get the flu shot or not

Diane - posted on 10/23/2010

yes give them the flu shot

Carla - posted on 10/23/2010

@Kathleen Casey--my daughter and her whole platoon got the Anthrax shot before deploying to Iraq--11 of them had such adverse reactions that several had to go on permanent disability. Others had lesser reactions, but all 11 of them had to leave the military. I also just talked to a friend of mine who got her 5 y/o son the flu shot, and he ended up out of school for over a week. Both times I tried the flu shot, I got sicker than if I had just gotten the flu and been done with it.

Everyone has their own opinions. We now have an abundance of information via the internet. Educate yourself. My daughter is not vaccinating any of her children because of what she has learned. She testified before Congress on the dangers of vaccines. Unfortunately, the drug industry is a multi-billion dollar industry, and making such accusations stick is almost impossible!

Only you can make the decision as to what you want for your children. Educate yourself, then decide.

God bless, honey

Lisa - posted on 10/22/2010

People will tell you all kinds of crazy things, and find ways to make the research back up their point of view.

Go with what your doctor says.

If you don't trust your doctor, you need to get a different doctor, or at least get a second opinion.

Personally, the flu shots are the way we go now for our family with 4 kids ages 3 through 11. The flu mist is what 3 of them get, but the 4th has to have the flu shot because of his asthma. But your doctor will know if your kids need to have the mist or the shot.

Jenifer - posted on 10/22/2010

Your kids are old enough to get the FluMist - it's a liquid that goes up the nose. I refuse to do any additional shots on my kids that I don't feel are necessary, so the FluMist is a good alternative.

Megan - posted on 10/21/2010

Some years we get it, some years we don'. Last year we couldn't get it the day I made the appointment because we were all sick... with H1N1, so then it seemed like a waste of time to go get a shot.

But I just read an article on CNN.com about whooping cough and how its making a comeback and causing problems for very young babies because they no longer have a protective cacoon of caregivers who are immunized/had it when they were young and with kids not being immunized its more commen so they are carrying it to the little ones. This concerns me and I would assume the flu would work the same way so I may actually get my son the flu vax this year.

Diane - posted on 10/21/2010

yes i would give them the flu shot so they w3ant get sick all at wounce

Mandy - posted on 10/21/2010

I was very terrified of the flu shot for a long time; however, I would rather give my children the flu vacc than have one of them so sick they miss school, have to be in the hospital, or contract a deadly virus. The shot is there to protect them; My daughters, 5 & 4 had their nasal flu vacc and had absolutely no problems; not even a runny nose! I'd follow what your doc says in this case.

Dena - posted on 10/20/2010

My kids are 4 & 8. We've gotten the flu shot for them every year. The pediatrician takes the temp & will not vaccinate if the kids are sick. We've been in preschool since age two & they come home with runny noses on a fairly regular basis, I feel so badly for them when it is anything worse. Moms (or caregivers) send the kids to school with coughs & runny noses before it's a full-blown cold. no complaints, it's just how it is. When one person in our house gets sick, it usually travels around no matter how much we try to quarantine! Now I'm very glad flu mist is available, it makes life much easier. I will do anything to protect my kids, this is one of those things that is in my control. I compare it to a vitamin on the scale of importance. Car seat #1, healthy eating (attempt) & vitamin #3 (#2 is all those other safety things we need to be concerned about!) Best of health to you and your family.

BC-PedroGamaVieira - posted on 10/20/2010

I can only tell you what I'll do: I have four, 6,4,2 years and one month. None of them will take the shot. I think those shots should be only for really dangerous deseases, in wich I don't include the flu.

Kathleen - posted on 10/19/2010

There is a lot of information saying that the flu shot is dangerous for small children, and other information that vitamin D is essential for preventing flu. If you don't think vaccination can be life threatening or cause autism, you should ask me. My brother died from a vaccine. He was brain damaged so badly that he died.

Rhea - posted on 10/19/2010

You should weigh the pros and cons for youself. I personally don't get the flu shot because the flu shot contains old strains of influenza and since influenza changes as it makes its way across the world, I don't believe that it is as effective as they would have us believe.

Brenda - posted on 10/12/2010

I was very doubtful about getting the flu shot for my 5 yr. old grandson at the time last year but was more afraid of the risks of him getting the flu so his doctor convinced me of how important it was for him to get the shot so he got both the regular flu shot & the swine flu shot & was fine. He had no side effects, did not even run a temp. Played all afternoon like normal. We were more at ease after he got feeling that he was more protected. Hope this helps you.

Sarh - posted on 10/12/2010

My daughter who is 4 has not gotten a flu shot at all, I have refused flu shots and I have been on an injection inwhich lowers my immune system along w/my auto immune disease and my dr tried to force me into getting a flu shot and in fact she has posted all over her office that patients who take Enbrel injections MUST get a flu shot, well, I didn't and I have been fine even through my pregnancy! And my son was born healthy and has not received one. I will continue to refuse flu shots for all of us.

Angie - posted on 10/12/2010

Research the benefits and risks and make the decision that is right for your family. My family gets the flu shot because the virus mutates very year. Last year my 12 year old had H1N1 and it was horrible. I don't ever want to see one of my children go through that again.

Julie - posted on 10/11/2010

I never thought I would be one to get my kids flu shots, but I do. For a few reasons. 1. I have little tiny nieces and nephews that are under 2. They are at higher risk for complications. One of them I watch full time.



The other reason is last year before the H1N1 vaccine came out. We all got it. My older kids, my husband and myself were sick as dogs but ok. My little girls then 3 and 2 were so sick it was scary. After seeing that, I don't want anything to do with the actual flu again.



But each to their own. Go with your gut. A mommy's instincts are usually right.

Shona - posted on 10/11/2010

I think if you havent done it then dont i used the flu shot on my son once and he got really sick he ended up with an ear and throat infection after that i refused to do so, he didnt have asthma and was always healthy except during hay fever season with a runny nose and sore ears unless you want to and the supsceptical to colds i wouldnt bother all kids will get the flu sometime or other as long as you keep up with the routine of hygiene and the rest of the old school parenting they should be fine