To not give my kids the flu jab?

[MerryMarigold]

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.

ThanksForAllTheFish

I hope she isn't ill, I just find the discussion of causality interesting. And as I said I get a chest infection the same week almost every year which might or might not be related to the holiday.

Does anyone know where I could get the spray (or jab) for my Y5 dd? DH and I get the jab, younger dd will get it at school, but dd1 doesn't get it on the NHS and it doesn't seem fair.

I'm pretty sure you can just get the jab at a chemist for a fee.

@drspouse

Boots won't do under 18s, nor will our local chemist. So I was wondering if anywhere would.

I just found this which may be helpful

www.netmums.com/coffeehouse/drop-clinic-984/baby-child-health-989/1185109-pharmacies-can-offer-nasal-flu-vaccine-5-17-year-olds-all.html

It looks ideal, but unfortunately went out of business last year.

Gosh what a lot of non-science has been presented on this thread!

I always have the jab. Some people will always get flu in the year following the jab because predictions of prevalent strains are challenging. It will usually reduce your chances of getting flu by about 70% but efficacy is anticipated to be lower this year.

I think people often mistake a really bad cold for flu and then think that flu isn't as debilitating as it is! Colds can be truly very unpleasant and can mean you definitely need to be off work but they aren't flu.

You can get the jab at private surgeries ie travel clinics etc.

the spray for dc is quadruple incl brisbane

I have asthma and am a bus driver who services a hospital so I get the jab. My dd has had HSP so gets it too. Plus her age group ( 7 ) are getting it at school. Watching her bleed internally from a virus and get arthritis is horrific. The jab never makes her ill so she's having it. Personal choice for us. DH is very healthy and his family history is all long lived. Nobody dies younger than 96 in his family from at least the 1800s ( his mum did the family history) so he isn't having it. He figures if he gets it and can fight it off, like his whole family have in the past, he can give the science types a helping hand I suppose there's logic in there somewhere. We need a few with good immune systems naturally to give us a clue how to get ahead of these things I guess.

Dd has had the nasal vaccination the last 2 years with no side effects and this thread had reminded me I need to get her booked in again for this year. The first winter she had it, I contracted flu myself. It was horrible. I had no complications thankfully, yet I was still unable to get out of bed or off the sofa for about 5 days and it was a good 3 or 4 weeks before I was fully back to my normal self. I was so glad dd had had the vaccination as there was a good chance she'd have caught it too otherwise, and at only 2.5 it could potentially have been quite serious. I understand that there are some children who are unable to have the vaccine for medical reasons but, personally, I find it hard to understand why, if they're able to have it, and it's available for free, you wouldn't.