Are you (and the kid[s]) getting a flu shot?
16th September 2009
I’ve only once ever gotten one flu shot, the year a close family member was very ill and in the hospital over the holidays and we wanted to visit her. We have never given Lucy one.
I’m certainly not against vaccinations. Both girls are up-to-date on everything covered by the province. I don’t like that the shot is just a best guess at what strain will inflict everyone, so don’t see the point of a shot in the dark. Plus, I have known too many people and children who have had the shot and get sick anyways.
But the H1N1 flu is different. This one can kill (albeit in few cases). And with two small kids in the house, I’m a little nervous not to vaccinate them. And us, for that matter, because of how easily the flu can spread indoors in the winter.
Thoughts? What are you planning? Why?
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We’re planning to all get the shot this year. Ed always gets the flu shot. He’s had several bouts of pneumonia over the last 10 years, so we are always wary of him getting flu which could turn into pneumonia. I’ve sometimes got the flu shot, sometimes not. I don’t tend to get quite so sick with the flu as Ed does. The kids had shots last year, I think.
This year I think it’s really important to get the shots. Ed and I are in the 40-ish age group that seems to be most susceptible to being hit hard by H1N1. The kids are both in the under-6 age group, which seems to be the other group that is more likely to be hit hard by it. We’re exercising caution and getting the shots for all of us.
We get it every year… Mya has always gotten it on the advice of our Dr, and since she gets it we have gotten it as well… So this year Carmen will get it as well… I think this year is especially important with the H1N1 virus around…
Yup. We will be. It started for us when my Grama was getting sick becuz we wanted to visit her. Now for my 3 and 7 year old I want to take every precaution to protect them no matter what strain. If I didn’t get it and something happened to one of them ? Ugh .. I don’t even want to think about it .
Scary world we live in !
As a health care worker I always get them – so does my husband who works with lots of people and both the boys get them….so important with them being in a daycare environment.
the flu shot doesn’t make you sick, contrary to popular belief – some people may feel ill during the flu season but it’s most likely antibodies that the shot just didnt ‘reach’ so to speak – but they would get much less sick then if they had no shot at all.
I never get the flu shot & have never given it to Jaxson but I am nervous about the H1N1 virus as well & with him in daycare we will all be getting it this year.
I have gotten the shot the past 3 (4?) years – and relied on breastfeeding for 2 of those years to pass my antibodies on to Maddie.
This year we’ll all (hubby included, even though he doesn’t want to) get the shot. I’d rather do something vs. nothing to try and avoid it. Especially with her in daycare everyday.
I’ve been getting the flu shot for the last several years. I often feel a little under the weather for a day or so afterwards, but knock on wood, haven’t gotten the flu.
I get mine at City Hall as they have a free clinic.
I’m a strong believer.
the flu shot for the H1N1 is not available yet. It will be next year at the same time as the Flu shot.
The H1N1 has not been tested yet. I would not get it untill I would be more sure and it has been tested.
The brochure I got in the mail yesterday from the province says, “Two flu vaccines are being developed against these viruses. The seasonal flu vaccine will be available as usual in the fall, while the H1N1 will be made available later in the year.”
That sounds to me like it’ll be ready this year? Or maybe they mean later this flu season?
Now the question is…do you get BOTH vaccines? Just one?
Yargh.
Since the year I was in University and got really ill from the flu, I’ve gotten a vaccine annually – and what a difference it has made! (I think I’ve had 10 or so now – including during my pregnancy) Shortly after my daughter was born I got the flu vaccine (as recommended by my pediatrician), since I was breast feeding. My husband also gets the flu vaccine every year too, more for work than anything.
There’s no right or wrong – I figure you do what you’re comfortable with based on the advice of your physician. Personally, I’m a strong believer in immunization – I’ve never had an adverse reaction to a flu shot and I think that it helps me to stay healthy through the infectious season.
No brainer (See point A). All of us are getting the shot (Alex debateable – See point B).
a) I have a hubby with a compromised immune system. I don’t want him to be one of the people we read about in the papers. If the girls get the shot, they’ll have a lesser chance of bringing home the virus which could potentially kill my husband.
b) Not sure yet if Alex will get a shot because it will technically be giving him a bit of the flu – he has to talk to his Nephrologist to weigh the pros and cons. He’s also prone to infections right now, worse if he has a transplant and he’s on the anti-rejection drugs.
c) The girls have been getting them since they were little(r). No bad reactions. Lexy only got a cold or two last year, not the flu. The year before when she didn’t get the shot, she had the flu and her temperature spiked to 104 and I had a hard time bringing it down. She was very sick.
Why let them suffer if I can do something to prevent it?
d) it’s free. how many things in life can you say that about?
e) I’ll get both if we’re allowed to have them in conjuction.
I have never had the flu shot. My kids haven’t either, but they are up to date with all their other vaccines. My husband has had it the last couple years because he’s in a higher risk group (diabetes). I am also skeptical and wary of the flu vaccine – I don’t really know why. I guess because it’s not a for sure thing. But I’m thinking about it this year… H1N1 is scary and with Eric starting school this year, I just don’t know… I wonder if the regular flu shot offers even a bit of protection against H1N1?
I think, as usual, we will just stay away from most people. Helps that I am not social at all. V socializes with kids at the playground but soon it’ll be too cold for that. We will have playdates with kids I know aren’t sick in the least or have been around others who are sick (not a 100% guarantee but close enough that I feel safe about it.) I also make sure we wash our hands a lot, etc. We don’t really get sick, haven’t in years. My husband also hardly interacts with people.
If V was in school I may get her the flu shot. She is on a delayed vaccination schedule and should be up to date by the time she starts kindergarten.
I plan on just asking our doctor her opinion. Especially when it comes to Ayven, I mean he won’t be in daycare until February and he’ll be almost 3 then, but February is still the winter so I don’t know. I’ve never taken the flu shot, I know way too many people who have taken it and it didn’t help much, so I plan on just asking the advice of a medical professional this time around!
I agree, Krystle. We are blessed with a wonderful young family doctor, and I really trust her opinion. I’m also not sure now whether to get the basic flu vaccine, or the H1N1 or both? It’s confusing…
as a postscript:
a) I no longer trust our family doctor as he seriously mis-diagnosed Alex as having a stomach flu and recommended staying off dairy for a week. So needless to say, I won’t be asking his opinon about the shots any time soon.
b) Lexy just brought home an update from school from the Durham Board of Health and they say “Two different flu vaccines will be available this fall. The Health Department recommends receiving both flu vaccinations this year. Please be aware that seasonal flu vaccine is unlikely to protect you from H1N1 flu”
In a nutshell, get both.
Hope that helps, Carly.
Holy Comments!
My kids were both VERY ill with some sort of flu in April. I mean really sick…Maeve was in hospital for a number of nights on IV and it was the scariest thing ever. Liam ended up going in the night after we brought her home and he was hooked up to IV as well.
I am worried about he H1N1, but have also seen what a flu can do to a little person and it’s awful.
I am thinking yes to vaccinations – and am making an appointment to talk about it with dr this week.
I am more concerned when I asked son’s teacher about hand washing and H1N1 – she said that b/c she has 23 kids (!) in the class that its impossible to wash before eating. She does use the hand lotion things and I have put special wipes (http://shop.cleanwelltoday.com/servlet/ProductList?command=cp&supplierID=689&categoryID=3379&categoryName=CleanWell+Natural+Hand+Sanitizers+and+Hand+Washes) in his bag and told him to wash
his hands as he is .
I think that there should be time made to wash hands – and learning that stuff is just as, if not more important than what a coma is!
I’ll be chatting with teacher and possibly higher about this!
So many different opinions and each of you have made such good points. I do not have kids but like DoodlesMom have a husband with a comprised immune system at the moment. It scares him to think what happen if he catches the flu so we are definitely getting both. I visit Carly’s grandma enough that it does scare me that I might give it to her. Also this year because of my diabetes it is just another factor. Have been coming down with a cold the last couple of days and feeling pretty miserable and of course comparing my symptoms to the flu. YIKES…not looking forward to this flu season at all.
what I would also be worried about in schools, along with the hand washing or lack thereof that you mentioned Kristy, is the number of children that are sent to school sick. I recognize that for many parents taking time off work might not be an option and they have no alternate day care provider ie. grandparents, family, etc. But they are really jeopardizing the health of other students and staff. Not to mention that the vaccine is supposed to go to vulnerable groups first so most school aged children probably won’t get it first except the kindergartens.
I totally agree with Kristy about handwashing in schools. Eric has his school visit tomorrow and first day next week and I am very concerned that there will not be enough handwashing.
Eric is 4 – even when he “washes” his hands at home, he often doesn’t do a good job, and I have to help him redo them, remind him to use soap, take his time, etc. I understand that teachers are busy – I personally can’t imagine supervising 20 4 year olds – but I think handwashing is WAY more important than being able to count to a billion or write all their letters or numbers in JK. They can’t learn anything if they are sick and stuck at home!
We are getting them this year. Cameron is 20 months and this will be his first time, meaning he gets a double dose 6 weeks apart.
I don’t know likly not the H1N1 is only to worry for as adults but it is not tested yet and will be likly coming in November by then we may no how much the virus has changend. Its is scary… But what is with sideeffect no one talks about that..What are we doing to us with all these artifical made protections…. And maybe some of us had contact with this last winter …… … As for the regular flushot I have not gotten it in a long time and my kids neither. How about very healthy food and enough sleep for evryone and some vitamines, time outside everyday, to keep the immunsystem strong.
So, what did you decide to do, I’m curious and didn’t see a follow up thread
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