Are you letting your child have the flu vaccine?

[caroline29woohooo]

I got a letter through from GP inviting my toddler for the flu vaccine. I thought it was a fab idea until my husband suggested we don't bother as it's better for the body to fight the Flu naturally. What is everyone's thoughts on the Flu vaccine?

Exposed, not explored!

To clarify a PP the US has withdrawn the use of the nasal spray only as that is deemed ineffective. The shots are still available and we've all had it.

Yes. I live abroad so it will cost about 300 pounds to vaccinate me and the kids, but it's worth it.

My reception aged DD is having it done at school next week.

Absolutely. I also had swine flu and I have never been so ill. I would never wish that on a child, and the immunity from a vaccine works the same way as immunity from the flu, just with much lower risk of killing them.

Ive had mine and my DC get theirs in a few weeks. All primary school children get offered it in Scotland and it's done in school.

medcitynews.com/2016/06/flumist-and-vaccines/

"FluMist is a live attenuated vaccine, meaning it contains a weakened version of the virus itself but does not give the recipient the flu. Instead, it — like other forms of the vaccine — sparks the body’s immune system to create antibodies to the virus. The injectable forms of the vaccine contain killed versions of the virus.

Three months after it made the recommendation, however, the CDC received some troubling data: During the 2013-2014 flu season, the nasal spray showed no measurable effectiveness against the pandemic H1N1 virus in kids aged 2 to 8. That was the predominant type of influenza virus circulating that year.

As a result, the panel in February 2015 did not renew its preference for FluMist for the next flu season, although it was still considered a viable option.

At that meeting, the panel also heard that the spray had performed poorly in the 2014-2015 season.

Because vaccine makers have to guess months ahead of time what the predominant strains of the virus will be, designing the correct combination is always a gamble.

That time, they guessed wrong. More than two-thirds of the H3N2 versions of the virus circulating in the U.S. during the 2014-2015 season were different from the H3N2 versions in both the nasal spray and the injectable vaccines. So all versions of the vaccine — shots and spray — performed poorly.

Now, looking at this winter’s flu season, the CDC says data shows FluMist’s efficacy among children 2-17 was only 3 percent, essentially providing no protective benefit.

ds2 had it done today. Having read what I've read recently, I wish I'd refused.

Oblomov what have you read? My two are due to have it tomorrow.

Dd is having it this afternoon. I am immunocompromised so she has to have the jab not the (live) nasal vaccine. Even though she hates the idea of it we will be getting it done. Why suffer with flu (which can, and does kill many many people) if you can be vaccinated against it?

TheGon I am in uncompressed and was advised to have my jab 14 days before my dd. Where you not offered that option?

Typo! Immunocompromised.

No, ours won't be getting it.

Interesting article here about how many people are infected with flu but don't show any symptoms.

Many children where I work had it today - in my class take up was about 60% I reckon. Similar in the other two Y2 classes. Not sure about the Y1 and EYFS classes though.

I have a flu jab every year myself. I am eligible due to immunosuppressant medication.

Have had flu once in my life. Horrific week and took a while to get over too. Had mine last Friday - sore arm the next day but no illness after it.

When DD was eligible (she was in a Y7 or 8 class who went through a tester year, its not been done with that age since i don't think) I let her have it.

My dc has had it every year since he was 1, and had his last one last week. Not risking his life for anything so he is up to date on all his vaccines and is rarely ill.

The US reports seem to say it isn't effective.

The UK reports have said it is effective - hence why the UK are still administering it.

www.webmd.boots.com/children/news/20160624/uk-insists-kids-flu-spray-works

Your dh understands that there are hundreds is strains of flu, right?
You don't get immunity from flu if you get it!!

My DD's had hers today at school. DS has his at the doctors' next week.

I know they change what's in the vaccine every year based on how the virus has/is expected to mutate (and that's why they do new vaccinations every year), but do you stay immune to the strains you've been vaccinated against or does the immunity wear off? Is multiple years of vaccination better than just the odd one?

My kids all got the jab (not the spray) this week at school and doctor for ds2 who isn't at school yet. I had flu once and ended up in hospital, they actually thought I had meningitis as was so ill. Would hate for my kids to go through that

My ds is 9 so not eligible... however if he was he would have it.. I am reliant on others to protect my child. He is still tiny to be fighting off flu.

Mine probably wont

Yes, my children are having/have had the vaccine (one had theirs last week, other child is next week).

Yes, my 3yo DD is booked in for the nasal spray and I'm having the jab. Flu kills (and is miserable for everyone else!).

It's effective against the strains included.

The experts usually predict the right strains as the dominant ones. The year of the 'ineffective' immunisation, they got it wrong.