Yes, we know it's sweltering high summer but... flu vaccines for all children? Your thoughts?

[HelenMumsnet]

Hello.

We thought you might be interested to know that today the Department of Health announced that all two to 17-year-olds in the UK are to be offered annual flu vaccinations - though the programme won't start rolling out till 2014.

Until now, only children in at-risk groups, with conditions such as asthma, cerebral palsy or heart conditions, were eligible to get the vaccine on the NHS.

According to the BBC, children will be immunised using a nasal spray rather than an injection. (The injectable flu vaccine will still be offered to the over-65s, pregnant women and those with medical conditions such as asthma.)

Uptake will be voluntary but the Government believes the programme will lead to a 40% drop in the number of people catching flu, as well as 11,000 fewer hospitalisations and 2,000 fewer deaths a year.

So.... good idea? Or not? Would you take up the offer of flu vaccinations for your children?

Please do tell...

Haven't read whole thread, but...

DS and I get offered it anyway (asthmatic) - DS has not had it to date, I have some years and not others. I think I will this year because I seem to get chest infections scarily easily ATM. I haven't decided about DS yet.

So, would I get DD vaccinated? I think if someone could make a case for her peer group / teachers specifically (anyone immuno-suppressed, badly asthmatic or otherwise particularly vulnerable) then I would. Similarly if MIL was going through a phase of treatment (severe arthritis) which affected her immune system then I would, but TBH all of those people would be affected by the common colds which my DC seem to have all bloody winter and most of the summer as well so I am not sure how much benefit it would really have.

Fence sitting.

My 14y, very mildly asthmatic, DD1 refuses to have flu vaccinations. They make her feel rotten and her arm hurt, especially at night, for a good week.
(she had all 3 HPV jabs and didn't moan at all)

She hasn't had flu since she was a toddler and really can't see the point.

Now it is possible nasal delivery would be better, but given she gets sinus trouble I can see different horrid reactions.

I've only once had anything vile enough to call flu once since I got married and that was 15 years ago. Not sure DH and DD2 ever have.

I also get dreadful sinus trouble and don't think I feel like stuffing virus up my nose, it's quite happy enough to clog everything up for tree pollen, rape pollen, the slightest cold or life in general. It doesn't need a new thing to inflame it.

But immune systems can be built up via exposure to decativated viruses in vaccines as well as via exposure to viruses straightforwardly. And I don't understand why, if you choose to have your child vaccinated with all the routine imms, why a flu vaccine is 'a step too far'? Not sure why building up herd immunity is a bad thing per se, either - surely that's been part of every vaccination programme we've ever had here? Rubella vaccine does protect children, anyway (unborn babies), not just other adults.

Hell yes. We'll be right there, DC in hand.

Oh dear...

I have mild asthma. I used to get the flu vaccine. I stopped a couple of years ago because I swear it gave me a cold. Every single time. It cannot have been a coincidence.

I am the only mother in dd's class (Italy) who doesn't already go rushing off for a flu jab when Autumn comes.

Wouldn't do it here either. (and I am generally very pro vaccinations) but this one I see as pharmaceutical companies laughing all the way to the bank. Like they weren't already.

I have had flu twice in my life, and yes it's horrid, but for most people that's all.

Obviously people in the risk categories get the jab anyway and should continue to do so.

Not sure what I'll do tbh. Will have to do some research and have a good think.

I had the flu vax this year due to meds I am on. Have to say that it was fine and I had no ill effects following it.

Why 'oh dear' Sossiges?

What IS wrong with vaccinating for herd immunity? I just don't get it. This is one of the main reasons behind any vaccination campaign. As for not wanting to vaccinate children in order to save lives across the board (eg. adult lives as well as children's) - DH and I just talked about this, and personally, we're happy to have a vaccine (of course it's going to have been tested...!) given to our children if it, for instance, stops their ageing and not-well granny from being given the flu by them, and getting it really badly. Not to mention the fact that I sort of don't want them to get flu themselves... All this 'Big Bad Pharma' paranoia does rather get in the way of the fact that vaccines themselves are intended to save lives. Personally I'll go with that, and if some fat cats are getting richer, well, we can't control that.

I've had flu three times in my life. The last two times I was an adult and think I've never been so ill. Which is lucky, shows I've lived a relatively healthy life and nothing worse has happened to me. All the same.

yes, i think it is a good idea. however, i do hope they are not expecting me to hold down my 7 year old AS daughter whilst they try to stick a spray up her nose. wont be happening, they would have to anaesthetise her to do it.

I don't think I will be allowing my DC to have it as they are generally fit and well and rarely have colds. They've never had chest infections, don't have asthma and have no allergies. Can't see why they'd need it TBH.

I have to admit, my hesitation (for DS who is already offered it, and DD hypothetically) is mainly that it does make me feel really grotty for about 36 hours afterwards. Not death's door grotty, but enough that I have never wanted to have it when I have an important customer meeting the following day, for example, which some years has resulted in me not having it at all.

I don't want to pre-empt or suggest to the DC that they might have the same reaction (otherwise, the power of suggestion being what it is, they probably will), but at the same time I wouldn't have it done immediately before something which was important to them, IYSWIM.

Can you imagine being a teacher if they all have it at school? Even if, say, 50% get some sort of reaction, that is going to be one grotty horrible class the next day.

I'm delighted, personally. We all had flu a few years ago and ds2 came close to dying, despite being healthy and never having suffered any chronic health conditions. It's a very personal choice though, and I totally understand anyone's reluctance.

I'm still pondering the logistics of it .How they will vaccinate those many children year on year. It would take a week to do the average sized primary.

I would much prefer that they offered the Chicken Pox vaccination.

I agree (to an extent) GoTeamGB. Chicken pox would be a higher priority for me too. I've paid for my kids to have the CP vaccine and annual flu jabs.

No my DC will not be having it. Sensible enough for high risk children, but not to vaccinate healthy youngsters en masse simply to protect the spread of flu to vulnerable adults who are perfectly entitled to but refuse to have the vaccine themselves!

GoTeamGB, we'd be up for a chicken pox vaccination too. rather than all this pallaver of trying to figure out when you should let them get it and what to do if they don't actually get it, and what happens if they go on to get shingles.

before you give your child any more vaccines please watch the contraversial channel on either sky or free channel,

I am looking into private Chicken Pox vaccinations at the moment. eldest dc is almost eight and I worry that if she gets it now she will really struggle.

Sorry to go off topic, but anyone know if GPs will offer an immunity blood test even if they will not give the jab?

No.

Whether you are pro or against vaccination (of any type), I believe it is a good thing to have choice.

I also hope impartial and factual advice is easily accessible so people can make an informed decision.

I'd be inclined to give it to DD.

I know that the Flu may mutate and end up slightly different to the strain in the vaccine but if I didn't give it and then she got poorly I'd feel a rubbish mother!

I think my view is clouded as my friend's 2yo DD was in intensive care and nearly died of swine flu in winter 2010/11 and anything I can give my DD to reduce the chances of her ending up that ill, well I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Thanks everyone for your comments. V interesting...

Omg not in a million years no!
Why would I want my child to be a guinea pig to some big farmaceutical company who doesn't even care for dds well being and who can't guarantee she won't have an adverse reaction to it in the first place? I have never had flu myself nor vax for it. Besides it mutates too quickly imo to be of any benefit to anyone other than pockets of above mentioned companies.
I'd rather try to strengthen her body and keep fit and healthy so that her body could deal with anything thrown our way.

Before one of my DCs got cancer I would have said no. But DS2 has needed the flu jab for 3 years and will continue to need it, even when he has finished chemo.

If immunisation is available for my my other 2 DCs I would have no hesitation in them having it.