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Do you let your kid get the flu shot?



 
 
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  #21  
Old September 7th 07, 02:03 PM posted to misc.kids
Beth Kevles
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Posts: 269
Default Do you let your kid get the flu shot?


Hi --

My family all gets annual flu shots. DS2 had his firsst at the
allergists office at age 5, due to infant egg allergy. There were no
allergic side effects, so he's had subsequent shots at local clinics.

The flu shot does often have the normal side effect of swelling/pain at
the hot site for 1-2 days and low-grade fever for a day. We all just
deal with this and try to schedule for a day without competetive
sports. (I don't know if the nasal spray works the same way.)

One further thought: If you want to slow the spread of a contagious
disease, your best bet is to innoculate children. Children spread germs
like nobody's business! This is particularly true of the flu shot. The
shot is only moderately effective (something like 70%) among the
elderly, who are also the most prone to have serious cases and to die
from the flu. But the shot is highly effective (I think well over 90%)
in children. In areas where many children are vaccinated against the
flu, cases of flu among the elderly are much reduced.

I hope these thoughts help,
--Beth Kevles

http://web.mit.edu/kevles/www/nomilk.html -- a page for the milk-allergic
Disclaimer: Nothing in this message should be construed as medical
advice. Please consult with your own medical practicioner.

NOTE: No email is read at my MIT address. Use the AOL one if you would
like me to reply.
  #22  
Old September 7th 07, 02:33 PM posted to misc.kids
Rob
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Posts: 79
Default Do you let your kid get the flu shot?

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




Fertilized chicken eggs that is a blast from the past (no offence).

I am almost certain that it is not an issue these days. Check with your
doctor.
  #23  
Old September 7th 07, 02:34 PM posted to misc.kids
Akuvikate
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Posts: 143
Default Do you let your kid get the flu shot?

On Sep 7, 3:00 am, Chookie wrote:

I'm guessing it's not that important for children. We have a set of vaccines
here that are given free to children, and the flu vaccine is not on that list.


Actually, the risk of complications from the flu is as high (perhaps
higher?) in young children as it is among elderly people. This is
based on US data that came out in the last few years and was quite a
surprise to the researchers. Also as someone pointed out, kids are
germ vectors and so one of the best ways to reduce the disease burden
in a population is to immunize the kids. The US recommendations only
changed in the last 5 years. Perhaps if Australia hasn't changed the
recommendations it's because they're studying whether the morbidity
and mortality rates are true there as well -- I suspect a lot of it
has to do with the prevalence of asthma in the population, as
asthmatics are often the ones who get real sick.

Kate, ignorant foot soldier of the medical cartel
and the Bug, 4 years old
and a little something else due 4/11/08

  #24  
Old September 7th 07, 04:07 PM posted to misc.kids
Chris
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Posts: 264
Default Do you let your kid get the flu shot?

On Sep 6, 11:07?am, Banty wrote:
In article 3cUDi.1703$6T5.428@trnddc06, Jeff says...







Chris wrote:
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*.


That's not totally true. Even when the vaccine is not a good match for
the flu going around, the vaccine does offer some protection.


Another good question is "how often does the flu vaccine match the flu
bugs that actually go around?"


It has matched the flu bugs going around about 90% of the time in the
last several years.


The specialists do a very good job of predicting what flu bugs will be
going around.


Jeff


Exactly.

So often folks' thinking on the question of flu vaccines let the perfect get in
the way of the good.

That it does not (can not) *perfectly* anticipate or *perfectly* confer immunity
against a season's flu viruses does not mean it is not worthwhile to get.

Sure as heck works a lot better than knocking on wood

Banty- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


The knock-on-wood comment was meant jokingly so as to not undo our
good luck, appropriate preventative measures, etc. with not catching
the flu for 30+ years in this household, save DH's multiple bouts; not
that it keeps the flu away. While DH comes from a medical family, his
mother annually gave out flu shots, which I passed on. DH would then
get around 2 bouts of *flu* a year, and none since he has stopped
getting the flu shots. All of my coworkers also got some form of flu-
like symptoms, if even not actually the actual flu due to not
requiring diagnosis or treatment, after each administration of the
vaccine. I'm not fixin' what ain't broke over here. I know about all
of the supposed pros and cons, but my method works just fine over here
for all of us now. I got the *flu* once as a child of around 7.

  #25  
Old September 7th 07, 04:16 PM posted to misc.kids
Banty
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,278
Default Do you let your kid get the flu shot?

In article , Ericka Kammerer
says...

Chookie wrote:

I'm guessing it's not that important for children.


In the US, children aged 6 months to 59 months
are considered a high risk group that should be vaccinated
for flu (along with others in their household). That age
group is more likely to spread the disease and more likely
to suffer serious complications from it.


Quick quick - *everyone* - what is 59 divided by 12?? Come on, come on, it
should be right at your, um, fingertips...

An estimation technique using a memorized times table brings this answer right
to mind

Banty (mixing up threads..)

  #26  
Old September 7th 07, 04:40 PM posted to misc.kids
Ericka Kammerer
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Posts: 2,293
Default Do you let your kid get the flu shot?

Banty wrote:
In article , Ericka Kammerer
says...
Chookie wrote:

I'm guessing it's not that important for children.

In the US, children aged 6 months to 59 months
are considered a high risk group that should be vaccinated
for flu (along with others in their household). That age
group is more likely to spread the disease and more likely
to suffer serious complications from it.


Quick quick - *everyone* - what is 59 divided by 12?? Come on, come on, it
should be right at your, um, fingertips...

An estimation technique using a memorized times table brings this answer right
to mind


;-) What I don't get is why this degree of precision?
I find it unlikely that one month makes a huge difference in
likelihood of complications or transmission to folks in high
risk categories. I guess it must be that it becomes important
when there are shortages and they have to make decisions about
who's allowed to get the vaccine.

Best wishes,
Ericka
  #27  
Old September 7th 07, 04:46 PM posted to misc.kids
Chris
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 264
Default Do you let your kid get the flu shot?

Congratulations to you is in order I see! Congrats!

and a little something else due 4/11/08



  #28  
Old September 7th 07, 05:30 PM posted to misc.kids
Banty
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,278
Default Do you let your kid get the flu shot?

In article , Ericka Kammerer
says...

Banty wrote:
In article , Ericka Kammerer
says...
Chookie wrote:

I'm guessing it's not that important for children.
In the US, children aged 6 months to 59 months
are considered a high risk group that should be vaccinated
for flu (along with others in their household). That age
group is more likely to spread the disease and more likely
to suffer serious complications from it.


Quick quick - *everyone* - what is 59 divided by 12?? Come on, come on, it
should be right at your, um, fingertips...

An estimation technique using a memorized times table brings this answer right
to mind


;-) What I don't get is why this degree of precision?
I find it unlikely that one month makes a huge difference in
likelihood of complications or transmission to folks in high
risk categories. I guess it must be that it becomes important
when there are shortages and they have to make decisions about
who's allowed to get the vaccine.


I took it as someone being stuck in toddler-age mode. "He's eighteen months
old", etc.

Or they felt that they had to be consistent with the time units needing to
refere to "six months". (There, I can understand the precision.)

But, yeah, it's dumb, and the first thing that popped in my mind was 'gosh gotta
divide by 12 to understand this...'

Banty

  #29  
Old September 7th 07, 05:33 PM posted to misc.kids
Banty
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,278
Default Do you let your kid get the flu shot?

In article . com, Chris says...

On Sep 6, 11:07?am, Banty wrote:
In article 3cUDi.1703$6T5.428@trnddc06, Jeff says...







Chris wrote:
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*.


That's not totally true. Even when the vaccine is not a good match for
the flu going around, the vaccine does offer some protection.


Another good question is "how often does the flu vaccine match the flu
bugs that actually go around?"


It has matched the flu bugs going around about 90% of the time in the
last several years.


The specialists do a very good job of predicting what flu bugs will be
going around.


Jeff


Exactly.

So often folks' thinking on the question of flu vaccines let the perfect get in
the way of the good.

That it does not (can not) *perfectly* anticipate or *perfectly* confer immunity
against a season's flu viruses does not mean it is not worthwhile to get.

Sure as heck works a lot better than knocking on wood

Banty- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


The knock-on-wood comment was meant jokingly so as to not undo our
good luck, appropriate preventative measures, etc. with not catching
the flu for 30+ years in this household, save DH's multiple bouts; not
that it keeps the flu away. While DH comes from a medical family, his
mother annually gave out flu shots, which I passed on. DH would then
get around 2 bouts of *flu* a year, and none since he has stopped
getting the flu shots. All of my coworkers also got some form of flu-
like symptoms, if even not actually the actual flu due to not
requiring diagnosis or treatment, after each administration of the
vaccine. I'm not fixin' what ain't broke over here. I know about all
of the supposed pros and cons, but my method works just fine over here
for all of us now. I got the *flu* once as a child of around 7.


Well, OK; you have a lot of faith in your flu-bubble "over there". ;-)

You're still going on what is just a matter of luck and cooincidence. Which
brings me back to your "knock on wood" comment, although you were partly
kidding.

Banty

  #30  
Old September 7th 07, 05:37 PM posted to misc.kids
(David P.)
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 7
Default Do you let your kid get the flu shot?

Ericka Kammerer wrote:

In the US, children aged 6 months to 59 months
are considered a high risk group that should be vaccinated
for flu (along with others in their household). That age
group is more likely to spread the disease and more likely
to suffer serious complications from it.


What will the world be like with the
projected human population of 9 or 10 billion?

Is it fair to inflict a 50-percent increase
in population on our descendants?
..
..
--

 




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