnerable and a cold can mean one of his many operations gets postponed and he gets really ill. I can't prevent him getting colds (although it would help if his school stopped encouraging parents to bring their ill DC to school anyway to improve their attendance figures). But he is having the flu spray at school and the gp has agreed to give me, dh and our 11 year old the jab.

CiderwithBuda · 28/09/2017 10:41

I've never had real flu unless a mild version and have never had the flu jab. However I will be having it this year. It is predicted to be a very bad flu season. Australia have already had a bad flu season where otherwise healthy children and adults died.

I will also be supplementing with Vit D as obviously not all strains of flu are included in the jab.