Do you let your kid get the flu shot?

I took the flu shot this past season, and today I'm the only one in
the household not down with a bad cold. Not sure if it's related, but
it would make sense to try to protect the kids next time around. I
can't find info on why this might NOT be a good idea, so if anyone can
point me to some I'd appreciate it. I'd like to learn both sides of
the matter first. My kids are now six months and 19 months old.

Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward wrote:
I took the flu shot this past season, and today I'm the only one in
the household not down with a bad cold. Not sure if it's related, but
it would make sense to try to protect the kids next time around. I
can't find info on why this might NOT be a good idea, so if anyone can
point me to some I'd appreciate it. I'd like to learn both sides of
the matter first. My kids are now six months and 19 months old.

if they have mild flu, then it is related, you've had the vaccine, they
haven't, if it is like you say, a bad cold, then it's not related, it's
just luck. Colds are funny things, they affect different people
different ways, usually I get everything and my husband doesn't, this
past year it's been the opposite way round. It's very much your choice,
I looked at this years recommendations and they are emphasising that
children aged 6months-8years who've not had one before should have 2, at
least 6 weeks apart. Personally we don't get the vaccine for any of us
and that's normal in many parts of the world, with only high risk groups
being vaccinated, though the definition does vary, we'd get them if we
felt any of us was in one of those categories.

Cheers
Anne

Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward wrote:
I took the flu shot this past season, and today I'm the only one in
the household not down with a bad cold.

The flu shot prevents influenza. It does not do anything to prevent
colds. Totally different viruses. This is total coincidence.


Not sure if it's related, but
it would make sense to try to protect the kids next time around.

yes, but it does not protect against colds.

The flu is a lot worse than the cold.

I
can't find info on why this might NOT be a good idea, so if anyone can
point me to some I'd appreciate it. I'd like to learn both sides of
the matter first. My kids are now six months and 19 months old.


Go to http://www.cdc.gov/flu/ for more information (the CDC is the
Center for Disease Control and Prevention). The CDC is the expert on
diseases like the flu. There are also links about the vaccine there.

Jeff

Yes, my whole family gets the flu shot. It is recommended for people who
have compromised immune systems, so we fall into that category.
--
Sue

"Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward" wrote in message
oups.com...
I took the flu shot this past season, and today I'm the only one in
the household not down with a bad cold. Not sure if it's related, but
it would make sense to try to protect the kids next time around. I
can't find info on why this might NOT be a good idea, so if anyone can
point me to some I'd appreciate it. I'd like to learn both sides of
the matter first. My kids are now six months and 19 months old.

Jeff wrote in
news:z7BDi.1559$s06.620@trnddc04:

Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward wrote:
I took the flu shot this past season, and today I'm the
only one in the household not down with a bad cold.

The flu shot prevents influenza. It does not do anything to
prevent colds. Totally different viruses. This is total
coincidence.

Jeff, i've never had the kid get flu shots, but i was
wondering, since we have a housemate that has had a heart
valve replacement (putting him in the high risk group), would
it be prudent to have him (the kid) immunized? he has had some
variety of actual flu, but it was when he was 2 & i'm not sure
which flu virus was involved.
lee

enigma wrote:
Jeff wrote in
news:z7BDi.1559$s06.620@trnddc04:

Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward wrote:
I took the flu shot this past season, and today I'm the
only one in the household not down with a bad cold.
The flu shot prevents influenza. It does not do anything to
prevent colds. Totally different viruses. This is total
coincidence.

Jeff, i've never had the kid get flu shots, but i was
wondering, since we have a housemate that has had a heart
valve replacement (putting him in the high risk group), would
it be prudent to have him (the kid) immunized? he has had some
variety of actual flu, but it was when he was 2 & i'm not sure
which flu virus was involved.

I seem to recall that folks living with immune
compromised people are on the short list to get the vaccine
when supplies are limited, so my guess would be that it
is recommended.

Best wishes,
Ericka

"Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward" wrote:

I took the flu shot this past season, and today I'm the only one in
the household not down with a bad cold. Not sure if it's related, but
it would make sense to try to protect the kids next time around. I
can't find info on why this might NOT be a good idea, so if anyone can
point me to some I'd appreciate it. I'd like to learn both sides of
the matter first. My kids are now six months and 19 months old.

The only thing I know is you shouldn't get it if you're allergic to eggs.

rj

Rebecca Jo wrote:
"Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward" wrote:

I took the flu shot this past season, and today I'm the only one in
the household not down with a bad cold. Not sure if it's related, but
it would make sense to try to protect the kids next time around. I
can't find info on why this might NOT be a good idea, so if anyone can
point me to some I'd appreciate it. I'd like to learn both sides of
the matter first. My kids are now six months and 19 months old.

The only thing I know is you shouldn't get it if you're allergic to eggs.

rj

That's incorrect. People who are allergic to eggs should talk to their
doctors and let them know they are allergic to eggs before getting
vaccinated (there are actually two vaccines, one that is given nasally
and one that is a shot).

Jeff

Jeff wrote:
Rebecca Jo wrote:
"Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward" wrote:

I took the flu shot this past season, and today I'm the only one in
the household not down with a bad cold. Not sure if it's related, but
it would make sense to try to protect the kids next time around. I
can't find info on why this might NOT be a good idea, so if anyone can
point me to some I'd appreciate it. I'd like to learn both sides of
the matter first. My kids are now six months and 19 months old.

The only thing I know is you shouldn't get it if you're allergic to eggs.

That's incorrect. People who are allergic to eggs should talk to their
doctors and let them know they are allergic to eggs before getting
vaccinated (there are actually two vaccines, one that is given nasally
and one that is a shot).

Aren't the OP's kids too young for the nasal spray? I
don't think it's recommended for children under 5 years old.

Best wishes,
Ericka

On Sep 5, 11:37?am, Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward
wrote:
I took the flu shot this past season, and today I'm the only one in
the household not down with a bad cold. Not sure if it's related, but
it would make sense to try to protect the kids next time around. I
can't find info on why this might NOT be a good idea, so if anyone can
point me to some I'd appreciate it. I'd like to learn both sides of
the matter first. My kids are now six months and 19 months old.

We don't do the flu shot over here and have never had the flu knock-
knock. I've been told that every year some specialists gather
together and try to pick the 3 types of flu they predict will be the
culprits for the season, then they create the flu vaccince to
accommodate those. If you get the type of flu the vaccine isn't
designed to lessen or prevent, then you can still get the *flu*.