(spinoff to my own post) Does anyone NOT give their DC a flu shot?

and what is your reason?

Message edited 8/17/2009 5:00:44 PM.

Re: (spinoff to my own post) Does anyone NOT give their DC a flu shot?

I don't and never will. I have many reasons. I do not b/v the benefits of this shot outweigh the risks - for myself or for DS. Both DS and I rarely get sick so for us it is not worth the actual or potential side effects. This shot is not even always effective - soooooo many people I know get the shot and then end up with the flu - meanwhile, i have never had the flu. Why risk the side effects and poison your body with the vaccine when it only "may" help you. I read an article in a medical journal last year that studied a two yr period in children ages 6 mo - 5yrs I think it was 2006-2008 and the study concluded that the flu shot in this age group DID NOT reduce the number of Dr. visits OR hositalizations of children in this age group for the flu - so basically it was pointless. Also, I have a family member that got GBS from a flu shot and died.

But, I am generally anti-vaccine so maybe my viewpoint is swayed

Re: (spinoff to my own post) Does anyone NOT give their DC a flu shot?

DC will not be getting a flu shot. The one year I got it, I got the flu , go figure. and that shot is painful my arm was sore for 2 days.

Re: (spinoff to my own post) Does anyone NOT give their DC a flu shot?

Jacob has not had the flu shot because he is allergic to eggs. The doctor advised against it.

Re: (spinoff to my own post) Does anyone NOT give their DC a flu shot?

I have never gotten one nor will DD or DC#2 (on the way).

It's my own personal choice.

Re: (spinoff to my own post) Does anyone NOT give their DC a flu shot?

I did not give it until he was 2...only because they said he won't survive the winter without it because of his asthma.

If he did not have asthma, he would not be getting shot.

Re: (spinoff to my own post) Does anyone NOT give their DC a flu shot?

As much as I am torn over this, I have no plans to give my DD a flu shot, swine or other.

Re: (spinoff to my own post) Does anyone NOT give their DC a flu shot?

My kids do not get them. I don't really have any reason outside of the fact that I never had them and I have been just fine. They have really good strong immunity systems and ... well that's it.

Re: (spinoff to my own post) Does anyone NOT give their DC a flu shot?

I will not be getting the flu shot nor will my son. I didn't even get it while I was pregnant(even though I was teaching at the time). The year I got the flu shot I got violently ill. So, never again.

Message edited 8/17/2009 6:00:22 PM.

Re: (spinoff to my own post) Does anyone NOT give their DC a flu shot?

I didn't give DS his first shot until he was 18 months and that was only because I had DD and wanted to try and protect her since she was so little.
Now that DS is in school it is mandatory in NJ for them to get the flu shot unless you have a medical or religious exception.
DD is 2 and still has never received it. She has an egg allergy and both the ped. and allergist feel that the risk of her getting a reaction to it is greater than her actually contracting the flu. She will have a medical exception when she starts school in Jan.

I personally do not get it nor does DH. I know plenty of people who do get the flu and have been vaccinated.

Re: (spinoff to my own post) Does anyone NOT give their DC a flu shot?

I myself only got it ones about 3-4 years ago (I was a nanny and decided to get one), and that winter I got a horrible flu and I was soooo sick. I never got it before that and since. They don't do and never did flu shots back in my country, NO ONE gets them-kids or adults (they give every single vaccine they do here in the US but the flu shot )
My plan was not to give DD one either especially the first year, but we had a trip planned to visit my family overseas that September (she turned one in August) and the ped insisted that she get one, so she did. OMG she got so sick with flu like symptoms few days later (2 days before the trip) I think she picked up something at the ped's office . This year I am thinking of skipping it, since she isn't in school or a day care and won't be for a while.

Message edited 8/17/2009 8:32:53 PM.

Re: (spinoff to my own post) Does anyone NOT give their DC a flu shot?

I don't....for reasons attributed to a lot of the vaccine debates, don't want to get into a debate so won't post specifics, but its a personal choice not to..and weight risks/benefits for us in our situation.

I think many situations are different...like Janice's...if my son had asthma I might feel differently.

Re: (spinoff to my own post) Does anyone NOT give their DC a flu shot?

Although my son get's it every year...I will say that if he was not in daycare he would not get it. Outside of so much contact with other people I would not feel the need for it personally. I'm not opposed to them obviously but I feel that his exposure at daycare sways me to believe that it benefits him more than not.

Re: (spinoff to my own post) Does anyone NOT give their DC a flu shot?

Nope Never!

Re: (spinoff to my own post) Does anyone NOT give their DC a flu shot?

We didin't give DS a flu shot last winter - he was under 1 year.

Our reasoning was that he wasn't really out and about all that much. We aren't crazy about vaccinations, medication, etc. in general. We do give him teh vaccinations, and use medication when necessary, but the flu shot just didn't seem necessary. He stayed home with DH and MIL. If he had been in day care, I'm not sure what we would have done - we would have really had to think about it.

Re: (spinoff to my own post) Does anyone NOT give their DC a flu shot?

We didn't. I felt if I never had the flu shot why should I subject him to the vaccine. I am more scared of the side effects of the flu shot.

Re: (spinoff to my own post) Does anyone NOT give their DC a flu shot?

I did not give DD the flu shot last year because I thought she was too young and I was delaying most vaccines anyway. However, this year I will. DD just got over Pneumonia and I do not want to take any chances with the flu.

Message edited 8/17/2009 11:51:36 PM.