Do you get the flu vaccination?

**Jaycee** · March 6th, 2013, 08:29 AM

I'm interested in finding out how many of you get the flu vax for yourselves, and also your children.

Why do you get it or not get it?

I've heard that the flu vax only protects against certain strains of the flu and is not that effective, however my employer is offering them to us free of charge, so wondering if I should get it? I'm also thinking about getting the boys done this year, but not sure.

Any info would be greatly appreciated!

**LysnDan** · March 6th, 2013, 08:38 AM

We've all been advised this year to get the flu vaccination, yes it's only protective against certain strains but I think id rather have DD covered against some than none iykwim?

DD still has serious lung issues from being born premature, and if she was to get the flu she'd most probably end up back on a ventilator. Or at the least in hospital on high amounts of oxygen.

My doc wants dh and I to get it so our asthma won't be complicated by having the flu. Or risk passing it on to our DD, and if and when we do get pregnant she wants to know on covered at least against those strains.

I'm still unsure as usually having just the injection alone gives me the flu pretty bad. Hoping DD doesn't react like me!

**Jaycee** · March 6th, 2013, 08:44 AM

Purplepixie, you've raised a good point that I wanted more info on as well, what kind of reaction do you get if you do have the vax?

**LimeSlice** · March 6th, 2013, 08:49 AM

I never get it, nor do my children. And even if I were considering it, the debacle that is the flu vaccine for children certainly cemented my conviction in that choice.

**Jaycee** · March 6th, 2013, 09:10 AM

I never get it, nor do my children. And even if I were considering it, the debacle that is the flu vaccine for children certainly cemented my conviction in that choice.

LS, do you vaccinate at all or are you just against the flu vax? Can you explain why you're so against it?

**BellyBelly** · March 6th, 2013, 09:12 AM

I'm not getting it, nor are anyone in my family.

Flu Vaccine - To Flu Shot or Not Flu Shot?

**AnyDream** · March 6th, 2013, 09:18 AM

I get it and have been getting it nearly every year for about a decade now. Started when I was working medical reception, but had a few instances shortly after that where large groups of people around me got really, really sick and I just sailed straight through. My DH travels fairly frequently, which increases his chances of being exposed to most virulent strains - so I think it's a sensible precaution as the adult who has to be able to function in his absence to protect myself. My eldest DD is getting to an age & body size now where she could also be getting vaccinated (adult sized body = adult vaccine) but I wouldn't consider it for my younger DD unless there was a really compelling risk factor, and only after an indepth discussion with at least 2 different doctors that I trusted.

**LimeSlice** · March 6th, 2013, 11:56 AM

LS, do you vaccinate at all or are you just against the flu vax? Can you explain why you're so against it?

I am not on the vaccine bandwagon. However, I would technically consider myself now as a delayed and selective vaccinator.

A few years ago they had terrible, devastating problems with the flu vaccine in small children, resulting in permanent brain injury, hospitalisations and deaths. The vaccine was recalled and giving it to children under 5 was advocated against by health authorities. This was in Australia. It was a pretty big to-do, I am surprised you haven't heard of it.

Anyway, I and my kids don't get sick often, even with school and daycare they are rarely ill and neither have ever had the flu, and I honestly cannot remember the last time I had true influenza. So I see no point in getting it done. Added on to that all of my concerns and issues with vaccines in general, and the choice is simple for us.

**Cranky Kitten** · March 6th, 2013, 08:53 AM

When I was working in an office environment I had it done religiously every year - saved my bacon more than a few times too, with plenty of people at work catching the flu and being off work for long periods. The flu vax protects against the strains that are expected to cause the most trouble in the coming flu season, research is conducted based on prevalent flu strains the previous years, in other countries (especially northern hemisphere) and various other factors. The year DH didn't get the flu shot, he copped a seriously nasty dose of the flu that developed into pneumonia and landed him in hospital for 4 days. I also caught the flu, but it was much milder and only lasted a few days rather than several weeks. His doctor has told him he *must* get the shot every year.

At present I'm not working and DS isn't in daycare, so to my mind the risk factor isn't as great for us. So I'm not overly fussed about skipping it. DH will definitely get his, darn people in offices insisting on going to work even though they're sick. My doctor may recommend it due to my pregnancy, if he does I will consider it but I don't think DS needs his just yet.

**LysnDan** · March 6th, 2013, 08:48 AM

For me I get flu ... Achey joints, asthma (sometimes requiring hospitalisation) and fevers... and usually a dead arm for a few days, accompanied with a massive lump.

Hope that helps?

**PumpkinZulu** · March 6th, 2013, 01:30 PM

Nope, not DH or I, nor the kids. DD1 is not vaccinated and we are still weighing up the pros and cons for DD2 (who will be delayed and selective vaxed if that's what we decide).

**Trillian** · March 6th, 2013, 01:52 PM

Nope, never had it and have never had the kids done. I can't see the point in it. I would rather get the flu and build a natural immune response. If you are a well person with no immune system disorders/compromises then it's not a big deal IMO.

**Traveller** · March 6th, 2013, 02:09 PM

I don't get it for my kids, but I do get it for myself as I work with pregnant ladies and newborns, plus I mix with a lot of people at uni so there's a fair chance of me catching it and passing it onto a vulnerable person so I'd rather just have the vax and limit my risk.

**Little Chicken** · March 6th, 2013, 03:17 PM

I get it for me, and for the fact that I work with a population of newborns for who the flu can be fatal.

**Nai** · March 6th, 2013, 03:41 PM

The kids don't get it but dp and I will. I get it because I work with people coming from all over the world and some who have compromised immunity. Also we get it so we don't pass it on to the kids. I don't want them to have the vaccine and would prefer for me to have it over them.

**Heaven** · March 6th, 2013, 03:51 PM

Nope, no way.

**Novella** · March 7th, 2013, 12:09 PM

I don't for my children, not sure if they are even eligible at their age but I wouldn't anyway for them.

I do every year. I'm a nurse and work in an area that often gets people with influenza and I don't want to get ill, more importantly I don't want to bring home any nasties to my children. DH does some years and then doesn't others, he can never make up his mind about whether the limited cover is worth the risk.

**Floweryfields** · March 6th, 2013, 04:06 PM

No I don't. Why I don't - an employer once made us all have the fluvax, it is the sickest winter I've had in my entire life. I didn't have the flu, but I did have sore throat, blocked nose alternating one week on one week off for the entire winter.
Also, as you've mentioned, it doesn't cover everything, so what's the chances that you'll miss out on the ones it doesn't cover.

Last winter a colleague was really ill with the flu - doctor gave her a lecture about not having the fluvax, another colleague who is also her friend and took her to the doctors was told, "I'll see you back here in 2 weeks" when she said she hadn't had fluvax either. She didn't get the flu at all.

I think it really depends on individual immunity and luck of the draw and not a whole lot to do with vaccinations at all. I know plenty of people who've had the vax and gotten really really sick with the flu as well.