Hi all;
I am taking my son next week to get his flu shot. He's almost 3. A friend suggested reconsidering and she sent me an article about the harms and risks of such vaccines, and now I'm at loss as to whether I should still go ahead or not.
Does anyone have any info on this? Have your kids received the shot?
Thanks in advance for your input.
Peace
Hi all! Thanks for your replies. Well, I decided to go through with his appt this morning and it turned out he woke with croup/cold and ear infection; so he ended not getting his shot. I still brought him in and he's on Prednisone and Augmentin which I am not administering. The doctor said I could wait and see if it goes on its own (he's had an ear infection before that was cleared with drops alone) so I am trying what's left of that instead. I am cautious with antibiotics and it seems he's not in pain. The prednisone has helped a lot though.
Thanks all!!
It is your decision, of course. Just remember the flu can be fatal in children. Vaccines have such a bad rap these days, but the reality is that they have saved many, many lives and continue to do so.
L.
Hi M.,
I have also researched both sides of the vaccine issue and decided not to vaccinate my son. I found the NVIC website particularly helpful as an introduction to the overall issue and a good source of info on all the vaccines, including the flu vaccine. Here is their page on the flu vaccine: http://909shot.com/Diseases/Influenza.htm
This site also provides the stories of parents who have dealt with the adverse effects of vaccines (which doctors do not always tell you about for reasons ranging from their own arrogance to simple ignorance on the issue).
That said, I agree with the other advice given here on one point--this has to be your decision. Do your own research, talk to you doctor, but realize that the doctor may not know or tell you everything. Ask for the manufacturers' info sheets on individual vaccines so you can read for yourself the side effects, ingredients, etc. Ask questions, dig deeper, and allow yourself some skepticism. Doctors do not know everything and sometimes a mother's intuition is more reliable!
And choosing not to vaccinate does not mean that you don't protect your child's immune system during flu season (and the rest of the year). There are homeopathic and nutritional ways of supporting a child's immune system and helping it do what it was designed to do.
Good luck with your research and decision! :)
JM
Get the vaccine! There has been so much concern about vaccines and the research does not exist to back it up. You are right to be careful about your children, but the vaccine is available without thimerasol. You could also choose the Flumist option since your child is old enough (assuming there is no asthma). It is risky not to give your child the vaccine given the potential consequences of catching it. Additionally, there are children around you who CANNOT receive the flu vaccine due to allergies/asthma etc... and your unvaccinated child literally endangers their life.
I think the flu vaccines are one of the few still with thimerosal (mercury) in them so I wouldn't do it. My kids are 16 and 15 now and we have never done flu shots and they rarely get sick. Some of the latest studies show they do not help the elderly to avoid the flu and I have not seen any studies to show they actually help anyone.
Hi M.
I'm not trying to persuade your decision about vaccinations but you should know both sides of vaccinating vs. not vaccinating (with all vaccines). I have read a little about both sides. All signs that I've read are pointing to vaccinating. There are diseases that were almost eradicated and are not coming back because kids aren't getting their vaccines for whatever reason their parents have. There seems to be a big scare about autism associated with vaccines. My advice to you, mother to mother, is to talk with your pedi about it. I personally feel that if our child advocates (pedis) deem vaccinations unsafe then I would hope that they would keep our kids out of harms way. Many stories that I've read about not vaccinating is that if the child actually gets a disease, like measles or polio, that this situation is far worse off. I think that before you take advice, even from a friend, that you should talk to your pedi or the CDC (centers for disease control) or someone at American Academy of Pediatrics (aap.org) before deciding for or against vaccinations. Good luck with your decision, but please do some research before making your decision, after all, you are your child's advocate.
P.
Hi M.,
Does your child frequently get sick? Is he in preschool? If he's around a lot of other children-then yes. If not, I wouldn't. I agree the benefits outweigh the dangers most of the time, but the more preventative measures you introduce to your child's system, the more his system will rely on them and not be able to fight off infections. His immune system will become "lazy" in a sense.
I think flu vaccines are different from routine vaccines (Dtap, polio, Hib,...) They are not something necessary to survival for most healthy people.
Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I see there are definant links between elderly people & Alzheimer's & flu shots...
You are a good mom for questioning this...
My nephew is one of those that has been affected by the immunizations-the ones the medical community says has no effect. Their cop out is that some children are predisposed to having Autism or Spectrum disorders. I agree with them though, there is a history of mental disease and illness on his momma's side of the family and he & his siblings are predisposed for developmental issues. But, they did not disclose this info until he was already exhibiting signs of Autism.
I am not saying to not vaccinate your child/ren. I have vaccinated all of mine, but I am a very strong advocate for knowing the whole truth. One of the issues is that the schedule for vaccines is too rigorous. You can request for your child to be given them one or two at a time, not 4 or 5. Especially if there is a history of mental illness or disease
Anyway, I will get off my soapbox now. I hope this was helpful. :) God Bless!
I asked my pediatrician about this, as my son has an egg allergy and flu shots are made via egg proteins. I have to agree with what my pediatrician when she says that the benefits of the shot outweigh the harms. The flu is especially dangerous for the elderly and children under 5, and if he gets the flu, the complications and secondary infections from the flu can be more deadly than the virus itself (pneumonia, staph infection, etc). We have a family friend whose young child almost died from pneumonia last year after having the flu- so it hits very close to home. We decided to go with the shot, and aside from him getting a little feverish and tired, there were no ill side effects. My son also attends daycare, so it was even more important for us to get him vaccinated. Ultimately, it's your decision, though. You do what you think is best!
