Thiomersal-free flu vaccines

[GeorginaA]

Does anyone know which brands of flu vaccine are thiomersal free and whether they are suitable for children? Also if they're available on NHS or privately? Thank you.

I am having one done privately that is thiomersal-free, but the cost is £15. I am 30 weeks pregnant. They are also offered to children - thiomersal free.

Don't know about what the NHS offers, I've always had it privately here.

flu vaccine

Yes, I think I'm going to have to pay privately as my boys don't come under high risk (and if it's mercury free then I want them vaccinated). Is there anywhere I can find a local private vaccination clinic on the web? I'm coming up empty with good old google...

Try www.yell.com. That's where I found mine.

Still not having much luck

So far I've tried:

my local BUPA (don't do them)
Boots (sounded aghast that I'd even consider that they'd do them)
Superdrug (do them, but aren't going to have them in until November, by which time is flu season and as the boys won't be covered until their 2nd jab 4 weeks after that, isn't ideal - put our names down anyway in case that's our only option)

You wouldn't think it'd be that hard to give money away to get it done, would you?

Boots used to do them! I had one there back in 2003.

I use a private healthcare chain called 'Healthcare Now'. Don't know if they have locations outside Scotland, however.

They do clinics, just like the NHS.

My child is too young to attend school. She's only 2.3. Am on the fence about vaccinating her. She goes to a couple of playgroups a week and that's about it for her contact w/other kids or the public at large. I'll ask the nurse when I go for my jab.

I work w/the public, use public transport at peak times, and am 3rd trimester pregnant.

I'm mainly concerned due to:

a) a couple of years ago a child near us died of the flu - was the same age as ds1 was at the time and shocked all of us.
b) every virus going sweeps the toddler groups and schools round here in seconds, as it is we've had every stomach virus going recently so I don't hold out much hope of avoiding it.
c) we all got flu last year and I had breathing difficulties up to a month after it - not an experience I'd like to repeat. At least ds2 was breastfeeding last year, so wasn't affected too badly, but that wouldn't be a protective factor this year.

I'm probably worrying over much, tbh, but if it's a simple vaccination that doesn't cost that much, I'd rather feel like I've done all I can, iyswim.

will search for healthcare now and see what I can come up with. Thank you, btw - I knew Boots had done it in the past - I was sure Croydon branch used to do it, so why Worcester branch was shocked, I don't know! Bloomin' back of beyond ;)

IIRC, the child needs to be a certain age before he/she can be vaccinated at all. It can be done in two vaccinations in young children. In the US, it is an inhaled vaccine called FluMist for under 5s, but I don't know if they have it here yet.

I caught a strain about 9 years ago when I was a very fit 25-year-old and wound up in hospital w/double pneumonia for Xmas. Was MONTHS before I felt like myself again. Not an experience I'd like to repeat, especially not whilst giving birth or trying to breastfeed.

According to the NHS website, the vaccine is suitable from 6 months (different quantity used though). Will investigate FluMist - although from memory I think that's not inactivated flu virus? (So, I wouldn't be allowed it because I'm asthmatic... I think ... gawd this is complicated).

FluMist is not for adults, only children under 5. So you'd have to have a jab at any rate.

It's not a painful jab at all, IMO. The WORST ones I ever had were an anti-nausea one and a hepatitis one. Now those suckers hurt. This one I barely feel.