Flu Shot

Updated on October 31, 2008
L.M. asks from Orange Park, FL
26 answers

Have 5 yr old & 2 yr old> Would like to hear opinions of flu shots. Thank You!!

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N.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

We do not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5GS7nZi924

Those cases where people are citing people died from the flu should really back up their statements with statistics. How many of those people were immunocompromised, did they have any other risk factors, etc...to just use fear to incite you to do something is a little silly.

1 mom found this helpful

T.J.

answers from Fort Walton Beach on

Here is a good site to give you flu statistics. 300,000–500,000 deaths annually is pretty alarming to me. I don't want my children to be come a statistic.

http://www.flufacts.com/impact/statistics.aspx

Hubby had the nasal one, he said its okay. I've always gotten the shot (and I hate shots :( blah!).

Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful

K.G.

answers from Boca Raton on

Hi Lynn,

I personally wouldn't give it to them... My son got the flu shot 3 weeks ago and was really sick afterwards for about a week.... He was supposed to get his 2nd one next week and I canceled it.. It's a personal choice and I will not do it again!!

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T.U.

answers from Miami on

I will never get the flu shot for myself or any loved ones. Most of the flu shots contain thimerisol (maybe not spelled right?) a mercury based preservative. Alot of doctors feel this preservative is a cause of autism. There's a very limited supply of the mercury free vaccine, so if you decide to get it I'd ask your doctor whether or not it has the bad stuff. I'll never understand why it's okay to inject mercury into our bodies, but it can't be in a thermometer JUST IN CASE it breaks. Doesn't make alot of sense. Also all this vaccinating for every little thing (chicken pox, roto virus...which is just a stomach bug) is causing all these germs to become immune to treatment. Unless you're old or sickly your body needs to work it out on it's own. Good luck with your decision :)

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S.K.

answers from Pensacola on

I got a flu shot 2 years ago and it took me the whole winter to get over it. I was weak, fatigued and achey. Never again will I get one, unless I am in a high risk category. Thankfully, I am not. I don't even consider getting my kids a flu shot. I've also heard that a not so common side effect of flu shots is G*** Barr. Not sure how to spell it, but it is when you are temporarily paralized.

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C.C.

answers from Orlando on

A big reason NOT to get flu shots (for anyone) is that our body has a natural immune system which is fully capable of preventing and/or healing from disease, if it is given the chance!!

Better than the shots, which do contain organisms and chemicals that we do not want in our systems, is improving the cellular health with improved nutrition.

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C.S.

answers from Boca Raton on

http://www.thinktwice.com/flu.htm

this site should give you some good info. you can also visit www.mercola.com for more research into the efficacy as well as the safety of certain vaccines.

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C.B.

answers from Daytona Beach on

The tough thing about any of these vaccines is knowing if your child has the genetic ability to deal with the ingrediants. When my two boys were born, I gave them every shot the doctors said they should have. I didn't know that my boys have a genetic problem that keeps them from getting rid of at least 50% of any toxins they come into contact with. So, through out their young lives, I was giving my permission for them to be slowly poisoned without even knowing it.

It is hard for me to understand why these doctors and vaccine companys would think that every child is the same and every child will tollerate these toxins in the same way.

My 8 yr old has ADHD and my soon to be 6 yr old was diagnosed at 2 1/2 with Moderate Autism. They kept collecting all the toxins until their little minds couldn't take anymore.

I just found out yesterday that I am pregnant! I will not be vaccinating this child at all and I feel wonderful about that. If only my children had been tested BEFORE they were shot full of mercury, famalgahide, aluminum, monkey tissue, aborted baby tissue, and so many others! Then I would have known that they have this genetic issue and can't move toxins to their liver to be delt with.

Do you know if your child's body can deal with toxins appropriately???

www.vaccinetruth.org is a great site that lists exactly what is in different vaccines. You can also find that info on the CDC web site even though they will try to tell you that "trace amounts" of these highly toxic substances are safe to put in a tiny baby or toddler......

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P.R.

answers from Pensacola on

before you have your little ones take any shots be informed. Natural Solutions Foundation.com has info on all vaccines and what they contain. Dr. Rima Laibow founder is reaching the high instances of autism because of vaccinations in the state of New Jersey ( THe Merck Co. headquarters that produce the vaccine). Celebraties are suing because vaccinations have caused their healthy kids to become autistic. Vaccines are being made in China and contain a preservative high in mercury that reacts with brain function.BE VERY CAREFUL what you allow anyone give your kids or yourself including prescription drugs. It is big business to sell vaccines. I have a religious exemption to get around vaccinating my kids. It is a blue form you get at the health center. My kids have never had a flu shot. (14 and 15 yrs old). pr

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M.H.

answers from Fort Walton Beach on

Hi Lynn,

The below is taken from http://www.vaclib.org/basic/fluindex.htm

Ingredients: (sources are manufacturers statements.)
FluMist®: (MedImmune) Live attenuated cold adapted virus*, allantoic fluid (egg white), sucrose, potassium phosphate, and monosodium glutamate. Source http://www.drugs.com/PDR/Flumist_Vaccine.html.

FLUARIXTM: (GlaxoSmithKline) Chicken embryos, virus*, sucrose, sodium deoxycholate, formaldehyde, sodium phosphate, sodium chloride, octoxynol-10, Alpha-tocopheryl hydrogen succinate, and polysorbate 80, trace thimerosal (<1.25 mcg mercury per dose). Each dose may contain residual amounts of hydrocortisone, gentamicin sulfate, ovalbumin, formaldehyde and sodium deoxycholate.

Fluzone®: (Aventis-Pasteur) Chicken embryos, virus*, formaldehyde, sucrose, octoxinol-9, sodium phosphate, sodium chloride, Gelatin, thimerosal in the 5mL vials (25 ug mercury/dose), no thimerosal in prefilled syringes.

The horrible secret, that is not a secret, is that the flu vaccine is manufactured from previous strains of influenza. So this years vaccine is made from last years flu. THE CDC WILL TELL YOU THAT! They will also tell you that it probably won't help.

Five years consecutively will guarantee Alzheimer's Disease or some type of dementia. My 90 year old Dad who is in a nursing home is the only resident that does not get the vaccine and he is also the only one that does not get the flu.

Vaccines, when they began, were a way to prevent epidemics. The vaccines today cause them. No body is supposed to be pumped full of synthetic chemicals. The only way to stay healthy is to rid the body of the toxins, not add them. The immune system was built to fight off illnesses. Strengthen the immune system and your kids won't get sick. Mine use to, but don't anymore. That's because I changed the way I thought after I had done hoards of research. We don't even get a sniffle now and then....

If you want more information, I am an open book. I don't want anyone to suffer like I did as a child. Feel free to email me privately and ask...

Regards,

M.
www.squidoo.com/ifyourbabycouldtalk

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A.S.

answers from Boca Raton on

My children are 13 and 11 and have never received the flu shot. They are not in a "high risk" category as far as I understand it.

If for some reason I were to consider it for my children, I would ask to read the package insert to see the ingredients. If thimerosal were there I would be concerned since, as I understand it (and I'm not a health care professional) thimerosal has been removed from most other children's vaccines.

PS: For what it is worth, the "flufacts.com" site referenced by another poster appears to be sponsored by Roche Labs (see the very bottom of the linked page).

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F.R.

answers from Pensacola on

The flu itself does much more harm than the flu shot will. I've gotten them every year and given it to my children every year for many years. No negative side effects in anyone in my family. I am definitely FOR getting the vaccines. But that's your choice. I'd rather deal with a cranky child for one to two days because of having a shot than dealing with a very sick child for more than a week because of getting the flu.

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B.B.

answers from Jacksonville on

My opinion is pretty simple. I did my own research before I even considered given my children any shots.There is no direct evidence linking the flu shot to anything harmful. There is a greater risk of my kids getting the flu and being hospitalized or seriously ill even die then of anything bad happening from getting the shot. I want to protect my children in anyway possible, so I get the flu shot for them and me as well every year. Preventing an illness that could claim their lives is so important especially if we have the means to do it. I know for regular shots they have mercury free ones, I don't remember if the flu shot is the same or not. The other thing is your child gets more mercury normally from you when you eat fish while you were pregnant or breastfeeding then they would ever get from the shot. If you are uncomfortable do your own research online and talk with your doctor. That's what I did and I am totally confident with my decision, knowing I am doing what is best for them.

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E.G.

answers from Daytona Beach on

go to the CDC's website they ahve a lot good info too.

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R.D.

answers from Jacksonville on

I am all for the flu shot. Every once in a while you hear about a child who did not get the flu shot, got the flu and died -- I know it's rare, but it does happen and it seems so sad because it is preventable.

That being said, of course the flu shot is not always effective (like last year, when I think they guessed incorrectly about the strain of flu that would go around...)

I make sure that we are getting the version of the shot that is mercury-free, without the preservative thimerosal. Some shots still contain it and that has made me nervous enough to skip it in the past. I believe the flu mist is totally free of mercury -- we would have done that but our pediatrician ran out of it.

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C.M.

answers from Miami on

I have always given my 5 year old daughter the flu shot and gotten it myself (I have asthma so for me to get the flu is a problem). We have never had any negative side effects from it.
One year we got the flu (a strain not covered by the shot) and my husband and I were struck really hard with hit. It took us 2 weeks to recover. My daughter (2 1/2 at the time) got it and was over it in 1 1/2 days. I am all for the shot, but I agree with the other poster to check with your dr. first if your child has any allergies (esp. to eggs).

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D.G.

answers from Jacksonville on

My kids are 3 1/2 and 1 1/2 and they get the flu shot every year. It does not make them sick and protects them. I think it is essential. The flu is deadly in small kids. (they also have the flumist for over 2 years old that just sprays up your nose. My older one got that this year and liked it MUCH better than a shot!)

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M.H.

answers from Miami on

I have been getting the flu shot for my daughter at the Pediatricians office ever since she was 6 months. She is now 5 1/2 yrs. and has had no problems so far. I recommend it.

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Y.F.

answers from Orlando on

I have a 7 year old and a 16 month old and I have been giving him the flu shot his whole life. My advice would be YES do it! I have noticed that he does NOT get sick and it holds of through even spring time.

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K.

answers from Boca Raton on

Hi Lynn

I was just at the Peds office last wk for my son's 4 yr check up & the Dr. asked me if I wanted to give my son a flu shot. I told him last yr (@ 3yr) he didn't recommend it because from 3yrs & Up they contain mercury (unless specifically noted Mercury Free. Unfortunately, at this time they were out of the Mercury Free shot, so I declined. From my understanding the 2 yr old shot is Mercury free. This is just food for thought, but if your son is in school I'm sure it would be better to get him vaccinated.
Good Luck

K.

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S.S.

answers from Jacksonville on

I have a 3 1/2 year old and a 1 year old, and my 3 1/2 year old has had a flu shot every year since he was 6 months old. My 1 year old just got his first one last week. He cried for about 10 seconds and showed no other signs of being hurt later that day. My 3 year old was able to take the mist in his nose, so check with your ped. on that. Any child 3 or over, I think, can do it in the nose. They stick this little tube in one side of their nostril, tell them to sniff, then do the other nostril. Totally harmless. If you're worred about the 2 year old, give her some Tylenol before you go in, and she should be fine.

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J.M.

answers from Miami on

I just recently spoke to my doctor about this since I have a 2yr and 5yr old. My husband did not want them to have the shot this year - he thought it did more harm than good - he was wrong - and I had the doctor explain it to him. She said that children under the age of 18 should get the shot - it is the children that spread the flu virus to everyone else (they are in school and it's easily spread) - alot of children are hospitalized every year due to complications from the flu (pneumonia...) - it is not a live virus. You will not get the flu or symptoms of the flu by getting the flu shot. It is a precaution that we take to protect our children. If your children get the shot, then everyone in your household needs to get the shot. HTH- Also - I suggest that you talk to your doctor about it as well.

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K.L.

answers from Jacksonville on

Hi Lynn,

I am absolutely in favor of flu shots for all children and moms! With all the germs in daycare, and the viruses that can't be treated with medicine, it's just a good idea. Plus, I never used to get a flu shot myself until 2 years ago, when I got so sick from an illness that my daughter brought home from school, that it was almost impossible to care for her properly. We both had to lay on the floor some for a day or two. Impossible. Anything I can do to avoid that works for me, plus my pediatrician only uses flu vaccines without additives, etc. She never has had any side effects from one and now that she's almost 3, is a pretty healthy girl who's only sidelined by the newest virus around, not all of them!

Good luck and go for it!
K.

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R.M.

answers from Daytona Beach on

Last year my husband got the flu and it was the worst week 1/2 of my life. We have three children and thankfully no one else got it. So this year the whole family got flu shots. We don't want to take the chance of that coming our way again.

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R.M.

answers from Melbourne on

Lynn,

Hi. All I know is that the flu shot contains eggs. My daughter is severely allergic to eggs. If your child has food allergies you need to make sure that you know exactly what is in these vaccines before getting them. We were in the doctors office and my daughter needed a few shots, something told me to ask what each one was before she was given a shot and one was the flu shot!!! Even after I told them she is highly allergic to eggs!!! If the shot was administered my daughter could have died. Just be very careful, and do not feel awkward in asking alot of questions.
R. M

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C.G.

answers from Boca Raton on

I am all for vaccination. As others have saide, complications from the flu is a lot worse than any complications that can occur from the flu virus.
I work in a hospital so I am at higher risk and my son has asthma so he is at higher risk, therefore our entire family gets the flu shot every year, not only to protect ourselves but those around us. If anything, the flu shot does help give a small boost to your immune system.
Yes, there is a very, very small risk of getting Guillain Barre syndrome, but about 90% of the people that develop this will have a full recovery (that is an approximate percentage, I didn't look it up - but it's close). Still a scary thing, but there are worst things out there.

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