Page 5 | Not to give my child Flu jab

Binjob118 · 2023-09-30T18:55:10+00:00

My son is 6 and has been offered the nasal flu jab at school. He has had it the last 2 years and had no problems, but I now feel reluctant to give it to him. Does a healthy child really need this? I have to admit this change in my thinking has come about since the COVID vaccine rollout and the many vaccine injuries that seem to be being ignored by the MSM.

Alargeoneplease89 · 30/09/2023 20:38

Notagains · 30/09/2023 20:36

Yes yabu. And selfish. Keep him away from elderly and vulnerable people

Bore off, I'm vulnerable and I don't make my kids have it for my benefit- I just get it bloody done myself

1stTimeMama · 30/09/2023 20:38

My eldest is now 14 and none of my children have ever had the flu vax, not because I'm against them, they've all had the others, but I've never felt the need for this one for some reason. I've never had flu in 40 yrs, they've never had it, in fact I don't know anyone who's had it.

IslaWinds · 30/09/2023 20:38

Binjob118 · 30/09/2023 20:31

I only posted this because I am torn on my choice. The fact that there is a debate here perhaps shows that many parents struggle with these decisions. I don't feel like I have enough information to decide. For those criticising me, I also didn't give my son the COVID vaccine when offered. I think this is now no longer recommend for young children. So was I also wrong then?

The Covid vaccine is still recommended for 5 and up and under 5 if clinically vulnerable.

https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/covid-19-vaccination-children-young-people

COVID-19 vaccination for children and young people

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and the Chief Medical Officers have been advising on when COVID-19 vaccinations should be offered to children and young people.

https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/covid-19-vaccination-children-young-people

D1nopawus · 30/09/2023 20:38

BlueBlubbaWhale · 30/09/2023 20:28

I've never been sold on the flu jab. There's so many strains they basically have to try work which ones are most likely to be doing the rounds that year and it's effectiveness can be quite low due to that. I assume the spray is the same?

All UK flu vaccines are quadrivalent.

SoSad44 · 30/09/2023 20:38

1stTimeMama · 30/09/2023 20:38

My eldest is now 14 and none of my children have ever had the flu vax, not because I'm against them, they've all had the others, but I've never felt the need for this one for some reason. I've never had flu in 40 yrs, they've never had it, in fact I don't know anyone who's had it.

You don’t know anyone who has had the flu? Unless you live on a remote island I call BS

Lizzieregina · 30/09/2023 20:39

I’ve had the flu 4 times in my life and hoped for death every time, so I’m all in favour of the vaccine. I get it every year, as do all the children I provide care for. It’s pretty standard where I live.

I haven’t had the flue for 26 years thankfully!

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 30/09/2023 20:39

My dd ended up in intensive care ventilated with flu so I'm a big advocate of the vaccine.

Until that happened I honestly wouldn't have believed a healthy child could have been so seriously unwell purely due to flu.

Flu is much worse and more dangerous for children than covid imo.

melmonroe · 30/09/2023 20:41

Mine have it didn't due to the fact I'm immunologically compromised and it's a live vaccine. Kids that have it can pass flu to others and it's not recommended.

We do all have jabs though.

Original poster

Binjob118 · 30/09/2023 20:41

Parker231 · 30/09/2023 20:36

Why don’t you take medical advice rather than a bunch of non experts on a forum , some of whom are obviously anti vaxxers.

Show quote history

I just gave an example where the NHS changed their minds on vaccinating young children. So where they wrong to begin with? I admit I no longer just accept without questioning. I thought MN may have some deeper insights perhaps.

OP posts:

Summermeadowflowers · 30/09/2023 20:41

@Notagains this is the part of the argument I have to admit I’ve never understood.

The elderly and vulnerable have the flu jab themselves, presumably, so I really don’t know why they need children to also have it to benefit them. I don’t mean that in a goady way either: I’d genuinely like to know!

Hemera2023 · 30/09/2023 20:41

Yes mine are having it, I had flu a few years ago and it was awful. I wouldn’t wish it on my children.
2 weeks of feeling awful, vomiting, horrible cough, pain and aches all over. It was worse than having Covid.

Hemera2023 · 30/09/2023 20:42

So for those whose children aren’t having the vaccine - are you worried about them getting the flu?

melmonroe · 30/09/2023 20:43

muchalover · 30/09/2023 20:34

Flu is not a live vaccine. It CANNOT give you flu. You coincidentally came down with a bug at the same time.

By not vaccinating you are relying on the herd immunity of other people and other children having vaccines. Whilst you may not consider you have a societal responsibility to them, others vaccinate to protect you too. So you benefit.

Children are highly vulnerable to bugs and they run through nurseries and school like wildfire. Not everyone that dies from flu is over 65.

We are v lucky to live in a country with healthcare - whatever you think of it. 1000s of small children die annually in countries that don't have vaccine programmes.

Whilst it is your choice, those who have not been vaccinated and not caught flu have been lucky. Luck runs out. Lots of posters have reported their luck running out and being very ill with flu.

The nasal vaccine is a live vaccine and can give you 'flu if you're immunosuppressed.

1stTimeMama · 30/09/2023 20:44

I honestly don't. I don't remember either of my parents having it, maybe they did before they had me. My husband hasn't. I suppose it's not something that I've ever thought to ask anyone, but I've not known people to have it since I've known them, let's put it that way. I don't have the vax regularly either, the only time I've had it was when pregnant.

whatwasIgoingtosay · 30/09/2023 20:44

Very pleased to see 90% vote for YABU. You are, indeed, being unreasonable. Flu is a very terrible illness which kills many people every year. You would not want your child to have it and should take this free protection for him.

carddino · 30/09/2023 20:44

@SoSad44 I totally agree with you re @Summermeadowflowers what a load of nonsense.

If you don't want it don't do it, follow whatever medical training you have and make that super decision.

But seriously, distressed at a spray. That's more concerning than anything.

And the later response. They are only toddlers. ????? Well exactly. It's a tiny spray that they do not even notice.

I assume those parents who object to a spray, not the vaccine itself, have never had the sadness of a very unwell child.

And remember all this it doesn't effect me. So when you are hit by a car that's absolutely fine, let's leave you there because it doesn't bother me. My child was ran over but I'm not getting medical treatment because my friends child didn't like a spray.

Where do you draw a line here.

Curiosity101 · 30/09/2023 20:44

@MollyMarples I did most of my research years ago and read lots of things, including scientific papers. But this seems like a nice summary and is recent. Just Google "Flu stats UK"

The things worth googling are:

Average efficacy (normally around 50%)
Risk of serious illness by age
Risk of side effects

Generally it's around 50% effective, so will protect around 50% of vaccinated people that come into contact with flu. It's generally very safe (obviously individual circumstances should be considered) and it's generally significantly more pleasant than flu itself.

A woman is blowing her nose with a tissue

Excess deaths associated with flu highest in 5 years

UKHSA has published its annual flu report for the 2022 to 2023 flu season, the first time flu has been widespread since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/excess-deaths-associated-with-flu-highest-in-5-years

Crazyjanes · 30/09/2023 20:45

There is a little boy who is immunosuppressed because of cancer treatment in my DDs school so something like a kid not getting the vaccination and passing it on to him could kill him. I cannot comprehend the mentality of anyone not getting this for their child. It is completely safe and it is to protect them mostly, but also to stop flu spreading as much as we can.

Fitrix29 · 30/09/2023 20:45

The point is to try to KEEP him healthy 🤦🏻‍♀️. Sure, if he’s got no underlying problems and catches flu then it likely won’t cause any lasting effects, but it will make him feel be bl**dy awful while he has it. Why would you put your child through that? And do you seriously think that you know better than medical professionals?

TeenLifeMum · 30/09/2023 20:47

Dc having the flu vaccine is generally to stop them spreading it. The covid vaccine doesn’t stop the spread so that’s why my 2 youngest never had it - they’d already had covid twice by the time it was offered. They do have the flu one because they’re happy too and one dd has asthma. It’s totally your choice and no need for any drama.

IslaWinds · 30/09/2023 20:47

Binjob118 · 30/09/2023 20:41

I just gave an example where the NHS changed their minds on vaccinating young children. So where they wrong to begin with? I admit I no longer just accept without questioning. I thought MN may have some deeper insights perhaps.

Show quote history

I don’t recall them changing their minds? Can you post a link?

StaunchMomma · 30/09/2023 20:47

🙄

TeenLifeMum · 30/09/2023 20:49

@melmonroe it is live and there’s a very small chance it can if you’re immunosuppressed although evidence is strong that it’s not likely it’s not conclusive and therefore dc in families with immunosuppressed members are offered the jab rather than the spray.

Stealthtax · 30/09/2023 20:50

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This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Muststopeating · 30/09/2023 20:50

Well I asked an ICU nurse with kids a bit older than mine. She frequently has patients in ICU as a result of the flu. Some are young and previously completely healthy... some of those people have died.

She vaccinates her children against the flu so I vaccinate mine.

The flu vaccine has been round for decades... it is not at all comparable to the COVID vaccine.