Flu Shots

My kiddos were too little last year to get the flu shot (well, until January & we just opted to not give it at that time), but I want them to get it this year. They seem to pick up EVERYTHING under the sun at daycare & since I work in a hospital, it's better we're all vaccinated.

I called & found out there's a flu clinic open this week & next. I'm trying to decide when to take the boys in for their first dose (their 2nd will be a month later). I read a little & found out that most kids react more when it's their first dose. Have any of you found this to be true? If so, how did your little ones react? I can take them on Thursday, but I don't want it to hamper our Halloween plans Friday, so should I maybe just wait it out til next week?

(Also, side question, when I take them back for their 2nd dose, it'll be in our actual Peds clinic. We don't SEE our Ped til 18 mos & I know we get a bunch of shots then. For those of you who have 15 mo old visits w/shots, what are they? I'm wondering if we can't get 1 or 2 the day of the flu shot to break up how many they're scheduled to get at 18 mos....)

 

My kids had the flue shot last year and this year and they never really had any reactions to them. Maybe a little bit of crankiness, but that is it. No worse than if they had a bad nap that day and were sleepy.

At my kids 18 month appointment, they got the MMR vaccine and one more and I can't remember what it is right now. Again, we had more crankiness after these shots (DH and I got lots of cuddle time for a couple of days after those shots), but nothing major.

 

Here is a schedule I found at CDC for everything a child should get at 12-15 months of age

Hep B
DtaP
Hib
PCV
IPV
Influenza
MMR
CP
Hep A

so that's 13 diseases vaccinated for at one time or in a few months of each other

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules...schedule_pr.pdf

 

If it's your first time getting the shot, you'll need to get two doses, one month apart. K&K had the first dose a few weeks ago, and will be getting the second one on Nov. 13. They didn't react poorly to the first one -- maybe a little fussiness that night, but nothing much. But, they didn't get any other shots the same day. Our regular vaccs are really delayed (by my choice), so I'm not sure what the standard schedule is...

In any case, I would call and ask if they're offering the preservative-free shot at the flu clinic. Some brands have the full dose of thimerasol (mercury) in them, and some don't....I had to specifically request the one without at my ped's office.

 

All 3 of my kids get flu shots every year and none of them have had any side effects at anytime. Good luck! Not sure about getting the 2nd dose at the appt., I guess it would depend how many shots they are getting already that day.

 

My boys got their flu shots (2 shot doses) last year (still trying schedule this year), and they had no issues with either shot at all.

I'm trying to remember shots...We only had the second Hep-A at 18 months and, if I'm recalling correctly, we only had DTaP at the 15 month appointment. We had the mass of shots at the one year appointment (like 3 shots but they were combos).

 

Cody had 3 shots at 12 months. 1 shot at 15 months & will have 1 shot at 18 months. The big boys got they flu shots, but not Cody.

 

My girls just had their first half of the flu shot today. Haven't noticed anything other than the crying during the actual shot.

 

My DDs had their first dose around 12 months and didn't react at all. I don't remember them reacting to the one they had around 24 months either. Here's hoping 35 months goes as smoothly -- we're going tomorrow.

They tend not to react to shots/vaxes, though. I give them some Advil in advance, just in case, and sometimes they seem a little cranky that night, but that's about it.

 

My two had their first flu shot at 10 months and we did not have to come back for a second so maybe it's just depends on the doctor. Their second was 22 months and today they had their shot for this season both of these were also one shot and no side effects for any that I could remember...oh they took an extra long nap today

 

My boys just had their first flu shot a few weeks ago. We didn't notice anything different after they had it... but who knows what will happen after the second dose!
Good luck!

 

My kids usually get pretty cranky and crazy after shots but did NOT when they got their flu shot this year (they did also get 2, 1 month apart, last year). The shots they got this year were given separate from any others, and I was amazed that they really didn't seem to have any issues with it.

There is a thimerasol-free (sp?) version, as well as one containing thimerasol. Thimerasol is the ingredient in some shots that has been questionably linked to autism (though the official stance is that it does not actually cause autism). Just make sure you get the thimerasol-free version, since it is offered.