flu shot safety?

Do your kids get a flu shot every year?? Are they safe and really needed if they are not in daycare??

 

Nope. I don't get the kid's flu shots. Never have and probably never will.

If your kids aren't in daycare, I wouldn't see a need to do it. But, that's just me. DS1 is in school and we haven't had any issues. We make sure to follow the CDC's guidelines (handwashing, no sharing utencils, ect) and do just fine.

 

I will never give my twins a flu shot and I have never had one myself...

 

I have been getting the flu shot myself for the past 8 or 9 years. My twins have had a flu shot each year and all the girls are scheduled to get a shot next week. The one time I had the flu, it was the worst sickness I have ever experienced.

 

The decision should be based more on your kids than anything else. If they have ever had any kind of respiratory issues, I would definately get it. My neighbor's boys have had one every year of their lives--both have had allergy and asthema issues since infancy.

I haven't gotten one for the boys--for 2 reasons. One, they have never had any respiratory issues at all in their 5 years, and two, I don't like them having to get the two shots they would need since they haven't had one before.

 

Both my girls and myself get the shots due to asthama

 

We do! We get them. We participate in the Rec. Center classes and they are attending playgroups etc..... so we definitely get them. (US INCLUDED!)

 

Mine are in daycare, so we definitely get them, but IMO, it would be worth it if your child has any contact with other children at all. We vax on schedule though, so that's our perspective in general. FWIW, they had their first flu shots last year (at just under 12 months), and they did have to get two shots, but it didn't seem to bother them at all. They were more annoyed at the bandaid than at the shot.

 

My kids aren't in daycare & I only have the twins.....but last year my dr still talked me into getting it. And, they got the flu anyway. So we're not doing it this year.

 

The girls had them last year. I haven't decided what I am doing this year. I don't get them and neither does DH, but I guess since the girls had then last year we may do them again this year.

 

No one in our family will get the flu shot this year, and not in the future either unless there is a true medical need (asthma issues etc.).

 

We all get it. Kids in daycare, mom a school teacher and let me tell you teenagers drag all sorts of nastiness to school, and dad has asthma! So we do and with no problems my 1st year teaching I did not and I got the flu and it was AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL.

 

In Colorado about 4 years ago about 11 children died from the flu virus. Several of the mothers were on the news pleading with parents to get the flu shot. I'd NEVER gotten shots for anyone until then. 153 children died that year from the flu. Next year people were scrambling to get their children vaccinated and the death toll dropped to 46 for children. I was told by my doctor that there has not been 1 child to die from an allergic reaction to the flu shot. I also found out (which should shock preemie moms) that the flu kills 3x what RSV does! So yup for now on we all will get the shots. Mine are not in daycare but we have a life. I leave the house as does dh so we could easily bring it home. This morning on one of the GOOD morning shows(?) they showed parents of a very healthy little girl who didn't get the flu shot and they were pleading with parents to get the shot. They put her to bed with the flu and found her dead in the morning. They said they just didn't understand how deadly it could be. They just thought "oh chills fever, bad cold" Never in a million years did they think it killed. It just reminded me to call the doctor ASAP.

 

I got it for all 3 of my children

For those that are not getting it - you all sound so dead against the shot. Is there a reason for being so adament about not getting the shot?

 

My oldest DD has gotten one every year due to her asthma. All 3 kids (actually all 5) got them last year. My two are not in daycare either, but their big sister is in school all day, so all 3 kids will get one again this year, and I am too.

 

My kids did not get them their first year. They are not in daycare, but got the flu anyway when they were 9 months old. I had no idea how HORRIBLE that illness is. INCONSOLABLE crying for hours, 106 temps, and throwing up because the were crying so hard. it was TEN TIMES worse than the rotovirus. My kids will get vaxed every year from now on. My heart has never broken so hard for them than when they had the flu.

 

mine don't and its not because I'm "opposed" to shots or "worried about whats in them"...my pedi doesn't recommend introducing them to a virus the *may* not get...the twins are my only 2, they don't go to daycare and quite frankly we tote them everywhere with us and they had all of one cold before they turned a year old and that was more my fault for not making them wear a hat when we were outdoors one day!

FWIW I have a friend who is nearly physically unable to take her daughter out of the home because she has horrible back issues and that child is sicker than any child I've ever seen - she has nearly no exposure to anything so when her husband comes home from work anything he may pick up on his clothes is passed on....my kids have been going everywhere with me since they were a week old and are healthy as horses!