dd had the flu jab today..

[SouthernComforts]

Hi all. My dd has long term recurrent chest infections and had pneumonia in February so she was eligible for the flu jab.

But despite me ringing weekly through October to book her in I was told she had to wait until the over 65's were finished. So her chest infections started last week, I picked up some stronger antibiotics today and they did her flu jab anyway.

A few different people told me she wouldn't be able to have it done whilst she had an infection so should I be worried? What should I look out for over the next few days?

TIA.

The latest view is that jabs are far less effective if the body is already fighting an infection. The immune response to the pathogens in the vaccine is therefore less then it otherwise would have been.

I am surprised your practice is not aware of this, although it could have to do with reaching targets of vaccinating x per cent. Our paediatrician will not vaccinate when dc are fighting an infection.

So I don't think you have to look out for anything in particular. Just don't expect full protection against flu but the flu vaccine rarely gives full protection anyway as there are so many different strains and you are only being vaccinated against a small subset.

Thanks, that's pretty much what they said, and why I wanted her to have it while she was well because she probably won't have a break between infections until spring now, if the last 2 years are anything to go on.