I can't find private flu vaccine for our 1yo

[Mark070]

Hello all,

Flu is very dangerous for under 2s (see below), and yet our NHS does not vaccinate them! Due to budget rationing! So I've been looking for private sources, for our 13-month-old son, but I can't find it! And we are late already, into the flu season. I've even been avoiding toddlers play groups, which is not good for him, or for us.

Any advice please?

Many thanks,

Mark

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From WebMD:

"Although the flu is rarely serious in healthy adults, it can be much more dangerous in children. Little ones are two to three times more likely to get it.
(...)
Most people older than 6 months should get a yearly flu vaccine. Kids younger than 2 are more likely to have problems because of the flu than older kids and adults."

www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/flu-shots-for-children-under-2

Hi FishWithABicycle,

We found this travel clinic a couple of weeks ago, phoned them, but they don't have the injectable flu vaccine for 6mo-2yo children. But thanks anyway for trying to help.

I would rather avoid getting too much into the discussion about the merits of vaccinating young children in this topic, but just avoid misunderstandings, we didn't base our decision mainly on that WebMD page linked in my OP, but more on a very respectable and neutral source, the American Government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): www.cdc.gov/

This is their page re. flu vaccines for children: www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/children.htm

And even vaccine critics don't say they are harmful to children. The worst they can argue is that they may not be too effective, hence not worth spending public money on them - in an era of scarce and rationed government budgets. I understand that. But this topic is about private services, paid with our own money.

Besides, this year's vaccine (produced many months ago) is matching well the viruses actually going round now - which is not always the case, it varies from year to year.

About the NHS, I understand that people working in it have a tendency to have a natural affinity with it, in order to feel pride in their work, and can feel protective about it. But I do not go as far as some who argue that it is a form of "Stockholm Syndrome".

Oh dear god! Stockholm Syndrome?! Amazing!

Mark070, the nhs vaccinates, against flu, the least amount of people to save the most money so they don't exclude under 2s due to budget rationing. By vaccinating older children, the older children don't pass on flu so most people are protected from flu for least cost.

It's sad that you want your younger child vaccinated and I wish you good luck in your quest, sad because I won't allow my older child to have the vaccine because I don't see why they should take the risk (because it's not 100% risk free) to protect someone else.

Can i ask why you think this child may not be in contact with other carriers? What about if she has other children who will all have the vaccine and bring home the "live" vaccine for her 13 month old to be in contact with, unprotected?