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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Has your child had nasal flu vaccine and why?

249 replies

MissT84 · 16/01/2018 13:57

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?

OP posts:
greenlynx · 19/01/2018 07:46

Mine had as she has a few health issues and generally weak child and she wasn't unwell after it
Me and DP haven't , we were going to but then got a cold , etc so ... now we both came down with flu and it's not nice at all!

lougle · 19/01/2018 08:06

Please get them the vaccine. The flu is so rife this year. The vaccine won't make your child 'ill', but as the vaccine 'takes' their immune response can be mildly uncomfortable and mimic a cold.

The flu doesn't actually kill anyone in itself, but the complications of flu, either from the immune response to it damaging the lungs or secondary viral or bacterial infections, can be lethal, and very quickly.

moosemama · 19/01/2018 08:08

DD is having her flu spray today. She was in hospital when it was done at school, then the rebooked appoinment was cancelled as the clinic was closed due to snow. We were offered an alternative date, but it was when we were away over Christmas, now they’re finally doing the catch up for those that missed it in school.

I want both my teens to have Quadrilavent, but it’s out of stock everywhere locally, so it looks like they will be getting Trilavent this weekend. I am so cross with myself for not just getting it done at the start of the season. Think I was caught off guard, as ds1 was always called for his by the GP until this year, which reminded me to book one for ds2. This year he had his asthma diagnosis removed, as he seems to have outgrown it, but of course that means he didn’t get called in for the flu jab.

Lesson learned, everyone will be done early in the season next year.

According to reports, we have about another 7 weeks of this flu season to go before things calm down, so definitely still worth getting it done.

Juanbablo · 19/01/2018 09:20

Ds2 who is 3 had the vaccine in November. I don't want him to get flu, so he had the vaccine. He's never had any kind of reaction from any vaccine he's had so I see no reason not to give him the flu vaccine.

DancingOnRainbows · 19/01/2018 09:20

Why does it get offered in January? Isn't flu season half over by then???

MynewnameisKy · 19/01/2018 14:53

All primary school children in NI get it. My Dc have been getting it for a few years.

MissConductUS · 19/01/2018 16:23

Why does it get offered in January? Isn't flu season half over by then???

Flu virus will still be going around in March and April. It can still kill you or put you in hospital no matter what month you get it in.

Bindibot · 19/01/2018 16:52

Slightly off topic as I don't have children.

I was always offered the flu jab, (ex HCP) and after the 2nd one realised I reacted badly, therefore I had it the day before I had some days off. (high temp, aches,sleepiness, etc)

I did this because I have had full blown flu (yes you can have mild flu and function) but there is over a week I can not remember I was so ill and then weeks/months of recovering. Seriously it landed me flat on my arse.

At the same time a friends healthy fit husband ended up in ITU with the same strain of flu so I see myself as getting off lucky.

So feeling a bit crap for a day or two/ having a mild version of flu, totally worth it.

Why would you risk your child?

Skowvegas · 19/01/2018 19:56

Why does it get offered in January? Isn't flu season half over by then??

I assume it's because flu season is not completely over.

UmmKultum · 19/01/2018 19:58

Mine had it (injection not nasal as thats all they offer here). I know it's not too effective this year but it is meant to still be protective from the worst complications which is really the main reason we all get vaccinated each year.

WaitingForSunday17 · 20/01/2018 08:33

I rang GP and they said dd had to be 2 by the end of August 2017 so she missed it by a few months. I was going to ring round and see if a pharmacy would do it but the GP didn't seem to think they would.
Has anyone had their 2 year old vaccinated when they were too young for the NHS scheme?

MissConductUS · 20/01/2018 16:28

Not to belabor the point, but the CDC released updated weekly flu statistics yesterday. We had ten new pediatric flu deaths, bringing the total to thirty. It's not in the link but I heard from someone in A&E that the total at this time last year was five.

www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm

Typically about 90% of this cohort is unvaccinated.

KavvLar · 23/01/2018 15:14

I am in bed on week 2 of Australian flu. It has been horrific. First week I couldn't do anything literally lay in bed feverish and confused. Headache muscles ache chest aches vomiting diahorrea passing blood.

My Dds are 7 and 3 and both had the flu shot. Dd1 had some mild symptoms mimicking mine but recovered in a day or two and was back at it. I dread to think what she would have been like if she had got it full force. I'd recommend the flu shot. I will be getting it next year as soon as I can.

stitchglitched · 23/01/2018 17:38

Reading your post has made me feel very relieved I had my DC vaccinated KavvLar. I hope you start to feel better soon Flowers

monkeymamma · 23/01/2018 18:00

Flu kills. Why on earth would anyone not get it for their DC?!

Pollaidh · 23/01/2018 22:31

Am now on day 14 of the flu. Have been in bed for over a week, still feverish every day, can barely talk, struggling with hard foods still, lips and nose bleeding, coughing up blood-stained phlegm. And this is WITH the jab, and is still not so bad as the flu I got without a jab some years ago.

DS is very vulnerable and also caught flu. We and doctors were prepared for a midnight dash to A&E, because that can happen even with colds. I was really worried, given how ill I was with it. He had the jab in september and unbelievably seems to have come through this flu without being too ill. He's been off nursery for a week, 40 degree fever for a few days, and a cough, but no respiratory distress or oxygen needed. The flu jab has more than likely saved him a life-threatening illness.

badass80 · 23/01/2018 22:43

Just do it

Mascarponeandwine · 23/01/2018 22:48

My 7yo had it at school and was fine. My 9 and 12 year olds are not eligible as too old apparently (only up to year 4 get an nhs vaccine) and paying at Boots etc is 16+ only. No ones got ill yet but I’m not sure why 9 to 16 year olds are exempt from the herd immunity - anyone know!

Dauphinois · 24/01/2018 17:22

I work in a primary school where 100+ children have the nasal vaccine every year.

We have never noticed an increase in children off school unwell in the days following the vaccine.

In my experience, at work and as a parent, it doesn't make them unwell at all.

mathanxiety · 24/01/2018 17:25

A local weekly boarding school has closed temporarily due to flu. They called in a team to disinfect the buildings and the students have all been sent home.

AFistfulOfDolores · 24/01/2018 17:29

The nasal vaccine is live and can cause mild symptoms (my DC was poorly for a few days), and is still worth getting, imo, even though I read that it doesn't incorporate one of the main flu strains going round. (We have two large strains, which is unusual.)

The (non-live) adult vaccine is more effective if you can manage to get the quadrivalent vaccine.

TittyGolightly · 24/01/2018 19:02

Is t it the other way round?

dementedpixie · 24/01/2018 19:32

No the nasal one is the live one. It protects against 4 strains whereas most of the injections only protect against 3

Bubbaliscious · 01/11/2018 19:59

My ex partner is adement that he doesn’t want our children to have the flu spray, but I feel very strongly that I do want them to have it. Does anyone have any idea where I stand with this?

Lamona · 01/11/2018 20:08

Flu is horrendous. We've all had it this year and I had totally forgotten how draining and miserable it is. DH got tonsillitus as a consequence, and DDs tonsils are now so enlarged shes going to have to have them removed because of sleep apnoea.
I got DD vaccinated as soon as it was offered. no question
She wasn't ill from it. At all. She was absolutely fine.

There is no reason not to have it but plenty to have. (I would if they gave it to everyone)

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