Page 6 | Not to give my child Flu jab

Etam · 30/09/2023 20:51

Never had a flu jab in my 40+ years. Also never had the flu. My children don't get the flu jab either. Seems utterly pointless to me. Of course the flu isn't nice and it can be awful or potentially fatal in a very small amount of people (mainly the elderly), but like the covid jab it doesn't prevent you from getting it. The majority of people won't get it either. Apparently it lessons your symptoms if you do actually end up getting it. But how can you really say for sure? So far the only people I've ever known to have the flu have actually been the ones who've had the jab.

Parker231 · 30/09/2023 20:51

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

Children aged 6 months to 4 years in clinical risk groups to be offered COVID-19 vaccine booster.
It is recommended for children with underlying medical conditions. This is no different from other groups of the population.

Curiosity101 · 30/09/2023 20:52

@Binjob118 To be fair - I wouldn't use the COVID vaccine as a good example. The flu vaccine has been around for years and years - and the advice is based on many years of data.

COVID was based on as much data as we had, which was 'enough', but no where near as much compared to flu. And also it's was an every shifting landscape, where as Flu is endemic.

That's not to say the advice won't change in future regarding the flu vaccine. But just to say that it's not comparable to COVID vaccine guidance changing.

I also briefly mentioned the chicken pox vaccine. That one isn't routinely given in the UK but is in other countries. One of the main reasons it isn't given here is cause allowing children to spread chicken pox exposes adults to chicken pox and there's science to show it boosts shingles immunity in adults and the elderly. Bear in mind there is a shingles vaccine available... and that you probably wouldn't need to boost so many adults if they hadn't all caught chicken pox as kids in the first place.

Soubriquet · 30/09/2023 20:52

I see no reason to decline it. Dd has asthma, so does dh so flu is not wanted in this household. No side effects have ever been registered here either

1daughterand3sons · 30/09/2023 20:52

They did the flu immunisations at Ds school last week and he didn't get his done cause he refused to do it.
Ds goes to school with lots of really sick children so I want him to have his immunisation to help protect his class mates who could die from the flu.
He's had the immunisation before without any issues I think he refused has me not dad was present. Gonna see if the GP can do it for him.

Lovewinemorethanhusband · 30/09/2023 20:57

@gamerchick , my daughters paediatrician is a woman not a man who is very highly thought of in the hospital and nhs/private sectors and as she's saved her life twice I'll stick to listening to her advice for myself and all my children, my husband does what he wants as always without thought for anyone but him as he doesn't want flu apparently but he stays with his parents to a for 3 days after his injection

Parker231 · 30/09/2023 20:58

Etam · 30/09/2023 20:51

Never had a flu jab in my 40+ years. Also never had the flu. My children don't get the flu jab either. Seems utterly pointless to me. Of course the flu isn't nice and it can be awful or potentially fatal in a very small amount of people (mainly the elderly), but like the covid jab it doesn't prevent you from getting it. The majority of people won't get it either. Apparently it lessons your symptoms if you do actually end up getting it. But how can you really say for sure? So far the only people I've ever known to have the flu have actually been the ones who've had the jab.

No vaccine is 100 per cent effective, but people who have had the flu jab are less likely to get flu. If you do get flu after being vaccinated, it is likely to be a milder, shorter illness than if you haven’t been vaccinated.
Why would you play around with your and your DC’s health.

mollyfolk · 30/09/2023 20:59

I never usually give them the flu vaccine - partly because it would be a hassle and I've to go to the doctor for it where I live, and partly because none of us have never had the flu so it wasn't really on my radar. Like I've nothing against it but they aren't majorly at risk from it either so it wasn't high on my list of things to do. Last winter my son got the flu and it resulted in two hospitals visit for dehydration and then he slept for two days straight so I was just very worried about him and we went back to A&E then we had 6 weeks of him being very low trying to get over it. My other children got over it quickly (like within a day) but he was floored. I was also floored and ended up with a chest infection. So we'll be all getting flu vaccines this year. It was a whole pile of poo - ruined all of December and was a bit sad that we missed the panto and santa visits ect...Ultimately if I'd organized something as simple as nasal vaccine he would be much less likely to be so sick.

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 30/09/2023 21:01

Do it @Binjob118 Let your child have it. Won't hurt, and will do more good than harm. Also it is NOT a jab. It's a nasal spray.

Child flu vaccine - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Child flu vaccine

Find out about the nasal spray flu vaccine for children, which children can have the nasal spray, safety and side effects.

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

Lovewinemorethanhusband · 30/09/2023 21:02

@PosterBoy , we've never been offered that to be honest and it's never come up in conversation surrounding it.
My children have had all other vaccinations just not the flu or Covid as I had a massive allergic reaction to covid and ended up in hospital with a bleed on the brain so my children weren't having it at all, especially the middle child who so far is allergic to every single medication I am allergic to so far !

SoLongAndThanksForAllTheVaricoseVeins · 30/09/2023 21:04

Lovewinemorethanhusband · 30/09/2023 20:57

@gamerchick , my daughters paediatrician is a woman not a man who is very highly thought of in the hospital and nhs/private sectors and as she's saved her life twice I'll stick to listening to her advice for myself and all my children, my husband does what he wants as always without thought for anyone but him as he doesn't want flu apparently but he stays with his parents to a for 3 days after his injection

Someone hasn’t explained something properly to you if your believe it’s necessary for your DH to stay away after having a flu jab.

The nasal spray contains a small amount of live virus, so could be passed on initially. Your compromised child should steer clear of classmates who’ve had it for a few days afterwards.

The injections do NOT contain live virus, so your DH is no threat at all to your children from that point of view. The side effects some people get immediately after the vaccination (including me today!) are NOT a small dose of flu, but just your body creating the correct immune reaction, leading to the production of antibodies, which is prompted by the vaccination. So there is nothing he could pass on to you or your children.

There’s no need for him not to be with the rest of you at that time. But if you want to do it just because, that’s your decision.

infinityminusone · 30/09/2023 21:04

It's a personal decision, but there is some evidence that natural immunity is longer-lived.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41577-019-0143-6

'In conclusion, the antibody response to natural influenza virus infection seems to be broader and longer-lived than the antibody response induced by influenza virus vaccines.'

The human antibody response to influenza A virus infection and vaccination - Nature Reviews Immunology

Developing universal influenza virus vaccines will require understanding how broad and long-lived antibody responses to natural infection with influenza A virus are generated, a topic that has benefited greatly from technologies that enable the analysi...

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41577-019-0143-6

Upwiththelark76 · 30/09/2023 21:05

Why is this even an issue? Either consent or don’t ….. why the need to ask randoms what they think ? I pay for a vaccine .had flu once and never want it again. But you are the parent make your own decision

SoLongAndThanksForAllTheVaricoseVeins · 30/09/2023 21:06

infinityminusone · 30/09/2023 21:04

It's a personal decision, but there is some evidence that natural immunity is longer-lived.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41577-019-0143-6

'In conclusion, the antibody response to natural influenza virus infection seems to be broader and longer-lived than the antibody response induced by influenza virus vaccines.'

That’s interesting, but I don’t want to have had the flu in order to benefit from it. I’ve been hospitalised with flu in the past and I’d rather never do it again.

Tryingmybestadhd · 30/09/2023 21:06

You trust your own instinct in what is best for your child . A healthy child doesn’t need the flu jab at all . None of mine ever had it and they won’t

laalaaland · 30/09/2023 21:07

I had the flu for the first time just before COVID hit. I then caught covid twice and was quite ill the first time.

The flu was MUCH worse for me. I always pay to have the flu jab now and my 8yo son will have the nasal spray at school.

Don't underestimate the flu just because it's 'common'.

Parker231 · 30/09/2023 21:10

Lovewinemorethanhusband · 30/09/2023 21:02

@PosterBoy , we've never been offered that to be honest and it's never come up in conversation surrounding it.
My children have had all other vaccinations just not the flu or Covid as I had a massive allergic reaction to covid and ended up in hospital with a bleed on the brain so my children weren't having it at all, especially the middle child who so far is allergic to every single medication I am allergic to so far !

The majority of schools run a flu nasal spray programme in the autumn term with pre school children being able to get it at the GP’s.
Many employers also offer the flu jab at work (I’m having mine there). I’m amazed you haven’t come across it as the campaign is well advertised each year.

GG1986 · 30/09/2023 21:11

I had flu when I was 14 and was in bed for 2 weeks, I had to crawl to the toilet as I couldn't walk, I didn't eat, could hardly drink and slept most of the time, it took me nearly 6 months to fully recover and now as an adult I have many autoimmune diseases which I'm sure were probably caused by having influenza as a child. It is completely up to you whether you vaccinate your child or not, but it is to protect them as well as protect others(that doesn't just include the elderly).

Narwhalsh · 30/09/2023 21:12

I had the flu once in my teens and it floored me for 2 weeks. I was literally asleep for the first week and then the second week was so weak and still out of it. And I am/was a healthy person. It’s a horrible virus (when you actually get it, not just a bad cold), I always get a jab if I can get one (and for my kids too)

Disappointedsofa · 30/09/2023 21:14

My son didn't get his flu nasal vaccine last October and he had no colds or sicknesses all year, I've asked for him not to get it this year as well

redguitar123 · 30/09/2023 21:14

Binjob118 · 30/09/2023 19:55

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.

There are a small number of genuine vaccine injuries, vastly outweighed by the good that has been done by the COVID and other vaccines. Most 'vaccine injuries' that people publicise are nonsense.

If you want to put your child at risk of feeling really unwell with flu, missing a load of school etc - go ahead and don't vaccinate. IMO that's pretty poor parenting, but it's your decision.

redguitar123 · 30/09/2023 21:15

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?

Yes of course you were wrong then. It was recommended because of the level of circulating COVID and the serious illness caused in a small number of children.

awaitingroom · 30/09/2023 21:16

Is not a jab is a nasal shot.

My dd will have it, but it's not to protect the elderly, they have the vaccine themselves, it's to protect my dc.

SomethingWycked · 30/09/2023 21:16

Absolutely your choice. I never had the flu jab until after I caught Flu in January 2012. I honestly thought that was it for me, I have never felt that ill. So I now pay for it & 13 year old DS has had the nasal spray at school every year. Much worse than covid.

Tamuchly · 30/09/2023 21:17

My kids have the flu vaccine and so do I. Their Dad chooses not to, that’s his decision to make but he agreed the kids should have it. I have a medical condition that means I sometimes get quite ill, very quickly, when I’m exposed to normal, everyday illnesses. I also work in a school which means my chances of escaping every germ going around is fairly minimal! The flu vaccine doesn’t stop this entirely but is another layer of protection that I find reassuring. I expect when the flu nasal sprays are done in our school that about one third of the class won’t have it done. There will no doubt be reasons for this but I remain grateful for the two-thirds who do because they cut my risk a little more.