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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be unsure about flu nasal spray vaccine?

164 replies

Jinxed2 · 15/10/2019 20:52

My son is now two and I have had a text message inviting me to make an appointment for him to have this. AIBU to not want him to have it? I am not an anti-vaxxer however I have 2 older children and when they were small this wasn’t a thing.... I’ve never had flu in my life.... thoughts please

OP posts:
Hoooo · 15/10/2019 21:21

Ds1s paediatrician looked after childrem and pregnamt women who died from "just the flu".
But, hey, who needs experts, right?

Hoooo · 15/10/2019 21:22

..
And vaccination schedules change all the time btw...

Fluffycloudland77 · 15/10/2019 21:22

Australia’s had a bad flu season this year, the under 5’s were affected badly and nearly three times as many people died as the previous year so their offering flu jabs to I think all primary school kids & the under 5’s. If a country half our population lost 300 you could crudely extrapolate it that 600 in the uk will die this winter.

I’m not a risk group but my perfectly healthy mother nearly died from it age 39 in the 1980’s & I remember her being ill so I get the jab every year.

kitk · 15/10/2019 21:22

My understanding is that kids are offered the vaccine because they're great carriers of the virus, so while they may get flu and bounce back, it's more likely an elderly or sick person would catch it from them. The herd immunity to protect the more vulnerable is the main reason for kids having the vaccine as far as I understand

loveautum · 15/10/2019 21:23

Following this thread as called the doctors today about my 2 year old and she is eligible so definitely getting it done. I was confused as thought it was an actual injection a leaflet I picked up said vaccine but it's a nasal spray?

Hoooo · 15/10/2019 21:25

In children under 18 its a nasal vaccine.

Over 18s can have the jab.

Ds1 has to have the jab because he reacts to the nasal vaccine. It's a right palaver...gp has to get permission from public health England to give him the jab.

AudacityOfHope · 15/10/2019 21:25

So your basic argument is that because it's a new fangled thing that there's no need for it?

That's ok if you're only making the decision for yourself, you can get the flu all you like.

But why would you not protect a toddler from it, who has a much less robust immune system than you?

That's just selfish.

EenieMeenieHalloweenie · 15/10/2019 21:25

I recently had flu (diagnosed by a nurse) and very nearly ended up in a&e, and I'm an otherwise healthy adult. I felt like death, and I'd give anything for my small children to not have to experience that, so it's a no brainer here. Not really sure what the dilemma is?

Benes · 15/10/2019 21:26

The NHS is on it's arse financially.....if it wasn't important they wouldn't fund it.

Children tend to be the ones which carry the virus and pass it on to the elderly and vulnerable.

Why would you ignore sensible medical advice?

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 15/10/2019 21:35

My DP had flu a couple of weeks ago. I was genuinely scared by just how ill he was, and that there was nothing I could really do other than try to get him to drink. He was bed-bound for pretty much a week, just getting up so I could strip and change it, or for the toilet. He has no other health concerns, and is a 6ft 5 bloke in his early 40s - it just absolutely floored him.

I usually get the vaccine free at work, but paid to have it at Boots today. I honestly can’t understand why anyone would not get it for themselves or a child unless they were medically unable to have it because of allergies or whatever. (And presumably there are options/alternatives if you are in that position.)

mumwon · 15/10/2019 21:41

there has been a very bad flu epidemic in Australia this winter which has cause deep concern as we go into winter in the northern hemisphere - many people have died - children & elderly are particularly vulnerable

Haworthia · 15/10/2019 21:41

I’ve declined it every year and will this year too.

The evidence in favour is sketchy. The side effects can be nasty.

I’m not an anti-vaxxer either, but I know a bit about evidence based medicine. And if Cochrane collated the data from 75 studies and concluded it isn’t effective, I’m going to give it a swerve.

Haworthia · 15/10/2019 21:42

Sorry, forgot the link: www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/oct/05/government-wrong-nasal-spray-vaccine

Lougle · 15/10/2019 21:50

Flu renders perfectly healthy people critically ill. Yes, the risks are higher for generally unwell people, but we see young, fit adults in ICU with flu. Our flu season has already started.

I had flu once. I was working in ICU, and over the course of a shift I was finding it harder and harder to change my incontinent patient's sheets. By the end of the shift, I was exhausted. Before I drove home, I thought I'd have a drink of coke to give me a boost. As I swallowed, my throat closed over and I choked. A passing doctor colleague saw me and tried to take me to A&E. I refused, saying I just needed to get home, I was exhausted. She insisted on driving me home. When I got home, I took my temperature and it was 38.5°c. I didn't get out of bed for almost 2 weeks, bar toilet trips.

Glitterblue · 15/10/2019 21:52

I almost died from the flu at 38, I was seriously ill in hospital. I've never in all my life felt so ill. I couldn't breathe, I was so dehydrated and my temperature was 42. I was hallucinating and rambling. It was a terrifying experience and not one I wish to repeat so I have had the injection every year since then.

isadoradancing123 · 15/10/2019 21:52

Oops, no need for people to be rude and offensive its a very personal decision, i am not anti vax in regards polio, diptheria, tetanus, meningitis etc, however, personally i wont let my children have the nasal flu vaccine

HippyChickMama · 15/10/2019 21:57

The flu vaccine is most effective in small children, its efficacy is greatly reduced in older adults. By vaccinating small children it reduces the risk of them passing on the virus to at risk older adults who the vaccine is ineffective for.

Original poster
Jinxed2 · 15/10/2019 21:58

Wow, there’s no need for the rudeness. Was asking a genuine question. I mentioned my other children not having it meaning I don’t know much about it. I try to research but difficult as seems to
come up with anti-Vax stuff, have a Facebook friend who shares loads of it all and it worries me sometimes, rightly or wrongly. Of course I want what is best for my son.

OP posts:
MyDcAreMarvel · 15/10/2019 22:03

@Hoooo you can get the jab from age 11 at Boots privately.

londonrach · 15/10/2019 22:05

I was on the fence last year with dd but not for dd but my mil who immune suppressed and the spray has weakened live virus. However fact flu kills...i waited til mil had just seen dd then took her next day. So glad i did as dd had no problem, very simple pain free spray and knowing she protected against that strain of flu was worth it. Going to do the same this year.

OctoberLovers · 15/10/2019 22:06

Its a nasal spray up the nose, not a jab

happychange · 15/10/2019 22:15

I read efficacy of nasal spray is lower so not sure if it's really protective
We will get the vaccine but it's not going to stop all flu viruses

MyDcAreMarvel · 15/10/2019 22:18

@OctoberLovers
Its a nasal spray up the nose, not a jab
Yes the op is aware it’s a nasal spray , what’s your point?

greeentopmilk · 15/10/2019 22:42

The NHS aren't going to offer something for no good reason

It protects people from getting flu, which at its worst can kill, especially vulnerable people.

Why would you be unsure?

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