Toddler flu vaccine

[stretchmarkqueenie]

Anyone else in two minds about giving their toddler the flu vaccine? I'm by no means an anti vaccine mum, my DC are all up to date on their jabs. Just heard such a mix of views about it that I'm confused. Only direct experience of it was when pregnant, and I was in bed for a good few days after having it so that isn't a great experience. WIBU not to put my DC through that?

[Missingmilestones]

Sorry typos as on phone and it always does that !

[Missingmilestones]

Thankyou I'll ask the gp as they had said they was no egg free vaccine available
I've been giving ds a multivitamin and iron plus manuka hiney everyday and a helathyba diet as possible but I know if we can't get him vaccinated it will mean he just wo t be hoingbout much over winter which is a shame but I can't risk it 😔

[LouLouLove]

they give it at my son's school, we don't pay for it, he's 6 (Yr 2)

[OhBeggerItsMorning]

Our youngest, 7 yr old in yr 2 at school, is having his done by nasal spray at school tomorrow. He has had it done in years past and hasn't had any negative reactions to it, so I feel it is worthwhile, better than getting full-blow flu imo.

The letter we got with the consent form says from October 2017 it is being offered to all children in years reception, 1, 2, 3 and 4. (In some areas it goes up to year 6.)

It is a quick squirt of a nasal spray up each nostril, even my DS wasn't fazed by it and I was expecting him to be when he first had it.

There is info on it on //www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/Pages/child-flu-vaccine.aspx (sorry if the link doesn't work, can't copy and paste using the kindle so typed it in, if one letter is wrong it won't get you there, but you can go to //www.nhs.uk and search for it. It is important to check if your child can have the spray as there are those who can't, eg anyone with a severely weakened immune system, severe egg allergy etc. but they might be able to have the jab instead.

[MissConductUS]

Can anyone explain why one year olds aren’t offered the vaccine? I don’t understand why a high risk group isn’t covered.

They are in the US. Infants six months or older are approved for the vaccine and regularly get it.

[cakeandteajustforme]

Can anyone explain why one year olds aren’t offered the vaccine? I don’t understand why a high risk group isn’t covered..

[Witsender]

Ok cool, I'm due in for an induction tomorrow so will ask them. The other two kids are home ed so don't get it through school but we have had the letter through so need to decide what to do for them.

[Namelesswonder]

A poster asked about policy in other parts of the UK - in Scotland all children receive it at primary school - so up to 11/12 yrs old. Younger children get it at specially run GP clinics.

[Doje]

Witsender I was told by the nurse that the nasal spray is a live vax, the injection one isn't.

DS (3) had his last week and was fine afterwards.

[MissConductUS]

@Missingmilestones

Does anyone know is there any form of flu vaccination suitable for someone who is allergic to egg?

There is. It's called Flublok and it's made with recombinant DNA technology instead of being cultured in eggs. See this web page and scroll down to where it says "Recombinant Influenza Vaccine (RIV)"

www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/vaccine_safety.htm

I have no idea if it's available in the UK or not. Ask your pediatrician. If you can't get Flublok your best option is to have a supply of one of the antiviral medications like Tamiflu in the house and give it to DS at the first sign of the flu. If you don't start it within 48 hours of onset it's almost useless, but can make the flu much less severe and uncomfortable if used in time.

[MissConductUS]

I thought nose spray wasn’t as effective anymore. At least not in the U.S. anymore

Correct. It's better than nothing but not even close to the effectiveness of the injected vaccine, so the CDC is no longer recommending it.

www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2017-2018.htm

OP - everyone "needs" the vaccine every year because the strains of flu it protects against change every year. But the only bad effect of not getting it in future years is a lack of protection against future flu strains.

Please get him the vaccine. No toddler should have to suffer through the flu.

[Missingmilestones]

Does anyone know is there any form of flu vaccination suitable for someone who is allergic to egg? Ds is in a high risk group but can't have it as he's allergic and I'm worried

[Fruitcorner123]

I should add my children have had them for the last two years with no side effects

[Fruitcorner123]

They don't have to get it every year that's not true! Children in infant school (years reception - 2) In England (not sure about other parts of UK) get it at school for free.

[Oly5]

They absolutely do not need yo hve it every year - that is wrong

[baffledcoconut]

So under 2’s don’t get it or have I got this wrong?

[Witsender]

We will have a newborn in the house fairly soon, is the spray a live vax? From memory it isn't.

[MonkeyJumping]

They definitely don't have to have it every year.

The flu strains change every year so the vaccine only lasts one year, but your choice whether they have it in future years.

[JamPasty]

I understand once they start taking it they have to have it every year - this is totally untrue

[d270r0]

My 3 year old has just had his last week. No reaction whatsoever. I think all kids in reception, y1 and y2 get it free this year too.

[Butterymuffin]

They'll most likely be offered it in school once they start queenie.

[stretchmarkqueenie]

I didn't realise that once they had it they needed it every year. So do we need to pay for it at the pharmacy in future years as only 2 and 3 year olds are free, am I right?

[ouchmyfanjo]

Ok I'm like you and have previously refused it for my youngest. Neither school has any medical conditions and I wow t sing time reading up on it a couple of years ago.
I understand once they start taking it they have to have it every year. Each year strains are different and Australia suffered partly because the vaccine was not effective against the prevalent strain.

There are many reasons, and I know it is not without risk but I am probably you g to refuse it again this year.

[Cutesbabasmummy]

My son who will be 3 in January is booked in for it at the beginning of November - that's the soonest I could get him an appointment for it so am guessing its popular!

[BumWad]

Booked DS2 for next week.