Has your child had nasal flu vaccine and why?

[MissT84]

Sitting on the fence about giving dc nasal flu vaccine (verging on saying yes). Dh doesn't want them to have it.

So aibu to ask if you have given it/would give it to your dc? And what reasons?

Rumpled

H3N2 is included in the jag, but it’s not the Aussie flu variant, and early suggestions are that it isn’t particularly effective against this variant. It might offer some protection, but this seems to be quite limited. You certainly couldn’t assume that if you’ve had the vaccine you are protected.

My D.C. have all had it. Why wouldn’t you?
My LEA offer it to all children upto year 8.

And although I am divorced and must ask exH's permission to take DD to the beach in the next state, I have never once consulted with him about vaccinations. 'Difficult' though he is, exH is not irrational or unreasonable when it comes to vaccinations.

No, because they are too old to qualify for that immunisation.

But yes, they have had the injectable (because I am immune compromised)

My whole family has had proper flu ... apart from my 5 year old who was the only one to have the nasal flu vaccine.

I am glad he had it! He had no after effects at the time it was administered.

Y0uCann0tBeSer10us

From your link:
“‘77% of flu infections’ have no symptoms, say experts,” reports ITV News

The news is based on a large community-based study carried out in England, which found that most people with influenza (“flu”) don’t have symptoms, and even if they do, only a small proportion go to a doctor.

What this study actually means is that flu rates are much higher than we think we they are, because some people don't realise they have it and thus it doesn't get reported.

The people who DO report that they have flu WILL be suffering nasty, severe symptons (more than a runny nose), as they will be the ones who seek medical attention.
So what that study suggests to me is that the rates of flu officially reported represents the number of people suffering proper, nasty, symptons (NOT "mild"), but that there is also a large number of silent carriers wandering around who aren't included in those figures.

But those people will still be capable of spreading the virus, wont they?

So the idea that we could be silent carriers of the flu virus without realising it actually makes me feel more strongly about my dd being immunised, as it
a) suggests it is harder to avoid infection than I previously thought
and
b) suggests that my darling germ factory could infect a vulnerable person without me realising (we have friends with tiny babies, and we come in to contact with lot of very elderly people too).

Finally, I really disagree that the most common side affects (runny nose etc) are equal to the symptons associated with full blown flu.

squishy I actually largely agree with your interpretation of the report in that flu is much more common than is realised and that those silent carriers are contributing to the spread of flu. Those with severe symptoms are very unlikely to be out and about.

Where I disagree is that this means my dc should get the vaccine, because the effectiveness is so low that I don’t think it would prevent spread of most strains and wouldn’t give muc( in the way of herd immunity. Vaccination could actually backfire if a person assumes that they or their dc won’t pass on flu because they’re vaccinated, or if the vaccine reduces the symptoms to such a level that flu isn’t recognised but is still transmissable. (This is especially dangerous given the widely held belief that ‘real flu’ always has you in bed for weeks.)

Btw I’m not completely irresponsible and would stay away from vulnerable people if I had any kind of illness as you can never assume that a mild illness in one person will be mild in another. Where I have to have contact, common sense measures like hand washing, coughing into tissues etc. go a long way towards halting the spread. I do think I have to consider the real risks/benefits to my child above hypothetical risks to strangers though.

My four year old has had it because her seven year old sister could become seriously ill from the complications of flu. Eldest had the injectable vaccine as she can’t have the nasal. I hope that the majority of her school friends have had it - eldest hasn’t eaten properly for three days with a bug, flu would be a disaster. My mum (with whom we have no contact) has just got home after 6 days in hospital with flu. It’s simply not worth the risk.

My children have had it ages 6 and 3.

They both were a bit sniffly and had slight fevers the next day or so, but imo those minor symptoms are better than them
catching full blown flu.

It’s a no brainer really.

DS2 always has his as he's asthmatic and a bout of flu would knock him off his feet for such a long time. I'm aware that there's no guarantee of protection from all strains but reducing the chances of him becoming unwell is worthwhile for me.

My dd a healthy 10yo contracted flu, started off with a sky high temp and generally feeling awful and then after two days she started having breathing difficulties.

She spent two days on a ventilator in PICU.

It took a further week in hospital and many more weeks/months to fully recover and I will be forever grateful she did as sadly some children do not.

She has had the nasal spray and will be immunised against flu every year.

I would not wish what we went through on anyone, please vaccinate your children!!

flobella. I am not against vaccinations my child has all the others. Just something doesn't sit right with me about putting a live vaccine up a small child's nose.

If there was evidence that it made a massive difference to the flu cases I would consider it more but there is no evidence to suggest this. So because it doesn't sit right I have decided against it.

I have had flu myself many years ago and was v poorly for a week but my body naturally fought it off.

My child had chicken pox a couple of years ago and was very poorly and I have seen many cases of v bad chicken pox yet we don't routinely vaccinate against that.

My child had chicken pox a couple of years ago and was very poorly and I have seen many cases of v bad chicken pox yet we don't routinely vaccinate against that.

Actually in a lot of the world we do routinely vaccinate against chickenpox.

Its great that countries like France are now making vaccinations (11 of them iirc) compulsory before you are allowed to attend school. Other countries are fining parents.

I hope the UK will consider one of these soon.

Dc4 has had it every year due to a congenital heart defect. Dc1-3 have never had it BUT dc1 has had/got suspected flu and she’s asked if she can have the vaccination next year!

Herd immunity. It is my civic duty to inoculated the dc against flu.

I would give my child the jab, not the nasal mist vaccine. Studies in the US lead to the nasal mist vaccine being taken off the market because it didn't protect as well as the injected vaccine.

I provided a link up thread to current US statistics on pediatric flu fatalities and hospitalizations, which are much higher than normal. Anyone who thinks that otherwise healthy children aren't at risk should read about this 10 year old boy who died of flu complications on his way home from an ice hockey tournament.

Flu complications caused 10 year old boy's death

DD had it at school. I had it at work (NHS).
We had it because I’ve had (proper) flu and DD was hospitalised a couple of years ago with a virus. Why would I leave her open to something I could prevent or at least reduce the impact of.

Also I’ve seen our trusts flu data set return and know how many beds including HDU and ICCU are taken up by flu cases.

My son doesn't have the nasal flu vaccine because it triggers his asthma, he does however recieve the flu jab (needle).

My little brother had it. He has severe cerebral palsy and something as simple as a cold could easily turn into pneumonia with him so we don't take any chances with flu.

Yes both my children have. Last year my son had breathing problems (now solved by surgery thankfully) and full on flu could have made him very very ill.

It wont protect against every type of flu but some is better than none.

Im getting both mine the Men B jab as well and considering chicken pox jab as neither of them have had it and they are now 6 and 3.

Flu complications caused 10 year old boy's death

That's heartbreaking :-(

My stepsister died of sepsis, after having had flu for a week. She was perfectly healthy beforehand.

I wish i had pushed for it for me my daughter got it. I've got flu and missed major surgery yesterday meaning that i have to wait another 2 weeks. I feel awful and that I've wasted everyone's time as whole family where on standby.

DD has had it DS is too young. I've had the jab as I'm asthmatic and I want to pay for DH to have it.

Why? Because flu is horrible at the best. But I remember learning about the 1918 flu pandemic where 50-100 MILLION people died around the world. Pre modern transport era.

Because 20 kids have died in the US already. Because reports 5 days ago placed total UK deaths from flu this season at nearly 100. Because hospitals are creaking at the seams already.

Don't need any more reasons.

Both of mine were ill and weren't allowed to get it at the time and we've never been asked again, is it too late to have it done and is it just a case of phoning GP?