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beachgirl
LIF Adult
Member since 7/05 7967 total posts
Name:
sara
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Flu Season - Healthy people dying
Anyone second guessing their decision to NOT vaccinate against the flu this year?
My DS has been home from school for 2 days with a fever - took him to doctor - he idd not swab for flu - does not think he has enough symptoms to think its the flu - told me to monitor him and call if his fever does not get better tomorrow.
I am feeling immense pressure from friends / family that we did not vaccinate against the flu - i need odds that are greater than 30% before I will vaccinate but I know thats as high as they can give me.
However with all these healthy people dying from fly - that 10 year old CT boy :(...its making me nuts and wondering if I made the right decision.
Thoughts?
Message edited 1/23/2018 2:40:32 PM.
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Posted 1/23/18 2:39 PM  |
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StaceyLu
LIF Adolescent
Member since 2/17 572 total posts
Name:
Stacey
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Flu Season - Healthy people dying
We all got vaccinated and both DD and DH got it. It hit my DD especially hard. This year's vaccination has not been particularly effective; dr said the strain that's going around was not covered by the vaccine, so there are no guarantees the shot will help.
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| Posted 1/23/18 2:58 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Flu Season - Healthy people dying
Posted by StaceyLu
We all got vaccinated and both DD and DH got it. It hit my DD especially hard. This year's vaccination has not been particularly effective; dr said the strain that's going around was not covered by the vaccine, so there are no guarantees the shot will help.
I did vaccinate DD because I always have since she was 6 months old. I figure she's in school which is a hot bed of disease passing.
But yeah, the shot isn't very effective this year. And 2 years ago she did get flu even with the shot.
So who knows. I guess I'm glad she had it though. Can't hurt.
I didn't get it for myself, nor did DH, because we never get the shot anyway. Never have.
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| Posted 1/23/18 3:02 PM |
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MsSissy
xoxoxo
Member since 3/07 39159 total posts
Name:
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Re: Flu Season - Healthy people dying
Posted by beachgirl
Anyone second guessing their decision to NOT vaccinate against the flu this year?
My DS has been home from school for 2 days with a fever - took him to doctor - he idd not swab for flu - does not think he has enough symptoms to think its the flu - told me to monitor him and call if his fever does not get better tomorrow.
I am feeling immense pressure from friends / family that we did not vaccinate against the flu - i need odds that are greater than 30% before I will vaccinate but I know thats as high as they can give me.
However with all these healthy people dying from fly - that 10 year old CT boy :(...its making me nuts and wondering if I made the right decision.
Thoughts?
Why wouldn't they swab for the flu? With the epidemic right now you would think they would swab everyone that comes. Especially like you mentioned even healthy people are dying.
I don't understand that.
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| Posted 1/23/18 3:09 PM |
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Loveme
LIF Adult
Member since 6/11 3170 total posts
Name:
Me
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Flu Season - Healthy people dying
I’m currently dealing with my 6 year old having the flu and let me tell you it’s awful. I’m definitely second guessing why I didn’t vaccinate. I already told DH that our DS will get the vaccine next year. Even if he does happen to get ithe flu again next year, at least I won’t feel so guilty about not vaccinating him.
Even though there’s no guarantee with the shot, in my mind I keep thinking about if he did get it maybe he wouldn’t have such bad symptoms.
Message edited 1/23/2018 3:14:00 PM.
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| Posted 1/23/18 3:12 PM |
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stinger
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 4971 total posts
Name:
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Re: Flu Season - Healthy people dying
I want to know details about healthy people dying from flu? Where did you read that?
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| Posted 1/23/18 3:29 PM |
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Kate
*****
Member since 5/05 7557 total posts
Name:
Kate
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Flu Season - Healthy people dying
My 11 year old is the only one of us who got the shot, and he has the flu right now. He has asthma and I’m sure it would be worse I he hadn’t gotten the shot.
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| Posted 1/23/18 3:32 PM |
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Sash
Peace
Member since 6/08 10312 total posts
Name:
fka LIW Smara
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Re: Flu Season - Healthy people dying
Posted by MsSissy
Posted by beachgirl
Anyone second guessing their decision to NOT vaccinate against the flu this year?
My DS has been home from school for 2 days with a fever - took him to doctor - he idd not swab for flu - does not think he has enough symptoms to think its the flu - told me to monitor him and call if his fever does not get better tomorrow.
I am feeling immense pressure from friends / family that we did not vaccinate against the flu - i need odds that are greater than 30% before I will vaccinate but I know thats as high as they can give me.
However with all these healthy people dying from fly - that 10 year old CT boy :(...its making me nuts and wondering if I made the right decision.
Thoughts?
Why wouldn't they swab for the flu? With the epidemic right now you would think they would swab everyone that comes. Especially like you mentioned even healthy people are dying.
I don't understand that.
Yes, this makes no sense. It’s not like it’s an evasive test, I would’ve made the doctor test.
OP:
I always get the vaccine but You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself. I would continue to monitor your son and try to stay away from sick people. It sucks because people who are sick do not stay home.
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| Posted 1/23/18 3:35 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Flu Season - Healthy people dying
Posted by stinger
I want to know details about healthy people dying from flu? Where did you read that?
http://time.com/5113281/flu-death-toll-children-2018/
Thirty children have died from confirmed influenza-related causes so far this flu season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) most recent weekly report, released last Friday. The total includes deaths between Oct. 16 and Jan. 13.
CDC Director Brenda Fitzgerald has described the 2017-2018 flu season as “very active,” and has said that much of the country is experiencing “widespread and intense flu activity.” During a Jan. 12 press update, Fitzgerald said that influenza A, H3N2, has been the most common strain of flu virus reported this year. “These viruses are often linked to more severe illness, especially among children and people age 65 and older,” she said.
Most children who get the flu do recover. But thousands are hospitalized every year, and some die from complications. The number of children killed by influenza-related causes per season has ranged over the last decade from a low of 37 (in 2011-2012) to a high of 288 (in 2009-2010).
The current flu season is, so far, on track to be deadlier for children than the previous two. During last year’s flu season, 110 children died from the flu between November 2016 and September 2017, with 17 pediatric deaths reported through the second week of January last year. During the 2015-2016 flu season, 92 children died from the flu, with 10 child deaths by this point in the season.
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| Posted 1/23/18 3:37 PM |
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jlm2008
LIF Adult
Member since 1/10 5092 total posts
Name:
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Flu Season - Healthy people dying
Nope.
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| Posted 1/23/18 3:52 PM |
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twizzlers
LIF Adolescent
Member since 11/14 874 total posts
Name:
x
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Re: Flu Season - Healthy people dying
Posted by stinger
I want to know details about healthy people dying from flu? Where did you read that?
There was a news article today about a 6 year old in NC dying from the flu.
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| Posted 1/23/18 3:59 PM |
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MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
Name:
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Re: Flu Season - Healthy people dying
Posted by MsSissy
Posted by beachgirl
Anyone second guessing their decision to NOT vaccinate against the flu this year?
My DS has been home from school for 2 days with a fever - took him to doctor - he idd not swab for flu - does not think he has enough symptoms to think its the flu - told me to monitor him and call if his fever does not get better tomorrow.
I am feeling immense pressure from friends / family that we did not vaccinate against the flu - i need odds that are greater than 30% before I will vaccinate but I know thats as high as they can give me.
However with all these healthy people dying from fly - that 10 year old CT boy :(...its making me nuts and wondering if I made the right decision.
Thoughts?
Why wouldn't they swab for the flu? With the epidemic right now you would think they would swab everyone that comes. Especially like you mentioned even healthy people are dying.
I don't understand that.
Both my kids were sick and were not tested. My 5yo had been sick several days and had some gastro symptoms beforehand so they didn't suggest tamiflu. They would have tested her if I wanted but I agreed it wasn't worth it.
When my 3yo got sick I brought her right away. They gave her meds for an ear infection and said thru wouldn't give her tamiflu even if she had the flu so no reason to bother. Both doctors (my ped and stat health) said it only shortens the illness by a day so not worth the potential side effects. Maybe if they had worse symptoms they would have thought differently.
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| Posted 1/23/18 4:12 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Flu Season - Healthy people dying
Posted by MrsT809
Posted by MsSissy
Posted by beachgirl
Anyone second guessing their decision to NOT vaccinate against the flu this year?
My DS has been home from school for 2 days with a fever - took him to doctor - he idd not swab for flu - does not think he has enough symptoms to think its the flu - told me to monitor him and call if his fever does not get better tomorrow.
I am feeling immense pressure from friends / family that we did not vaccinate against the flu - i need odds that are greater than 30% before I will vaccinate but I know thats as high as they can give me.
However with all these healthy people dying from fly - that 10 year old CT boy :(...its making me nuts and wondering if I made the right decision.
Thoughts?
Why wouldn't they swab for the flu? With the epidemic right now you would think they would swab everyone that comes. Especially like you mentioned even healthy people are dying.
I don't understand that.
Both my kids were sick and were not tested. My 5yo had been sick several days and had some gastro symptoms beforehand so they didn't suggest tamiflu. They would have tested her if I wanted but I agreed it wasn't worth it.
When my 3yo got sick I brought her right away. They gave her meds for an ear infection and said thru wouldn't give her tamiflu even if she had the flu so no reason to bother. Both doctors (my ped and stat health) said it only shortens the illness by a day so not worth the potential side effects. Maybe if they had worse symptoms they would have thought differently.
Yes my ped refuses to prescribe Tamiflu too.
Which is just as well because I would never give it.
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| Posted 1/23/18 4:13 PM |
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stinger
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 4971 total posts
Name:
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Re: Flu Season - Healthy people dying
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by stinger
I want to know details about healthy people dying from flu? Where did you read that?
http://time.com/5113281/flu-death-toll-children-2018/
Thirty children have died from confirmed influenza-related causes so far this flu season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) most recent weekly report, released last Friday. The total includes deaths between Oct. 16 and Jan. 13.
CDC Director Brenda Fitzgerald has described the 2017-2018 flu season as “very active,” and has said that much of the country is experiencing “widespread and intense flu activity.” During a Jan. 12 press update, Fitzgerald said that influenza A, H3N2, has been the most common strain of flu virus reported this year. “These viruses are often linked to more severe illness, especially among children and people age 65 and older,” she said.
Most children who get the flu do recover. But thousands are hospitalized every year, and some die from complications. The number of children killed by influenza-related causes per season has ranged over the last decade from a low of 37 (in 2011-2012) to a high of 288 (in 2009-2010).
The current flu season is, so far, on track to be deadlier for children than the previous two. During last year’s flu season, 110 children died from the flu between November 2016 and September 2017, with 17 pediatric deaths reported through the second week of January last year. During the 2015-2016 flu season, 92 children died from the flu, with 10 child deaths by this point in the season.
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It doesn't say health status or preexisting condition of those that died. How do we know they were healthy before getting flu?
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| Posted 1/23/18 4:22 PM |
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MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
Name:
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Flu Season - Healthy people dying
To answer the OP, I see no negative side effects to giving my kids the vaccine so I'll continue to give it. Maybe if they haf a reaction I'd think twice but they haven't. Some protection is better than none imo.
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| Posted 1/23/18 4:25 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Flu Season - Healthy people dying
Posted by stinger
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by stinger
I want to know details about healthy people dying from flu? Where did you read that?
http://time.com/5113281/flu-death-toll-children-2018/
Thirty children have died from confirmed influenza-related causes so far this flu season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) most recent weekly report, released last Friday. The total includes deaths between Oct. 16 and Jan. 13.
CDC Director Brenda Fitzgerald has described the 2017-2018 flu season as “very active,” and has said that much of the country is experiencing “widespread and intense flu activity.” During a Jan. 12 press update, Fitzgerald said that influenza A, H3N2, has been the most common strain of flu virus reported this year. “These viruses are often linked to more severe illness, especially among children and people age 65 and older,” she said.
Most children who get the flu do recover. But thousands are hospitalized every year, and some die from complications. The number of children killed by influenza-related causes per season has ranged over the last decade from a low of 37 (in 2011-2012) to a high of 288 (in 2009-2010).
The current flu season is, so far, on track to be deadlier for children than the previous two. During last year’s flu season, 110 children died from the flu between November 2016 and September 2017, with 17 pediatric deaths reported through the second week of January last year. During the 2015-2016 flu season, 92 children died from the flu, with 10 child deaths by this point in the season.
...
It doesn't say health status or preexisting condition of those that died. How do we know they were healthy before getting flu?
I also found this interesting. This is a quote from a doctor in one of the articles about a girl who died of flu:
Mistakenly, the general public believes a bad flu season simply means a lot of people either die or get seriously ill due only to the flu, said Ardolic.
“And it’s really not like that,” he said. What actually happens — and is happening now — is that people with one or two other medical conditions are “coming in with the flu and it’s really knocking them for a loop.”
“To be honest, in the US today, there’s so many people walking around with at least one comorbidity — diabetes or hypertension or congestive heart failure or COPD — you’re talking about a tremendous number of people,” said Ardolic. He added that these people are requiring “pretty significant therapy.”
Not that it doesn't happen, because it does, but I think it's a lot more common to die from flu complications if you have an underlying medical condition. Maybe even an undetected one.
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| Posted 1/23/18 4:47 PM |
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drpepper318
MIR MIR MIR!
Member since 6/07 8274 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Flu Season - Healthy people dying
My kids all got the flu shot but DH and I never got it. I'm definitely concerned about the possibility of getting sick.. can't wait for flu season to be over. Next year I think we'll all get the flu shot.
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| Posted 1/23/18 4:50 PM |
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Katareen
5,000 Posts!
Member since 4/10 7180 total posts
Name:
Katherine
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Re: Flu Season - Healthy people dying
Posted by beachgirl
However with all these healthy people dying from fly - that 10 year old CT boy :(...its making me nuts and wondering if I made the right decision.
Thoughts?
I'm not sure if this boy had any preexisting conditions, but he had the flu and his parents still took him for a 7 hr car ride to a hockey tournament. I think besides fluids, the first thing they tell you is rest, rest, rest.
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| Posted 1/23/18 5:06 PM |
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mommy2B3
2 boys 2 girls!!!!
Member since 7/08 3324 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: Flu Season - Healthy people dying
I won’t give my kids the flu shot nor will I ever have it myself. My DH gets his bc of his job. I have had the flu with and without the shot and so have my kids, I find no correlation to lowering of symptoms or length of illness. At 12% effectiveness, I won’t put that poison unnecessarily into our bodies anymore.. I’d also give yourself a bit of grace about not getting it, it’s absolutely scary, and these tough moments having to decide these things for our kids which basically sucks if you do, sucks if you don’t type of thing. I also don’t believe these cases of perfectly healthy people dying from the flu, I think it’s a combination that they had other medical issues, or weren’t taking proper care of themselves while sick ie. hydration etc.
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| Posted 1/23/18 5:14 PM |
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Adri
Joy!
Member since 5/05 3116 total posts
Name:
A
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Re: Flu Season - Healthy people dying
DS got the flu shot, as he does every year. I just heard yesterday that with any symptoms, it is better to get tested for both, flu and strep throat.
ETA: I read it is not too late to vaccinate, also that some complications come when the fluid there with another virus, and that humidifiers can be good. The shot won't prevent it, but symptoms will be better.
Message edited 1/23/2018 9:34:48 PM.
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| Posted 1/23/18 5:25 PM |
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PhyllisNJoe
My Box Is Broken
Member since 6/11 9145 total posts
Name:
Phyllis
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Re: Flu Season - Healthy people dying
I didn't get the shot this year because I was battling (Still sort of am) a bad reactivated Epstein Barr. I have felt like i have the flu for months. It took me about 1 month to get over a regular cold. So I was afraid to get the shot, thinking it would make me feel even worse.
DH never gets the shot and takes the gamble every year. We have one employee out with a positive flu test, another with a positive norovirus test and one just called out today because she was deathly ill. I have to go in and work for 2 days. Bringing my Clorox and Lysol with me before business hours so I can wipe EVERYTHING down. Hoping it saves me.
Don't beat yourself up for not getting him the shot. Everyone I know who has the flu, GOT the shot. Some are sicker than others - I really think it all depends on your immune system. The deaths you hear of, you usually find out they had some other underlying conditions. When someone gets the flu, rest and hydration is key. You don't do that, you're in for trouble. Dehydration can wreak havoc on your body.
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| Posted 1/23/18 5:50 PM |
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ChilisWife
God Bless America
Member since 5/05 3572 total posts
Name:
A.K.
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Re: Flu Season - Healthy people dying
Posted by Katareen
Posted by beachgirl
However with all these healthy people dying from fly - that 10 year old CT boy :(...its making me nuts and wondering if I made the right decision.
Thoughts?
I'm not sure if this boy had any preexisting conditions, but he had the flu and his parents still took him for a 7 hr car ride to a hockey tournament. I think besides fluids, the first thing they tell you is rest, rest, rest.
That particular boy DID receive the flu vaccine, as did the adult woman runner who has been in the news for recently dying from the flu.
I think that vaccine or not, you can get the flu. I am not regretting my decision not to do the shot.
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| Posted 1/23/18 7:50 PM |
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LuckyStar
LIF Adult
Member since 7/14 7274 total posts
Name:
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Flu Season - Healthy people dying
People die from the flu every year, including healthy people. This isn't news. In most cases, there are comorbidities, but not all. OP, if it turns out your child does NOT have the flu, he can still be vaccinated once he's better. It's not too late. I actually know several doctors who wait until January to vaccinate.
ETA: My DD receives every vaccine available, including flu.
Message edited 1/23/2018 8:20:44 PM.
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| Posted 1/23/18 8:17 PM |
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ChristinaM128
LIF Adult
Member since 8/12 4043 total posts
Name:
Christina
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Re: Flu Season - Healthy people dying
From what I read, the most serious signs to look out for are in line with dehydration (not taking in fluid, not peeing), rapid breathing, and rapid heart rate. Those are the most serious warning signs in these seemingly healthy individuals who had serious/fatal complications. Knowing what to look for has put me more at ease.
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| Posted 1/23/18 8:54 PM |
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PennyCat
Just call me mommy :)
Member since 7/08 19084 total posts
Name:
Jib
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Re: Flu Season - Healthy people dying
Posted by ChristinaM128
From what I read, the most serious signs to look out for are in line with dehydration (not taking in fluid, not peeing), rapid breathing, and rapid heart rate. Those are the most serious warning signs in these seemingly healthy individuals who had serious/fatal complications. Knowing what to look for has put me more at ease.
My DS was severely dehydrated last year when the ped sent him to the ER with the flu directly from his appointment. It was extremely scary, and he was vaccinated too but still got insanely sick.
Fortunately the day of IV fluids helped him and he wasn’t admitted, but he still remembers it and he was about 3 1/2.
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| Posted 1/23/18 9:19 PM |
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