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Original poster

Will you be giving your toddler the flu vaccine?

28 replies

Notsoyummymummy1 · 17/09/2013 22:26

They are offering it to two and three year olds from this year - is anyone going to get the vaccine for their child? I'm not sure my dd would sit there and let someone squirt something up her nose! On the other hand if it protects her and any vulnerable people she comes into contact with then maybe it's a good thing?

OP posts:

mummyxtwo · 18/09/2013 13:47

Mine are too old and too young respectively, but if dd2 was two then I think I'd consider it. I'd probably be more inclined to get it for her as ds1 brings lots of bugs home from school and while he is more robust at nearly 5yo, if he gave it to her then she would be more vulnerable. As a healthcare worker I've had it myself a few times and not had any problems with it, although it can make some people feel a little 'flu-ey' for a few days.

McButtonwillow · 18/09/2013 14:28

Yes I've just had the letter through today and have booked my youngest ds an appointment. I've always been a bit sceptical about healthy people needing the flu vaccine but I had a really nasty dose last year and both dc's were ill too so for the first time I'll accept the vaccination that work offer this year and I'm really pleased ds1 is eligible for it too.

I don't want any of us feeling as rubbish as we did last year if it can be avoided.

rrreow · 18/09/2013 16:13

Didn't know about this. Is this something you need to chase up yourself or will it be offered to you automatically if you have kid(s) the right age?

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lola88 · 18/09/2013 19:34

Yes I would DN brings everything home from school so we all get it apart from when I was preg and had the jab, while everyone else was sniffling into their lemsips I was fine :)

I wouldn't wish the flu on anyone it's awful

McButtonwillow · 18/09/2013 20:23

rrreow your surgery should contact you, if you don't hear anything in the next couple of weeks may be worth chasing. I think the criteria is your child has to be aged between 2 and 3 on the 1st September this year to be eligible.

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 18/09/2013 20:51

Yes, DD will be 2 next week. We moved to the US last year and it's just standard here. At first I was very reluctant for her to have what the UK would consider to be unnecessary injections, but I've changed my mind over time (plus you have to have an accurate, up to date vaccine record to attend any kind of nursery/childcare in the state we're in). Also, DC2 will be born here in a few weeks' time so seems silly to have one on the UK and one on the US schedule (I might delay a couple of shots though).

Pretty much everyone here has the flu vaccine - DH's work get a team in to vaccinate everyone in one go and you claim the cost back via your health insurance! It's really frowned upon if you don't have it. Now, that I think is going too far!

HeyJudith · 18/09/2013 21:02

No. I just don't like the idea of it. I think I have doubts about how much it can have been tested. Also, I know that old people can die from the flu (or related issues) but I don't think flu is a big killer for toddlers (there's always the exceptions I know but, in general...)

I am pro all the standard vaccines for children though, all of them.

BoulevardOfBrokenSleep · 18/09/2013 21:07

God, yes; my two are asthmatic. DD(6) gets one anyway because she is on steroid inhalers, DS will get one by virtue of being 2 which is fine by me. Flu is hideous to have anyway, even worse if you have a dodgy chest to start with.

SomethingOnce · 18/09/2013 23:34

NHS Choices site says: The children's nasal spray flu vaccine is for two and three year olds plus children with long-term health problems.

I will be taking DD for this.

tunnocksteacake · 18/09/2013 23:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

breatheslowly · 18/09/2013 23:40

DD's is booked. I have had flu and it is awful. I think it can be underestimated. It isn't like a bad cold, it is much worse. Jokes about "man flu" trivialise how horrible it is (I don't mean to sound like a killjoy). I get a flu jab from work and DD has previously had the standard flu jab privately.

Thymeandthymeagain · 18/09/2013 23:47

Tunnocksteacake you can ask your surgery to give it to your 4 year old too, in view of your circumstances.

whyno · 20/09/2013 14:07

Thanks for the heads up. My HV and doctors never tell me about stuff like this. My DS is ill all the time and I have a newborn so will definitely request it!

TheArticFunky · 20/09/2013 17:41

I'm not going to. I had the flu vaccination 13 years ago at work and was ill for the following 12 months. Of course it was absolutely nothing to do with the flu jab according to my pro vaccine GP but for a healthy 28 year old to fall ill days after the jab have a month off work and suffer from respiratory problems for the next 10 years I'm convinced that it must have been related to the jab.

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 20/09/2013 19:14

Artic - that's awful. Do you know which strain you had? Manufacturer? Every chemist here in the US offers the flu vaccine - you can just walk in and get it and most people do. Strange how country to country views and regulations vary.

WhenSheWasBadSheWasHopeful · 21/09/2013 08:55

I will if I can, just read the nhs website re the nasal spray, I'm not 100% sure if dd will be offered it. She's the right age but luckily she is healthy so my GP may not offer it.

I'm in the same boat as wibbly, have a 2 year old at home and a newborn due in a few weeks. I'm praying my GP surgery gets the flu jabs in soon, I want one and am only eligable while pregnant.

I've only had real flu once and that was enough to make me never want it again, if I can reduce the chances if dd getting it I will.

ginmakesitallok · 21/09/2013 08:56

Yes dd2 will be getting it. I can get it through work too.

WithConfidence · 21/09/2013 09:02

Tunnocks, you get a leaflet with the letter, it says something about if you live with someone immuno-suppresssed, you have to check with your GP first that it is ok.

It also says that a new vaccine is produced each year depending what strains are going around. We have already had a horrible feverish thing (never sure when you can actually say it's flu) so I fear it is a bit pointless for ds. But he is wheezy and just started nursery so I'm happy to try anything to prevent more nights in hospital.

Sidge · 21/09/2013 09:23

wibblypig your nearly 2 year old won't be eligible under the NHS provision - children to be invited are those that were 2 or 3 on the 1st September 2013. So born between 2.9.2009 and 1.9.2011.

I've been giving it this last week and am pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to give and how we'll the children tolerate the nasal spray. It's a tiny dose (0.2mls).

PeggyCarter · 21/09/2013 09:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Featherbag · 21/09/2013 10:23

I'll be asking if DS can have it, he's 2 next week but will have a new little brother soon so want to minimise the risk! Plus DS was prem and the 2 times he's had a viral infection he's had to be hospitalised - he was much younger then but don't want to take the chance.

FeckOffCup · 21/09/2013 16:30

Yes mine will be having it just like she has had all her other vaccinations. I don't dispute that vaccine damage can happen in a very small number of cases but the consequences of the diseases are more of a risk to my mind so she will have every vaccination offered.

Wateroveraducks · 21/09/2013 19:53

Absolutely. We have already booked it for dc1.

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 22/09/2013 00:40

Sidge - yes she will because we're in the US, as my posts say! My point was that here pretty much everyone has them, starting with tiny babies and then they're a yearly thing.

Sidge · 22/09/2013 09:26

Doh! I misread it as you'd moved from the US. More coffee needed...

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