Flu jag or not?

[Shazzler]

I am asthmatic and was always offered flu jag when younger but could never have it because of a severe allergy to eggs. I was never really ill with flu so have never had my son vaccinated (he's asthmatic too) over the last years but my dh feels I should.

I have heard that flu jag that is offered will keep their immune system stronger so that if the bird flu does mutate at least their immune system will be as strong as possible.

My ds just hates getting jags and so I am not looking forward to him having it. Should I do it? I'm unsure. Help!!!

1. flu jab will not protect against bird flu in any way.
2. imo if your (or your son's asthma) worsens with a cold, then having a flu jab is very beneficial. I am a very mild asthmatic, but when I had a fairly mild dose of flu last January I had very worrying breathing difficulties and I thought at one point I would have to go to hospital.
3. I'm having a flu jab for the first time this year too

I know it will not protect him against bird flu.

He was quite ill last winter and had steriods so maybe it would be a good idea. I just hate taking him for jags. He will cry for ages and I find it hard to deal with. He is 5.

I would say if he had steroids last winter, then a flu jab this year would be beneficial. Load him up with sweets before and after as a special treat It'll be over in seconds.

DS is asmathic, how do you get a flu jab authorised? (He's 2.9 yrs old)

I think I know I will take him, just not looking forward to it. It is not at the health centre this year but at the local bowling club so I am not sure whether to tell him or not as he won't know why we are going to the bowling club! He would know if it was at the health centre.

Chandra

I got a letter sent to the house as he must be on their database or something.

If you haven't had a letter I would phone your surgery and see if they have sent out letters yet and ask if your ds is on the list.

I had flu once a couple of years ago and I have never felt so ill. Anything I could do to avoid feeling like that again would be great, imo! I know that jabs can't protect you against every strain but any protection is better than none, I reckon.

Chandra: our local surgery has a database of "at risk" people that it automatically sends letters out to.

Now, what I'm not sure about is how it deals with "suspected" asthma cases - I think it's fairly unusual for a child under about 6 or 7 to be "officially" diagnosed with asthma (they have to be able to do a lung capacity test as part of the diagnosis I think) - so it might be that your 2.9 year old might not be on the "official" list yet?

Would be worth phoning up the surgery to clarify, imo, sooner rather than later before all the vaccines have been allocated.

He have prescribed brown inhalers and the blue one for more than a year and we use them regularly, would that get us into the list? Oh dear... I better ring them on Monday, someway I know that he won't be in the list... Thanks

Message withdrawn

I was convinced that we should opt for the vaccine this year until I found that it contains thimerosal (a preservative in contact lens solutions and the flu vaccine). Now I am feeling uncertain again...

so they haven't taken it out of all vaccines then? Can't say I'm surprised.

Your bowling club give away jags?

Cadmum: some flu vaccines do, some don't. The thiomersal-free ones are supposed to be given to children and pregnant women as priority. Ask.

Chandra: suspected asthma (and also some other lung conditions I believe, not 100% certain of that though) are of course treated the same as officially diagnosed asthma. However, doctors are increasingly reluctant to diagnose asthma at a very young age because it can be confused with other conditions (most of which children grow out of anyway). I'm not saying this isn't a reason to get a flu jab that young, on the contrary, but that might explain why your ds might not be on the "at risk" list for jabs. It's worth having a chat with your GP or asthma nurse to see whether they believe that your ds would benefit from a flu jab this year.

Georgina, we are aware of the "suspected asthma" term. The test for asthma can be done from 3 yrs onwards. DS was prescribed the inhalers after several incidents resembling asthma attacks, the last one of them in the prescence of the paediatrician.

The fact that the asthma is suspected only means the Dr can not be certain because the test can't be done, but the fact that the test can't be done doesn't necessarily mean that under 3yrs old can't have it. Thanks again

Sorry, I knew I was at risk of repeating stuff you probably already knew

We had thiomersal free ones. But did have to pay privately for them.

Thanks. I will ask our GP as I am PG and DS2 has had horrid reacions to jabs in the past and the decision is hard enough to make without thinking about Mercury...

Madmarchscare - they are using the bowling club as a centre to ditribute the jag . It is just beside the health centre.

Georgina - my son has never had a test for asthma but uses his brown inhaler twice a day and blue when needed. I had to insist he got something when he was younger because I just knew he had asthma. He was struggling with his breathing and holding himself in the same way I do when I have an attack. My mum and dad both saw it too and said it was like watching me when I was young.

He seems to be stable at the moment and has just started school so would like him to stay well so I think the jag sounds like a good idea.

Cadmum - I have never heard of thimerosal so will be asking about that.

I had one and I am 31 weeks pregnant.

No side effects at all.

DD has one in two doses, the next will be next Friday. Again, no side effects.

Ask what brand they dispense and then google it to see the ingredients.

Sorry, am I missing something here, are you calling it a jag on purpose?

scottish isnt it?

I dont know