Flu jab/spray for child - yes or no?

[Mamabear256]

Evening everyone

My reception child has been offered the flu nasal spray at school, I’m 50/50 as to whether or not to give permission for it. I know the flu is horrible, but looking at death rates the risk seems very low, and surely it’s better to allow the body deal with it naturally and build immunity itself? Also the thought of him having it every single year seems a bit excessive. But then I know I’d never forgive myself if he got really ill from it.

I am not an antivaxer. He’s had all his required jabs. Just wondered what other people do / think?

Why on earth not?

If you understand the benefits of immunisation, I don't know why you wouldn't let them have it. Flu is always awful and obviously can be really severe for some children. It also makes you more likely to cacth a concurrent infection. Having the nasal spray means it is less likely your child will spread the flu to others (your family and vulnerable contacts), as well as reducing the risk of them missing school and play unnecessarily. I would let them have the spray.

This webpage is quite clear I thought https://www.hct.nhs.uk/influenza-nasal-flu-sprays/

You don't build immunity as the flu strain changes every year. It's not just about the risk to your child. The flu vaccination is given to protect the wider community.

I had flu as a child. Remember feeling very ill. Worst ever felt and total leg weakness. It was horrible as I couldn't even walk properly. I'd never let my kids experience that

Yes of course because I’m a responsible parent

You can never tell whether it’s necessary.

You might get the vaccine and nothing happens. You might get the vaccine and avoid flu - you’ll never know for sure which of these are true.

But if you don’t get the vaccine, yes you might avoid flu anyway, or you might get a mild version. Or you could end up in ICU with the worst possible outcome for your baby.

Vaccinating or not is not a guarantee of what will happen. Vaccinations make it much more likely that if you come in to contact with a particular virus you (and your baby in this case) will walk away from it unharmed.

What facts do you not think you have?

@UnderOverUp

I want to know the risks? I don't want to be googling it either and getting false information.

You should give permission. There’s no good reason not to and flu is a horrible illness

The NHS website will have the leaflet for the vaccine which will include the side effects and risks.

Flu is responsible for hospitalising quite a lot of under 5s. You don’t really catch it to help your immune system cope. That’s not how the immune system works. You get vaccinated so you don’t get seriously ill if you do catch it.

Giving your child the vaccine does just protect him, it protects others as well (including you!!). My child will be having it, quite frankly I don’t fancy her bringing it home from school and spreading it about (and I’ve already had mine). As others have said, your body cannot build up immunity. Just get it done, it’s not excessive and it’s not even like you have to go out your way to do it as it’s at school.

Being pregnant lowers your immunity which makes you more vulnerable to flu and other illnesses so you are likely to get sicker if you get flu than you would be if you weren’t pregnant. Having flu also increases the chance of miscarriage, premature birth or still birth.
It’s almost certainly safer to get it than not to.

lol go on then I’ll bite…what do you recommend instead? Flowers and essential oils? Cos you know they work even less than the chemicals you claim don’t work…

We declined it as dd is severely autistic and wouldn’t tolerate the nasal spray

You don't build immunity to flu as it mutates every year, hence the yearly flu jabs.
If you ever had flu you wouldn't hesitate to get the jab, it's worse than a common cold it can actually kill people, mainly small children and those with compromised immune systems.
I had it once as a child and was bedridden for weeks, could only tolerate soup, my ds had it as a toddler and was hospitalised he was so unwell..they thought he had a bacterial infection but luckily he got over it.

I say this not to alarm, but an 11 year old relative of one of my in-laws died of the flu. Incredibly rare of course but every single one of us in the family has had the flu vac ever since.

Sure, they get flu every year 🤡

www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/flu-vaccine/

Blatant misinformation

So called 'stomach flu' is not flu. A completely different set of viruses are responsible for viral gastroenteritis.

Flowers and essential oils are full of chemicals!
I'm trying to think of something that isn't a chemical but drawing a blank! A wish and a prayer?

Not the nasal spray - no. I've found that the side effects versus it's efficacy which is only around 50% Versus risk of severe flu symptoms in a well child aren't worth having it for me. I do have the flu jab myself as it is more effective at preventing infection.

You’re right. The air and water are all chemical. Everything except for a vaccum (not the cleaner type) is made up of chemicals.

lol yep, prayers to a man in the clouds who doesn’t exist probably work better than vaccines 😂

The stomach flu is not seasonal flu two different things.