Do you get the flu vaccination?

[Jaycee]

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]

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]

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?

[LysnDan]

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?

[LimeSlice]

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.

[Cranky Kitten]

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.

[Jaycee]

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]

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

Flu Vaccine - To Flu Shot or Not Flu Shot?

[AnyDream]

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.

[Olive]

I got it last year and will probably get it again this year, I'm a kids swimming teacher so subjected to plenty of snot and germs. I got the flu twice in 2011

[Cally]

I get it and have for a number of years. I haven't had the flu in years and am sure that this has helped. DH works in a high school so is in a fairly high risk environment so he has a high chance of bringing it home to me. He also gets asthma and it is recommended that asthmatics have the shot.

Side effects - slight funny feeling in arm. It is not a live vaccine so you can't catch the flu from it.

[Eenee]

I used to get the flu shot and would get the flu every time that year and sometimes twice and I'm not just talking a cold! Once I educated myself on vaccines then I stopped getting them and haven't had the flu since. Me or my kids wouldn't get them even if you paid me too.

[LimeSlice]

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.

[Jaycee]

Thanks for clarifying LS. I honestly don't follow a lot of media/news so hadn't heard of the flu vaccine having those devastating effects in children.

[LuluHB]

I'm very torn as to what to do this year. Before last winter my answer would have been an absolute no. I believe that part of the reason we have such virilant (sp?) flu strains is that there is too much medicating and vaccinating going on - I do however vaccinate following the schedule, albeit delayed now, so I'm not against vaccinating for serious diseases and conditions. Last year however DDs 1 and 2 were sick for months on and off - just when they were starting to get on top of it they'd go down again. DD3 was a tiny baby and got quite a few colds, one of them pretty severe. I got pneumonia. It was a really hellish winter, so if there is even the slightest chance that I can avoid some of that then I think the flu vax is worth it. I think I will definitely have it myself, but my dilemma comes to which, if any, of the kids will get it. At the moment I'm leaning towards DDs 1 and 2 only.

[Caz_88]

ive had it once, an coincidently was the only flu season ive ever had the flu. We did work on this through uni, I think the results were that effective Vitamin D supplementation was masively more effective at preventing flu than the vaccine (think it was circa 30-40% more effective but dont holde too that- it was over 18 months since I looked into it lol)

I now take the 2000iu of D3 daily, helps with energy levels too

[willow5]

I don't nor do my children. I don't like that the flu vax is completely exempt from all standard testing like other vaxes and medications before it can be let loose on the general public. So you and your family are basically the guinea pigs. This is so it can be released quickly for the flu season. (Hence the trouble and recall and damage to all the kidlets as Lime was talking about) It is modelled on last years strains, which are usually long gone by the next season. They talked up the Swine flu that was supposed to hit with a vengeance a couple of years ago, and scared everyone into getting the vax, but it never happened. What did happen was problems with the vax people got but probably didn't need in the end. I work in aged care and have seen elderly people have the shot and become ill afterwards. It may not be a live vaccine, so you don't get the actual flu they are vaxing you for, but, IMO it weakens your system and leaves you open to illness afterwards. So maybe not the flu but some nasty other bug that is not what older people or babies/kids need.

But that's just me, each to their own

[PumpkinZulu]

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).