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Original poster

Dd(4) called for flu jab - unsure

20 replies

Wallace · 19/10/2005 20:51

I received a letter today for dd, age 4, to have a flu vaccination.

She was born with a hole in her heart which was surgically repaired almost 3 years ago. I am a bit confused as she has never had to have a flu jab before, and I wouldn't have thought she came into the "chronic medical illness" catagory (or the "65 and over" come to think of it!)

What do you think? Have they made a mistake?

OP posts:
WigWamBam · 19/10/2005 20:52

Can you ring them and ask them why they have called her? That way you'd know for sure whether it was a mistake or not.

Original poster
Wallace · 19/10/2005 20:55

I will ring them and find out. I am wondering, though, if they are calling up less high-risk people this year because of all the warnings about an epidemic.

OP posts:
Original poster
Wallace · 19/10/2005 21:04

The point I forgot to mention is that I'm unsure if I want her to have it. If they think she should, then she probably should, but I have heard lots of stories about side effects. And after her pre-school boosters a couple of weeks ago, I unwisely told her that she wouldn't have to have any more injections for a long time

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coppertop · 19/10/2005 21:41

I had a letter about ds1(5) having a flu jab. I'm presuming it's because he has asthma. I must admit that we decided against it. His asthma is well-controlled (touchwood!) and he doesn't have the greatest of records wrt vaccinations. It's a tough choice to make because you feel guilty whether you say yes or no.

Original poster
Wallace · 19/10/2005 21:45

That is exactly it, isn't it? If you say no, and they get the flu you feel guilty...if you say yes, and they have a bad reaction, you feel guilty.

Has your ds had/been offered a flu jab in previous years?

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coppertop · 19/10/2005 21:48

He was offered one last year too. I think the GPs surgery just have some kind of database where they send letters to everyone with asthma or other particular conditions. I said no last year and thankfully he didn't get the flu anyway but still felt guilty.

zippy539 · 19/10/2005 21:50

Hmm - just been to docs this morning and ds (4) is down for the jab as (mildly) asthmatic. I was quite chuffed as so don't want him to get flu ( I know - not avian!) but now wondering about side effects etc. What is your convern, re your dd , wallace - aside from promising no more jabs!

Original poster
Wallace · 19/10/2005 21:54

I think I will see if I can talk to our lovely GP. Dd also has an awful cough at the moment that probably should be checked out as she has had it for weeks, so I can use that as a reason to take her in and talk to the doctor about the flu jab as well. If I can get an appointment...

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Original poster
Wallace · 19/10/2005 21:57

posts crossed.

Dh's uncle almost died after having a flu jab - I don't know the exact story though...

Apart from that I just have a general uneasy feeling about it

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CaptainCavemansMummy · 19/10/2005 22:12

It's worth checking if your little un's need two jabs.
Apparantly, due to their low immunity, children who require a flu jab because they're deemed at risk, should have two doses, four weeks apart. (Goes for all under 16 I think but check out correct age with DOH website!)

Your GP or practice nurse should know anyway.

megandsoph · 19/10/2005 22:19

dd2 3yo is having one for the first time on friday, she has cold/flu induced asthma and I had to ring up and see if she could have one. I'm over the moon as she has been in hospital 19 times since being born mostly after having a cold.

Asked questions to a nhs direct nurse and as there is no actual flu in the jab she said the reaction if any should be no different to boosters and normal immunisations and children can still have the jab even if they have a cold as long as they have no temp.

CaptainCavemansMummy · 19/10/2005 22:23

You're right megandsoph, the flu jab is not a 'live' vaccine - they make it with the cell membranes of the virus, not the actual live virus itsself. Therefore, it's impossible for the flu jab to give you flu.
Poor you and dd2, hope the jab helps!

PottytheVampireSlayer · 20/10/2005 08:21

Wallace - my dd has the flu jab for congenital heart disease. It's on the list of 'at risk' conditions. Her's isn't fully repaired though. She's never had any problems with the jab despite have reactions to MMR.

The first time they have it, it is in two doses 4 weeks apart but that's only for the first time, however old they are.

When we eventually get dd's jab this year (our surgery have run out) she's be having pneumovax too.

Lonelymum · 20/10/2005 09:54

My ds2 received a letter today inviting him for a flu jab (dh got one too) as they are both asthmatic. Can anyone tell me which sort of flu this vaccination is meant to potect them from? I mean, is it just the ordinary flu or is the bird flu?

Original poster
Wallace · 20/10/2005 11:59

I realised after I had gone to bed why I am a bit unsure about dd having the flu jab. It is not the injection itself, but the actual fact that she needs it (I checked with Health centre).

This might sound silly but now we have put the nightmare of dd needing surgery on her heart behind us, and finally started to think of her as "normal" - nothing different healthwise between her and anyother kids. It is disconcerting that she comes under the criteria for needing to be vaccinated against flu. Now I have realised this is what was bugging me, I am happier to let her have it. I will ask them about her needing it twice.

Potty, what is the pneumovax?

OP posts:
edam · 20/10/2005 12:19

Ordinary flu, Lonelymum, which can be nasty for asthmatics. Can't make a bird flu vaccine before it mutates into a variety that affects humans - just not possible. Need to know what the infection will actually be before you can create a vaccine for it, IYSWIM.

izzybiz · 20/10/2005 15:16

please look at pneumococcal meningitis thread, pneumovax mentioned there. you all may be interested anyway.

PottytheVampireSlayer · 20/10/2005 16:18

Pneumovax info here Wallace.

Original poster
Wallace · 20/10/2005 17:30

Pnuemovx is on the form that she got, so I guess she is getting that too.

Thanks for the info

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Original poster
Wallace · 21/10/2005 18:58

I told dd that she needed more injections and she was a bit cross, but then decided she doesn't mind too much as it means more sweeties and more barbie plasters

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