Flu Jab 2yo DD Yes or NO?

[mum8196]

Basically I'm considering getting the flu jab for myself and 2yo DD, her dad doesn't like the idea and I'm not sure. Iv had it once before for my old job (Nhs) and I was fine didn't even get a cold that year (pregnant with DD)

Basically my nieces and nephews are constantly ill. Runny nose coughs etc and every time I allow my DD round there to play she gets sick! literally, she started with a cold on Thursday and last night was sick in her sleep after being round them on Wednesday ! So now I'm starting to think she needs a flu jab to be safe as she is also starting nursery in January.

Anyone else get the flu jab and there DC? Thanks.

Honestly my view is that it's important for children to be ill from time to time, otherwise how will their immune systems develop? I can understand if someone is in an 'at risk' category and then it makes sense but I'm not so keen on the 'it's easier if they aren't ill'. Nursery will be good for catching all sorts of things and building up her immune system to them, think about it over the longer term and the benefits.

All DC are offered the nasal spray flu vaccine from age 2 until around 10 I believe. My youngest who is 4 is getting his next week. I think the cut off is that the DC has to be two on or before 31st August. It’s a nasal spray for young ones not an injection

I’ve had the flu and it was absolutely hideous, I would hate for my young children to get it. It can also cause severe complications. There’s a reason children get the nasal spray vaccine for free.
Mine have had it, no side effects. It won’t stop her getting colds though.

@Minnie881 I don't mind her being ill! A common cold or tummy bug is fine but what I'm trying to say is every time she's around her cousins she gets ill, even stuff they don't 'have' like for example she's caught her cousins cold and got sickness with it? Which he doesn't have, so she obviously doesn't have the best immune system. it's Flu I don't want her to catch.

@SoyDora thanks that's a big help 

If you don’t want her to get flu then, yes get it. If was in your position I’d probably do it without her dad knowing and then say ‘tough it’s done’ or just don’t tell him at all. I’d struggle to be married to someone with such a difference in opinion on my child’s health though to be honest...

Your child will still get all the normal illness despite having the vaccine, just not the flu, which can be very damaging, or indeed fatal.

@MamaLovesMango he's happy for her to have it if I want her to he just doesn't like the idea of it that's all, I think I'm going to go ahead and book us in.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

My 3 year old said that having the nasal spray was the best part of her day as it ‘made me giggle and I got a sticker’

People blow of the idea of the 'flu'' because people say they have flu when actually they just have a bad cold. Flu is nasty and can be dangerous to vulnerable groups including young children. Your DP may not like the idea but at the end of the day you're trying to protect your child not just against flu but against further complications such as pneumonia and bronchitis. Have the spray.

^ agree with this, actual flu is so so much worse than a bad cold. I couldn’t get out of bed for 2 weeks and could only drink flat coke from a spoon.

@blackcat86 will do, thanks