Flu vaccine for primary school age children?

[Gem123J]

Not really aibu, just wondered how many parents consented to their child having the flu vaccine (nasal spray).

I’m only asking because my daughter (who is 4) had it last year, and the previous, but this time as it was being done in school I had a form to sign. Last year my daughter absolutely hated it, she was quite groggy afterwards so I didn’t want her just turning up to school one day and her having to have it without knowing. So I told her about it and asked if she wanted it and explained why they give it of course, but she was adamant she didn’t want it so of course I said no to her having it.

I didn’t worry too much because they don’t have it under the age of two, and with it being fairly new (wasn’t around when I was little), I thought it can’t be extremely bad for her not to have it. But I read a story about a family (in America) that had 3 sick children in hospital with the flu, but still not extremely sick, but sick enough to be in hospital! So I am a bit worried now!

Just wanted to know who out there does or does not allow their children to have the flu vaccine basically..

@Leemoe

you are brave putting that on this thread! But it’s always good to hear two sides of the story, so thank you.

I've had several friends who work in schools already go down with flu the past couple of weeks. It's beyond awful; none could get out of bed for a few days. Even 'colds' are a misery this year again as everyone's immune system is crap after two years of on/off isolating.

Get them protection from the flu! If not for your own child's health, for the numerous people they come into contact with!

You're welcome.

But then a year 5 child wouldn’t know if a year 3 child wasn’t in the hall. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Our primary and secondary haven’t done it like that anyway. Small groups got called out at primary. At secondary they do it in year order and then alphabetical order. They get given a time slot on a piece of paper. The kids wouldn’t have a clue who has it and who does it unless they talk about it.

doesn’t

I work in a school and the growing negative attitude towards vaccines from the children astounds me. When I was a child in the 70s/80s, the nurses showed up, you got your jab and off you went. Of course there were dcs who made a fuss, especially in secondary, but there was never discussion of not having it. (Except a brief period of controversy about the whooping cough jab) I think that’s because our parents’ generation didn’t have vaccines for many serious illnesses eg polio, diphtheria and the opportunity to have them readily available and for free was much appreciated.
The younger generations take so much for granted. I believe our dcs immunity has been weakened by lockdown and we must take illnesses like flu very seriously. We have had so many poorly children this school year. Chickenpox in particular ripped through our infant classes.

Mine have always had it. Not offered it in u7 though, is that normal?

Mine DD is 7 months old and she’s getting once before she starts nursery. I intend to get her one every year until she’s 18.

Being forced to wear a cardigan in heat and having a vaccine to prevent illness aren't the same.
Ask her if she wants to wear a jumper, sure - she doesn't need to have a choice in a vaccine to prevent nasty illness.

Years 7-9 are starting in our area next week.

Both my DC, myself & DH always have the flu vaccine.
I was a little concerned about DS getting it at school this year (he's in YR) & he's developed quite a phobia around things being up his nose from all the Covid tests but he was actually absolutely fine.

My 5 year old wouldn't. He didn't even tell me he'd had the flu vaccine, I didn't realise until I found the information sheet in his school bag 5 days later! (I had consented earlier in the year)

I've had flu twice in my life. Once aged eight, and again aged 30. Both times it floored me. I couldn't walk, I had to be carried or crawled to the toilet. Could hardly drink. Was severely dehydrated. Didn't eat properly for weeks. Fatigued for months. My kids get vaccinated EVERY time. I certainly don't trust a decision like that to a child who can't be trusted to dress themselves at that age!

Bonkers.

Do you let your 4 year old child make all their own medical decisions? How can a 4 year old have any concept of the stakes involved. Be a bloody grownup!

I’m trying to say I wasn’t given a choice for anything. That was just a small example. So now I may be too “pro-giving a choice”, that’s what I was trying to explain.. not saying both situations are the same. Basically trying to explain why I gave her the choice.

Last year DD who was 4 refused it at school despite me signing forms. I had to drive to the arse end of no where with a 4 week old baby. This year I reminded her, we went through what was going to happen inc using a saline nasal spray on me and I explained she needed to have it to protect us all esp her beloved grandparents and baby brother and thankfully she had it at school!

Agree with this

My DC have never had the flu vaccine. I’m not anti most vaccines. I do do as much as I can to boost DCs’ immune systems, so should they catch flu, or covid again, their bodies are in good shape to cope as well as possible

Also OP my DS didn't want his either and got very upset when I mentioned it to him when I was consenting to him getting it. But in school it's different, all their friends are getting it done, the nurses are well used to reluctant children and honestly I think your DD would be better just getting a quick sniff of the vaccine in school than going along to the GP with you making a fuss out of the whole thing.

The driving to the arse end of no where was so she could get the spray on my watch, not schools!

My DD hated it age 3 and would have preferred the injection. She had it at school age 4 and was OK with it. I think having it at school and needing to be sensible about it was much better than me taking her.

A fair few kids didn't have it, and I felt she was unlikely to get flu but I figured it was worth it 'just in case'. Others on this thread have highlighted cases of children getting it badly.

Also people massively over estimate negative side effects. It's common that people coincidently get a cold etc and think the vaccine caused it, when often it is completely separate. Of course sometimes it is a genuine side effect.

My 3 year old had one at the GP and I was really impressed by how the nurse explained it to her and gained her consent. My daughter was very reluctant and I had thought it might be a case of pinning her down but in the end she had it quite happily. I think it's good to get consent for anything you do to a child whatever their age, if possible! That means bribery and letting them feel in control rather than detailed explanations, for younger children.

I insist dd has it. She hates it though - dislikes anything up her nose or the person administering it getting so close. I'd be all for an actual injection if that was an option.

Bear in mind you may not be able to get it from the GP surgery - it depends on your area.

In my area as GP practices we are not funded, nor supplied with vaccine, to deliver flu vaccine to healthy, not at risk, school aged children - the school health teams are commissioned to deliver that service.

If they miss it at school for whatever reason parents have to contact the school health team to arrange to have it in one of their catch up clinics, which may be at a weekend at an alternative venue.

I'm a bit baffled that you expect a 4 year old to fully understand flu/vaccines.

Mine all have/had flu vaccines. Youngest doesn't go to school so I arrange it though the community vaccination programme. Even adult DC pay for it now as they don't get it in the NHS.

And we can’t give the injection unless the nasal vaccine is contraindicated, unless there are clinical indications for it.

Parental preference isn’t a clinical indication.