For or against Nasal Flu vaccine

[LondonerWith2]

So I'd just like opinions on the flu vaccine as I'm torn.
My eldest had one in reception last year and was fine, youngest received it at GP few months back and was dreadfully ill afterwards.

I'm unsure of whether or not to allow my 6 year old to have it so would like other opinions?

TIA :)

One of my dc had the nasal flu vac last week. He's been fine. The other is due it this week. I definitely let your dc have it. I think they'd be very ill of they had real flu.

Hell yes.

If they are made that ill by the attenuated vaccine strain, just think what it might have been like if it had been a wild strain.

Most deaths are in the elderly, the medically vulnerable and infants under 1 year. But (in an unvaccinated population) most cases are amongst children.

Even if the serious complications are avoided, flu is a miserable disease to have. I would definitely vaccinate rather than let them take their chances on the wild virus

Okay thanks
Reason I'm torn is I've heard loads of things about kids becoming really poorly afterwards (from people who aren't anti vaxers)
So wanted to get other parent(s) opinions

For.

I’d definitely get it. My four children have had it every year and never had any side effects.

My ds had it late last week and is currently suffering from a sore throat, headaches and fatigue but not so bad that he's bed ridden. I'm still glad he had it as these symptoms are mild in comparison to him having actual flu (which I had last year and left me in bed for a whole week so so poorly).

Your child getting poorly after having the vaccination does not mean that they got poorly because of the vaccination. Kids get colds, sore throats, bugs all the time, because kids are gross. It could have been a side effect, but is just as likely (if not more likely) to have been completely unrelated - especially if they go to school or nursery where they’ll have been exposed to all the other gross kids and their germs.

Unfortunately my dc have all become extremely unwell after having it for the last 3 years to the point we will now decline it. They have all had it at different times as diff schools or at the gp and every time now 5 days after exactly they have a sudden extremely high fever , vomiting , shaking , very unwell. The first year I thought it was odd as it was only the child who had had the flu spray and usually in a big family if one gets ill they all catch it. It’s the exact same every time. We won’t be having it again

There are lots of coughs she cold around atm as there is every autumn.

Let them have the vaccine

If they feel unwell afterwards it’s unlikely to be as bad as if they had a circulating flu virus.

My son had the nasal spray last week, and I was reading up on it because of wanting to avoid my immune compromised Dad (wished we requested the flu injection now, but that’s hindsight for you!).

The nasal spray contains the weakened live virus, but the injection doesn’t. So, in theory, the person can develop mild flu following the spray. They also shed the live virus for a couple of weeks, so others can also get it. However, my understanding is that it is a low risk.

Both of mine have had it and they were fine. We have immunocompromised family members so it's a no-brainer for us.

Absolutely have them vaccinated.

My daughter had the nasal vaccine a few weeks ago. Three days after she got it she came down with a bad cold - high temperature, headache, shivery, sneezing and very runny nose.
I assumed it was just a coincidence and she caught a cold that was going around but now I am wondering if it was a reaction to the flu vaccine.

If they felt poorly after just the spray, you definitely don't want them to catch flu?

The virus in the vaccine is significantly weakened, so if that makes them unwell then just imagine what the full strength virus could do if they are unprotected.

We will be opting for the injection next year and I have one dc not vaccinated this year we have changed our preference to injection not the nasal spray

None of mine have ever had it

Absolutely not, mine were severely poorly and never again
flu in most people isn’t deadly or risky, same as with COVID.
ive had 5 texts just this week from the GP surgery bombarding us to go get it, that in itself is very off putting

Absolutely yes am in favour of it

Proper full on flu is absolutely bloody miserable...I don't want my children to go through that if at all possible

DS is 6 and has had it every year. He had it Friday just gone. All good again do far.

I always opt for vaccines when offered.

@LondonerWith2 I am sure you already know this, But Flu can kill a healthy child. Vaccination is the best way to protect your child. Even if they get a bit ill after.

The nasal vaccine has a very mild live strain, so yes kids get poorly after it, that is sort of the point of it. They get a very mild version of it that stimulates their body to produce the antigens to protect them. Yes there are some synthetic bits to it but the predominant part of the vaccine is a lab grown live strain of flu.

My son’s had this vaccine yearly for about 10(?) years and never had any side effects. All been fine. I haven’t heard of anyone being ill from it. If the side effects were worse overall than flu in children was overall, then I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t be offered.

I'll always consent to vaccines they come up

DC have also had the chicken pox vaccine too, so frustrating it's not on the children's immunisation schedule in the UK but is in many other countries!

Can I ask was it a very high fever shivering and vomiting and sore throat ? This is what my dc have had after the flu spray for the last 3 years they’ve been extremely ill each time

9 times out of 10 reactions like this are because they were already brewing a cold before they have the vaccine.