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Original poster

To not give dc flu jab

224 replies

Somepoorbugger · 03/12/2019 19:41

I didn't let my 7 and 9 year old have the flu jab this year. My reason was that some relatives had it a few years ago and were extremely sick afterwards. Me dp and dc have never had the flu and I probably ignorantly underestimated how nasty it can be.

I've started with a nasty cold this week - don't think it's flu as I'm still functioning just feel crap. But it made me think how terrible I'd feel if the kids did get it. Wibu to not let them have it and can I request it through the GP?

OP posts:
HenSolo · 04/12/2019 12:07

Op I don’t think you’re selfish etc. Until ds ended up in hospital I think like a lot of people I thought flu was a bad cold. You live and learn and now you know. I think my back gets put up by people who refuse to listen to these sad stories and think how their actions can lead to the harm of others.

NoCauseRebel · 04/12/2019 12:09

The vitriol directed at the OP is totally uncalled for.

The expectation of having the flu jab is nothing like MMR for instance,because in truth the jab only works against one strain of the flu and so it is still possible to catch any other strain if you’ve had the jab.added to which, not everyone is eligible for the jab on the NHS which is a clear indication that it isn’t considered an essential vaccination.

I contracted the flu three years ago and ended up with endocarditis, sepsis and i now need a heart transplant and will be likely to go on the list very soon. As a result of all the above I am entitled to the flu jab. But I don’t agree that not vaccinating your children is hateful or any of the other insults directed here. /

Original poster
Somepoorbugger · 04/12/2019 12:13

Thank you. this being MN I'm not surprised by the vitriol but I do object to being called hateful and selfish as though I don't care about my kids or others. It's simply not true. I made a calculated decision which I can now see was a bit daft and misinformed and am trying to rectify it. I appreciate all the info from this thread. And I haven't flounced....yay for me 😂

Having said all this the dr has just confirmed that they can't help at all and given the lack of pharmacies that offer the spray I am not sure that I will be able to get them it. I'm still waiting on a call from the immunisation team to see if there are any catch up sessions planned. Fingers crossed

OP posts:
cptartapp · 04/12/2019 12:16

The jab isn't just for those that have got asthma and other illnesses! Fluenz (the live nasal spray) is the preferred method for everyone, it covers against more strains and is fine for most asthmatics, diabetics etc, unless you are immunocompromised or in close contact with such or have active wheezing.

cptartapp · 04/12/2019 12:17

The GP is correct. They are not contracted to give fluenz to healthy school age children.

Dentures101 · 04/12/2019 12:22

My dad aged 42 caught flu and managed to get an infection in his heart. His heart was already questionable. He ended up needing a pacemaker. A year later something else happened and his pace maker failed. He died. I don't know the exact details as this was my nans description of events. However I never got to see him. We were trying to reconnect after not seeing each other since I was a child. It all's started with flu. Without flu he probably wouldn't of and other problems.

Makinganewthinghappen · 04/12/2019 12:33

I have had my toddler vaccinated and I have been trying to get my school age children done. They are home educated so no school , the gp won’t do it because they are not toddlers and the private places won’t do it because they are too young!

I guess I’ll just hide away all winter!

SaveKevin · 04/12/2019 12:38

makinganewthinghaopen
I’m having similar issues, the school Hv would only accept online authorisations for the jab (or squirt), and the link didn’t work for me. So I sent a letter, that wasn’t good enough, had to be online. So mine can’t have it. I complained as there’s plenty of people who don’t have access for various reasons. But I’ve got no where.
GPS aren’t allowed to do it as the health visitors are meant to.

DogCatHat · 04/12/2019 14:02

OP, you definitely don't deserve a hard time... you're one of the very few posters who has asked "Am I bring unreasonable?", been told "Yes" and has then said "OK, in that case I will change what I'm doing".

Hope you get sorted!

NomNomNomNom · 04/12/2019 14:05

OP my DS was once ill on the day of the flu vaccine, the GP gave it to him for free anyway. You've reminded me to go get one myself.

lumpy76 · 04/12/2019 14:38

There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding on this thread.

Adults and vulnerable groups (including children) are offers the flu vaccination via an injectable vaccine containing inactivated flu. This results in (usually) better immunity against flu than the nasal flu vaccine.

Children aged 2-12 are offered the nasal flu vaccine which is a live vaccine and likely to cause mildish side affects. If efficacy is usually less good then the injection. Children are vaccinated by the NHS against flu in order to prevent them spreading it to more vulnerable populations not to really prevent healthy children getting it.

Efficacy of the flu vaccine varies from year to year depending on how accurately predictions on flu strains are.

In 2017/18 the efficacy for children was less than 30%. This year it looks like efficacy for children is around 50%. Therefore, unlike other vaccinations where the efficacy is well over 90% it is not unreasonable to make an informed decision to have the vaccination or not.

lumpy76 · 04/12/2019 14:40

I have home educated children and school going children. Those who can have the vaccine will do.

9ofpentangles · 04/12/2019 14:46

People are funny about the flu. I think they always are a bit suspicious if it's something new, which it is when you're talking about a mass vaccination programme.

Ds was always entitled anyway due to his asthma and we got it done at the surgery before the school offered it.

This year, hardly anyone got it done and he was most upset that I let him have it but I went deaf in one ear due childhood flu so I know it can be serious

Kaffiene · 04/12/2019 14:53

So much mis information on this thread. It really does show how important it is to get medical info from actual medical sites, the NHS or your GP.

The jab/ spray protect against more than one strain & can not give you the flu.

Both my kids are currently recovering from Flu type A. It has been awful. One was in hospital overnight & the other 4 days! They were due to have the spray but got flu before the date. Even though they have now had flu this year they have been recommended to get the spray next week to protect them against other strains. Fingers crossed you get sorted as I wouldn’t wish our last couple of weeks on anyone.

MidnightMystery · 04/12/2019 14:59

YANBU

SaveKevin · 04/12/2019 15:09

Those of you not having your kids done at school, where are you getting yours done? As my school can’t do it as I can’t complete the online authorisation, my gp can’t as they aren’t insured. I don’t know where else to try.

Venger · 04/12/2019 16:10

In 2017/18 the efficacy for children was less than 30%. This year it looks like efficacy for children is around 50%. Therefore, unlike other vaccinations where the efficacy is well over 90% it is not unreasonable to make an informed decision to have the vaccination or not.

Where are you getting your figures from? The 18/19 nasal spray was around 87% effective
www.gov.uk/government/news/childrens-vaccine-87-effective-against-circulating-flu-strain

Children are vaccinated by the NHS against flu in order to prevent them spreading it to more vulnerable populations not to really prevent healthy children getting it.

Again, cite your source.

Children are offered it to protect them from catching flu as healthy children under the age of 5 are more likely to be admitted to hospital with flu than any other age group, recent strains have also been worse in children. Herd immunity is always an added bonus of mass immunisation but it is not the sole reason children are vaccinated.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/child-flu-vaccine/

Children aged 2-12 are offered the nasal flu vaccine which is a live vaccine and likely to cause mildish side affects. If efficacy is usually less good then the injection

The NHS states that for children the nasal spray is more effective than the injected vaccine.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine/

SmallPinkBear · 04/12/2019 16:50

A few years ago they did give a ‘live’ vaccine which contained the virus. My DH had it and was extremely ill. This is not the case anymore. It will not give you flu, if you get it just after the injection you already had it...

cptartapp · 04/12/2019 17:16

Lumpy you are incorrect. The nasal flu is thought to be more protective as it's quadrivalent not trivalent. It is the first choice for those eligible up to 18 years old, not the injectsble (unless contraindicated).
Practice nurse here - I know the guidelines because I've given enough over the years. It's you who is misunderstood.

cptartapp · 04/12/2019 17:19

making I have vaccinated several home schooled children at the discretion of our practice manager. It can be coded for and claimed for by the practice.

cptartapp · 04/12/2019 17:22

small in over 20 years giving the flu vaccine I can never remember there ever having been a live one. You may be thinking of the vaccine for swine flu several years go, but this wasn't live either.

BlaueLagune · 04/12/2019 17:26

my friend died of flu at 21. Why would you even risk that with your children

That's awful. But the vaccination isn't a magic bullet, it is never 100% effective and in some years, barely effective at all.

I wish I could put into words how hateful I think you are being

Ah well I am hateful too as I have never had a flu jab and have no intention of having one until I fall into one of the categories of people it is recommended for.

Bombaybunty · 04/12/2019 17:28

@Savekevin you should be able to do a verbal consent on the planned vaccination day at the school or over the phone. It's a bit time consuming as the nurse has to input the info as you speak to them, but it definitely can be done.

Which area do you live in?

JustDanceAddict · 04/12/2019 17:33

My DS had flu recently and I have
Never seen
Him so ill. He’s too old for the free jab and isn’t in a high risk group so I didn’t even think about it until he came down w typical
Symptoms.
He’s back at school but he’s lucky as he only (ha!) had just over a week off - still coughing and tired and lost weight too.
It’s def not just ‘a bad cold’ - he was floored.

WingingItSince1973 · 04/12/2019 21:15

The flu is pure evil. I've had it 3 times in my life the last being 4 years ago and I thought I was dying. My grandson missed his at school last week so hoping we can get him into the doctors for it

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