Not sure whether to give 15 month old Swine Flu vaccine...

[Mary3324]

I've had the letter through from my GP telling me to make an appointment for my 15 month old DS to have the Swine Flu vaccine, but I'm in two minds as to whether to do it or not. I've heard really bad things about the side effects of the vaccine and he has reacted quite severely to every vaccine he's had so far. It worries me that the vaccine has not been around for very long and I don't know how well it's been tested. The latest thinking seems to be that a lot of kids may have already had swine flu with no symptoms anyway, but then you do hear of the odd case where it is very serious.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated - has anyone's children already had the vaccine and shown any side effects?

Hi Mary,

I have the same thoughts and remain undecided. My DD has had the letter through, she's 2 and has suffered terribly from vaccinations, mainly due to causing high temperatures and she suffers from febrile convulsions. I don't know if it's worth it, my instinct is saying no and I feel there has not been enough tests and research undertaken to instill any confidence. The other side of the coin is that sadly children have died from the virus and there I feel some anxiety about this. There is more than one strain of the virus and I'm not entirely sure the vaccine immunises all strains? Have u had any more thoughts? I know adults who have had tamiflu and said they had felt so I'll and awful they wouldn't give their children the vaccine as a result and thought it didn't do their immune systems any good - what do you think?

Still waiting for the letter in my area. Still unsure what to do after seeing the thread the other day about drug companies making it out to be worse to get countries to buy there drugs.

My feeling is that unless your son has existing health problems that could make him more susceptible to infections, or unless you have otherwise been strongly advised to have him vaccinated (on other grounds aside from his age), it isn?t necessary.

Put it this way, if I had a child under the age of five, I wouldn?t have them vaccinated for swine flu.

Our surgery has just phoned and offered an appt. for a jab for my DS who is 3. Have taken the appt. but not sure about it at all...

Just nipping in on this as my 3 yo has been invited along now and im also in two minds. He has no underlying health conditions but is in a nursery 3 days and always has a cough and the usuals. My daughter had guillian barre syndrome when she was 2 which they do link to the jab but again is rare but its another thing to put doubt inmy mind. I am swinging towards it more atm but then away again as it all seems to have died down. Its not a life time jab is it ? if sw is still aorund next yr will he need it again next winter?

I got the letter for my 22 mo last week and went into the docs for a good chat with the nurse who gives the jabs. She was very helpful and said that a jab would cover you for about 9 months, so I guess even if we did give the jab now, we might need to go again in the Autumn.

I really don't know what to do - gut instinct says no, but like everyone else I am very worried about what could happen. Friends who have given the jab to their little ones have given mixed reviews - some fine, some poorly overnight or for few days.
They do seem to be saying now that this Third Wave won't happen, or it won't be nearly as bad as first thought. One thing is certain - there is plenty of the vaccine to go around, so if you decide you do want it later in the year, I'm sure it will be available.