AiBU to be hesitating over whether toddler shld have the nasal flu vaccine?

[heatherscot]

Have you guys done it, what are the side effects, is it effective, is flu that bad (usually)? Toddler in question will be around old people, new baby and preggo people quite a bit so is it irresponsible not to vaccinate?

My DD (3) got the nasal flu vaccine last week and we also got it done last year. She had no side effects whatsoever. Apparently it’s more effective than the jab as it’s a live virus so not recommended if you have close family on immunosuppressants. I was also told that you shouldn’t do it if your child has a runny nose already and that it’s not recommended for kids with asthma (they can get the jab instead).

It is to protect your child as much as protecting others. At that age, they do catch a lot of bugs. I had the flu a few years ago and I felt like I was dying. I can’t imagine what a small child would feel like.

I think parents are falsely advised and think that their child is safe from flu after the nasal spray. Not the case.
I don’t know anyone in real life who doesn’t understand this perfectly.... and vaccinate anyway to obtain whatever measure of protection it offers. Its not some great secret. The who meet in Feb to consider data gathered by disease centres in the us, U.K., Australia, China and Japan to determine which strains are most likely to affect the northern hemisphere winter. I have a baby and my 3yo is getting it, as am I and dh.

Only one of mine had it last year (the other one had a permanently runny nose due to undiagnosed allergy and couldn't have it). The unvaccinated one got flu - as did I - and he was so miserable with it. Sobbing in pain, completely wiped out - while other dc ran around happy as anything.

Side effects from
Vaccine.... runny nose maybe? Bit of a cold?
Side affects of flu.... death maybe?
Not sounding dramatic but it's a no brainier, protect your children because the worse can sometimes happen x

I have the flu vaccine every year and only once had side effects and it was a year that they advised I probably would. These were just 24 hours of high temp. That was it. Other times was fine. DD will have nasal spray as school.
I have actually had flu once, and it was awful. Worse that pneumonia. It is sooo NOT like a heavy cold. Absolutely wiped out, drenched in sweat, migraine, unable to go for a wee without assurance. Can totally see how Spanish flu wiped out millions in 1918, with lack of basic food, warm and hygiene. Can also completely see how babies die from it easily.
It’s bloody awful and a few side effects of a jab are far better. Of course we can’t protect from all strains of Flu, but the best to do what we can. My midwife advises that the best defence is actually fastidious hand hygiene as well.

@Tamzinro that's an odd attitude. You'd rather he got flu than experience side-effects, to alleviate you of guilt? And you know that flu can kill, right? But whatever makes you feel less guilty, I guess.

80,000 people in the US died from flu last winter.

It is the complications of flu that are dangerous. The most common complication is a bacterial chest infection, which can develop into pneumonia. Other complications include:
Middle ear infection (otitis media)
Septic shock (a severe and life-threatening infection of the whole body)
Meningitis (inflammation of the covering of the brain).
Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)

Serious complications can affect anyone, even healthy people.

In the UK an average of 600 people a year die from complications of seasonal flu. However in 2013-14, it is estimated that about 11,000 people died from flu-related causes.

vk.ovg.ox.ac.uk/influenza-flu

The vaccine doesn't kill. The flu does. If I were you, OP, I'd get my kids the vaccine.

My children had the vaccine last year, they were the only ones in the house who didn’t get flu. It might be rare to get it but it took two months of my life away. I had to cancel a holiday, miss a chunk of work, and I was no use to my kids at all. This year I’ve had the vaccine I never want to have flu again.

@tamzinro your son had flu last year so knowing how ill he was you don’t want him to have the inoculation?

I mean....what? Do you enjoy watching your child suffer or something? I cannot fathom your reasoning sorry.

My kids have every vaccine available (inc flu) never had a side effect. My son however has asthma and has twice had a cold develop into pneumonia. I dread to think what would happen if he caught flu.

For closure, I took him, he was fine and so far doesn't seem bothered beyond having a tickly nose. I also had the jab myself and have a mildly sore arm but also ok so far. Let's hope it helps!

One dd have jab privately the other had nasal spray, neither had any side effects. So far.

@Sidge - does neutropenia count as significant? I'm on GCSF but my count sometimes drops to 0.3 depending when I've injected

Must admit I had a very sore, red hot swollen lump on my arm this year which I haven't had the past few years. Rather that than flu though
My flu tale of woe is I had norovirus (joy), and on day 3 woke up thinking oh, I don't feel sick. Swiftly followed by sweating, shivering, couldn't stand the duvet touching me, hallucinating etc. GP did home visit and announced "proper flu, stay in bed"
Ended up off work for nearly 3 weeks and lost over 1.5 stone

@Ollivander84 I’d be cautious with neutropenia and advise that anyone in your household received the injected flu vaccine rather than the nasal one.

In terms of general contact (ie out and about in public) I think the risk is similar to normal in terms of transmission. I’m not an expert though, I’m a practice nurse rather than an immunologist!

@nomad I’m in the same position, my gp surgery said flu spray for 2&3 yo but only those born before sep 2016. They couldn’t help when I asked and when I got mine in boots they said they only do them for over 12s.

If yiu want a jab for small dc go private gp not boots etc.

@Sidge luckily nobody else in the household except the cat so no risk of shedding there

@Ollivander84 I think you're OK then

@Sidge yesterday (11/10/18 09:22) made very sensible points as have other PPs.

We get flu injections (or nasal spray flu shots for younger DC) every year from GP surgery nurse and have done since they were all little (DS1 now 16). Not noticed any side effects from nasal other than sniffy DC for a day. With flu injections have noticed a slight achy soreness at injection site for couple days but only really noticeable if your DD or DSis punch (or accidentally knock) you on that arm

We get flu jabs every year for 3 of 4 in our family who have asthma. Flu is hideous and literally can be a killer in our case. We stay away from ppl with heavy colds even, where possible, as having an asthma flare up is the worst, the whole 'struggling to breathe' thing.

Little babies, vulnerable frail older people or those with other long term conditions can experience similar & bodies become overwhelmed by flu if a nasty strain. People forget that Spanish flu outbreak killed millions across the world early last century.

I'm pro flu jabs as you can see.