Flu Shots....yes or no?

[AnnieW625]

I had DD get the flu shot when she was six months old, but only got the first half because I never got back in to get her the second part 30 days later. Same thing happened when she was 18 mos. old, and last year at 2/1/2 she didn't get one at all. I have never had one, even when I was pregnant both times. I am just not 100% convinced that we need them and since they never quite seem to know what the flu is going to be each year I'd rather not inject myself with something foriegn if there is no gaurantee it's actually going to fight the flu. I did end up with the crummy flu that was going in 2007/2008 twice, once before it was the big flu and then again in Jan., 2008 IIRC, but I still don't think the vaccine would've done any good becuase I had it once and got it again.

I fully vaccinated my child and will do so with any future children I have per the peds. recommended schedule, but now is it odd that I don't give my child a flu vaccine?

[Jen841]

For me it is an insurance policy.

When J had to have major surgery last year they wanted/almost required it but we would have done it anyway.

[arivecchi]

Everyone in my family gets it every year.

[o_mom]

I don't think that there is really good evidence that the flu shot works in young kids and we are not high risk, so we don't do them (we do other vaccines, so not completely anti-vax).

If you do decide to get them again, she will only need one. You don't have to start over with the two shots again. (so that second year you didn't miss any doses - she only needed one).

[egoldber]

The only time we all got them was the year Amy was born. She was a preemie and had mild RDS at birth. She got RSV at 9 weeks and we were paranoid that she would get another respiratory infection. And since Sarah was in school, Amy got exposed to all those germs through her.

But other than that year, we haven't. I consider it every year with Sarah because of her asthma, but I put it off and put it off until flu season is over LOL!

[HIU8]

We get them every year. DH is required to for his job and so we all get them. Side note: years when I have not gotten the flu shot I have gotten the flu twice a season (once bad and once mild) so I make sure to get the shot. Plus, my father is with us and he gets sick at the drop of a hat, so we get the shot b/c of him as well.

[AngelaS]

We don't get them. I give my kids Vit C and D instead. :D

[mommylamb]

I get one every year, and now that DS is born DH does too (and DS gets them as well). The one year I didn't get one was when I was living in England and the NHS doesn't pay for flu shots for populations that are considered at low risk. I got the flu. It wiped me out. I couldn't even stand. Thank goodness DH (my boyfriend at the time) was there to take care of me because I didn't have the strength to cook for myself. He won big kudos with his future in laws.

[Tondi G]

we don't do flu shots in our family.

[zoestargrove]

we've never done the flu shot for anyone in our family before. Like a pp, we take vitamins including C - get good sleep, exercise, eat healthy and try to keep our immune systems as beefed up as possible against any cold or virus. That said - the death of that young and otherwise healthy boy in Boston rocked my world last year. I had read that the vaccine administered last year didn't cover the strain he had, but it's really made me reevaluate my decision. I'm undecided still about this year. I'm looking forward to reading more view points.

[lorinick]

Last year will all got them. Ds 1 has gotten them for years due to having astma. Private schools in our area it is mandatory.

[mominma]

We never gotten the flu shot.

Not sure if I will this year with the h1n1 vaccine coming out - will need to hear more about it.

[BabyMine]

We always get them. DS1 and I have health problems so we make sure at least we get them.

[Seitvonzu]

we get them here. always did, but when i was pregnant i was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and it's never gone away (baby is 19 months!) ...so , it's practically required. insurance, like the previous person said!

[maestramommy]

We're all getting them this year except Laurel. I'll have to make sure to ask if there is a booster. One year there was and I was never told. Dora goes to school, still sucks on that lovey, Arwyn sucks her thumb, you get the picture. Even with handwashing, I have noticed their illnesses aren't as bad or long lasting after they've had the shot.

[ourbabygirl]

I've been a teacher for 8 years and have never gotten a shot and have almost never gotten the flu these past 10 or 15 years (though I get a cold or two every year). This past year I had some sort of 12 or 24 hour thing, but I don't know that it was the flu. I also didn't get a flu shot for DD (now 10 months), and she was fine; then again, I'm a SAHM and (knock on wood), she has yet to have a cold or ear infection or anything. I hate to get or give any unnecessary shots, but I'll have to think about it this year.

[JBaxter]

No never have gotten a flu shot probably never will. None of us have and Logan did get the flu last year but it wasnt a covered strain anyway. They miss the mark SO MANY times anyway.

[Gena]

We all get the flu shot. DS has asthma, so the flu can be dangerous for him. Hubby is required to get the flu shot by the Fire Department, since he is a volunteer Firefighter/EMT.

[DrSally]

DS doesn't get it b/c of his egg allergy (he got one before we knew). Last year DD didn't get it b/c she was too young. Don't know what we'll do this year, as she tends to be vax reactive (we only give one at a time). Both DH and I got one last year though, to prevent us from bringing it home to the kids. I had to search around for a clinic who gave the single dose vials (no mercury).

[scmama]

I have never had a flu shot (even though I work with kids and get their cold sometimes). I'm honestly not sure about giving DS one. We are also giving one vax at a time. I'm still undecided.

[StantonHyde]

DH and I pretty much have to (work in healthcare). DH works in an ER so we vaccinate our kids because of what he brings home. We will vax for H1N1 for DH and I. I am not sure about the kids, because they actually got it this summer--I will have to ask the ped. But we will vax if needed.

People die from the flu every year. Lots of people. Otherwise healthy people. And the swine flu could be REALLY bad this year. This is not coming from big business or pharmacy, this is coming from public health folks I know and work with. They are very concerned.

[Snow mom]

People die from the flu every year. Lots of people. Otherwise healthy people. And the swine flu could be REALLY bad this year. This is not coming from big business or pharmacy, this is coming from public health folks I know and work with. They are very concerned.

:yeahthat: I've never had the flu vax except when I was pregnant last year. I've actually never gotten the flu (where is my knock on wood smile?) I'll likely get the vax this year because of DD and she will def get the vax. She goes to daycare and things spread there. We are generally a pro vax family. While I don't believe one-size fits all healthcare is generally the best thing, I don't really like the anti-vax movement. Lots of people in this country die from the flu every year. It's something worth preventing. Sometimes they do forecast wrong which strain will be the most prevalent. Even if they forecast correctly you could still get a less common strain. Despite that I think the benefits outweigh potential costs.

[mecawa]

I only get them for myself when pregnant. DH has to get one every year because of two underlying medical issues. I usually get DD#1 a vac. just because she is in school, I feel like we have a little bit of a back up, I guess. She is extremely healthy and I would consider not getting one for her. DD#2 will get one, she had a very rough year medically (premmie, prior major medical issue, surgery, etc.) and I am more comfortable with her getting one and her docs. have recommended it too.

[Moneypenny]

None of us have ever had a flu shot. We've also never had the flu. We have no plans to get flu shots this year.