Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

Original poster

Flu jab for asthmatic children

13 replies

bluesky · 12/10/2004 13:26

Are any of you with asthmatic children, giving them the flu jab.? I hadn't thought about it until the Drs mentioned it yesterday when I was picking up ds's inhalers prescription. He is 5.

OP posts:

acer · 12/10/2004 13:30

When I asked my gp last yr about it he said he wouldn't recommend it (my ds is 4.5) he said it has very bad side effects, but I have a different gp now so I may ask about it, are you going ahead with it for your ds?

Original poster

bluesky · 12/10/2004 16:56

acer, I'm not sure as I hadn't even considered it. So thought I would ask mumsnetters first, have some mother feedback before I got Dr feedback! Let me know what your Dr says.

OP posts:

tamum · 12/10/2004 16:57

My ds had it last year, he's 9. It was recommended, and he had no side effects. His asthma is brought on by viruses, so I wanted him to have it.

acer · 12/10/2004 17:02

tamum, is that the first time he has had the flu jab, how long has he been asthmatic?

tamum · 12/10/2004 17:04

He's been asthmatic since he was a baby (not that they diagnose it then), but last year was the first year he had the jab. He had seemed to be growing out of it for a few years, but it's been worse the last year or two. I think it's a combination of that and him having a doctor who takes it more seriously than the older ones did, to be honest.

acer · 12/10/2004 17:05

I think I will take him to the gp and ask, thanks.

KateandtheGirls · 12/10/2004 17:54

I'm asthmatic and I get a flu jab every year. Luckily my daughter's don't seem to have inherited my asthma, but if they had I would definitely get them vaccinated against the flu.

I don't know about in the UK, but in the US there is a serious flu shot shortage and I don't think I'm going to be able to get one this year.

tamum · 12/10/2004 18:04

Same here Kate, I guess it's a "global" shortage. I haven't been to ask yet, but there have been a lot of reports in the paper to that effect.

KangaMummy · 12/10/2004 18:48

DS is asthmatic and has had the flu jabs for many years I can't remember how old for the first one but asthma was diagnosed when he was 1 year, so prob had jab since about he was 3 or 4 years old.

Shortage here too in herts.

luckymum · 12/10/2004 18:57

My dd has it( heart condition), she's 10 and hasn't had any side effects. As regards to the shortage, one of the major manufacturers in the UK (Chiron) has had its license pulled.bbc news article

Aero · 12/10/2004 19:25

I'm meant to be taking ds1 (6) next Mon for one and it's his first time - his wheezing is also infection induced! Tbh, I'm really concerned now as dd has just been to the surgery for her pre-school booster jabs and ended up with a nasty infection in her arm (they haven't said, but I fear it may have been caused by her arm not being swabbed beforehand)!Anyway, that was 2.5 weeks ago and the huge red patch left by it doesn't look as if it's receding!!
Am also worried about side effects of the flu jab of course, but I feel I'm losing a little faith in our GP's surgery over this and am seriously hoping dd isn't left with this massive scar on her arm!

KangaMummy · 12/10/2004 19:41

I have just remembered I have had the flu jab for many years as well as I had puemonia and pleurisy several years ago ANYWAY I nearly always end up with my arm aching the next day, BUT that is the only side effect I have had.

meea · 14/10/2004 11:43

My daughter has had one for the last 2 years she is 4 .The first time they gave it as 2 injection with 2 weeks gap in between.This was because she was only 2.

Flip