New Jersey requires flu vaccine

So, you don't believe the vaccine will work? See, if your child gets the vaccine, then you shouldn't worry about my child getting your child sick. The only person that will be effected by me choosing not to vaccinate my child is my child (and probably myself because I won't get the vaccine for myself either).

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Wow, that's pretty presumptuous of you to assume that most working families can just choose to keep their child home.

I think mandating vaccines like the flu vaccine (that doesn't guarantee you will not get the flu), while full of good intentions, also really opens up a pandora's box in what the level the role of government should be in raising our children.

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We do not get flu vaccines anymore. The first yr I did, 3 week hosp stay..luckily prior to my children's existence. I have only been sicker than that one other time, and it was sepsis not the flu.

My husband got them evey yr until 2003. After that one, ended up in the er and then hosp for four days. And, he has never been that sick again--injured, not sick.

Our 6yo has never had one, and never had the flu. Same with 13yo--the twins are both old enough but will not get them this yr due to dr concern, they both have had vaccines, but one at a time and spend the day in observation stats at hospital--so the flu shot is a no-no.

I think it should stay a matter of choice, but also a matter of common sense. If your child is sick, stay home with them--do not send them to school and risk making not only other sick, but having it last longer or come back around to yours. And be smart, and clean more to keep germs at a minimum.

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Another issue, which many people don't talk about, is that the traditional flu vaccine contains thimerosal (a mercury-based preservative that was taken out of ALL other childhood vaccines in 1999 b/c it was identified as a neurotoxin.

I think it is a huge mistake for any state to require a vaccination that could be potentially harmful to children's cognitive development.

Even the FDA recognizes this issue:
http://www.fda.gov/CBER/vaccine/thimerosal.htm

There is a non-thimerosal flu vaccine available, but depending on who administers the shot, it may be restricted to children under 6, or under 3. It also might not be available at all.

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Weird, Roger. I'll bet you don't think kids with AIDS should be required to stay home from pre-school, even though AIDS is a communicable, deadly, and incurable disease. I'll bet you don't think biters and hitters should be kept home. Who knows what else you are OK about exposing preschoolers to - even by force. Yet you think it's unacceptable for your kid to be exposed to the flu at preschool?

If these folks have their way, our country will be more vulnerable than ever to "superbugs" and germ warfare. They are not thinking of the long term. It's rarely a serious problem if kids that age get the flu, chicken pox, etc. But the poor immunity they will have as adults could cause very serious problems. I feel it's kinder to let kids get the flu, unless they have specific immunity issues. And for those few who do - maybe they are the ones who should stay home from pre-school.

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Of course, aside from the fact that the government has no business legislating my day-to-day parenting choices.

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Thousands of children die every year from the flu. Children and the elderly are especially vulnerable because of weakened immune systems and childcare/group settings were infectious disease is easily spread. Most disease is actually spread before symptoms occur, so keeping sick kids home does not alleviate the spread of disease. Flu shots given at a trusted pediatrician's office are safe and will not make you sick. These thousands of deaths are totally preventable by vaccinating yourself and your children against the flu. Ask the parents of children who have died from the flu, and I bet they will tell you they wished they would have vaccinated their child.

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If you are so worried about your child getting sick from my UN-FLU-VACCINATED-CHILD, maybe YOU should keep YOUR child home.

My child is allergic to eggs. And CANNOT receive the flu shot b/c the flu shot contains egg proteins. What do you think about that, New Jersey?

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I do believe a local or state government has the right to require the flu shot for children attending public schools. A parent does have the right to decide which vaccines their child(ren) receives, but I do not believe a parent has the right to send their unvaccinated children to school with children who have been vaccinated.
I want to add that I have always gotten the flu vaccine for my daughters since they each turned 2, except for 1 year. That year, they both came down with the flu.
Another year, despite having the vac, my then 7 year old came down with type B flu in March. She had the shot in October. Her doctor said the flu shot only gave protection for about 3 months.
My children were given the flu mist a couple of weeks ago. The mist now (supposedly, anyway) gives protection for the entire flu season.
I've gotten the flu shot every year since I was 18. Some years, I did come down with a mild case, but it was nothing like having the flu as a child and being knocked down for an entire week. I was widowed 5 years ago and have been remarried for a year. For the 4 years I was the only adult in my house, I REALLY couldn't afford to have the fu.

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It almost seems like the government wants more parents to home-school, doesn't it?

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Is it just me or do we do this every year?

We do the flu shot here because I have one former micro-preemie who could end up back in the hospital on a ventilator if he catches the flu.

I also have one asthmatic who has a very slight egg allergy which forces us to go to her allergist for the flu shot.

The adults get the shot, too. Even my big bad cop husband, who is a wuss about this shot. I even make Grandma partake because she is the other caretaker.

But, no I do not think it should be mandatory. I just think people should use common sense and keep their sick children at home instead of sending them to school or taking them to the park or story time or the mall. Your miserable child does not want to be drug all over town spreading his germs far and wide any more than other people want to be exposed to them.

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personally i think it's a good idea. what's it gonna be like if it's not required; when kids get sick are these folks against the idea going to sue the government? saying you did'nt do enough to protect my child? with immigration being like it is you'd better do all you can to protect your kids. with all the aids , and other diseases comming from abroad , i just think it's better to be safe than sorry.

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How is everyone supposed to pay for this? Flu shots are extremely limited in quantity from my experience, and if you don't have insurance and try to go to a flu shot "give-away", you might wait all day and then find out there aren't any left. It's happened to me. Right now, with insurance, my 2 kids are going to cost $40 to get their flu shots (which I think is worth the money), and if I or my DH had to be vaccinated as well, that'd be $80 total for the 4 of us. Not everyone has that kind of money, we barely do!

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UPDATED INFORMATION:
HOLD OFF on the recommendation of the Flu Vaccine for Everyone
Flu vaccine manufactures inserts state other wise double check the facts Heather L. Maurer


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that children from the ages of 6 months through 18 years be vaccinated annually against the flu. However, have you read the influenza vaccine manufacturer product inserts outlining warnings and use in specific populations?
There are important facts about influenza vaccine discussed in the vaccine manufacturers' product inserts that you need to know before you or your child gets a flu shot.
On the FDA’s website (www.fda.gov/CBER/flu/Flu2008.htm), there is information about the 2008/2009 Season Lot release Status as of October 14, 2008 for influenza vaccines available for distribution. The specific flu vaccines they list (by trade name) are, Afluria, Fluarix, Flulaval, FluMist, Fluvirin and Fluzone.
FluMist, which is a live virus nasal vaccine commonly used for children because of its ease in administering, warns: “Do not administer FluMist to children less than 24 months of age because of increased risk of hospitalization and wheezing observed in clinical trials. FluMist should not be administered to any individuals with asthma or children greater than five years of age with recurrent wheezing because of the potential for increased risk of wheezing post vaccination.”
The Fluarix vaccine manufacturer product insert states, “Fluarix has not been evaluated for carcinogenic or mutagenic potential, or for impairment of fertility. Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Fluarix. It is not known whether Fluarix can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Fluarix is not indicated for use in children.”
Are parents asking doctors ahead of time which flu vaccine their child is getting? Do they know if their child is at high risk for having a vaccine reaction?
In addition, how many parents and the general population know that flu vaccine carries a risk for getting the autoimmune disease Guillain-Barre Syndrome which can cause paralysis? Fluarix, states under the Warnings and Precautions, “If Guillain-Barre syndrome has occurred within six weeks of receipt of a prior influenza vaccine, the decision to give Fluarix should be based on careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks. Immunocompromised compromised persons may have a reduced immune response to Fluarix.”
What about all of the people who have autoimmune diseases including diabetes, asthma, multiple sclerosis, Epstein-Barr, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus to name a few. Are they at an increased risk for negative side effects?
The government and various pediatric associations have stated that the influenza vaccine has been proven safe and effective for children. Still, a lot of parents don't like the idea of giving their children vaccines containing mercury. There are mercury-free influenza vaccines in single dose vials for children but parents have to make a special effort to ask pediatricians for it because mercury-free flu vaccines are in short supply. Five of the six FDA approved influenza vaccines listed on the FDA's website contain thimerosal including, Fluarix, Afluria, Fluzone, Flulaval, and Fluvirin. The live virus FluMist is the only one that does not contain mercury but it is not recommended for children under two years of age.
According to the CDC’s website, Fluzone, Inactivated TIV, single dose pre-filled 0.25 MlSyringe or the Fluzone, Inactivated TIV, Single-dose pre-filled 0.5 mL syringe or vial doesn’t contain thimerosal preservative however the same trade name, Fluzone, Inactivated TIV multi-dose vial does contain thimerosal.

The CDC’s website also lists Fluvirin, Inactivated TIV, multi-dose vial, recommended for children four years and older which contains thimerosal as well as their single-dose pre-filled 0.5 mL syringe. The CDC states, “Preservative free (1 mcg or less mercury/0.5 ml) which indicates there is trace amount of thimerosal in the vaccine.

FluMist is the only one that doesn’t contain mercury however it is not recommended for children under two years of age and one of the side effects listed is wheezing.
In 1999 the Public Health Service, FDA, NIH, CDC and HRSA issued the following statement, “As a precautionary measure, the Public Health Service (including the FDA, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics issued two Joint Statements, urging vaccine manufacturers to reduce or eliminate thimerosal in vaccines as soon as possible (CDC 1999) and (CDC 2000).” So why are these manufactures still using thimerosal, the mercury based preservative, in vaccines? In 2001, the American Academy of Pediatrics stated that “mercury in all of its forms is toxic to the fetus and children and efforts should be made to reduce exposure to the extent possible pregnant women and children as well as the general population.”
So why is mercury is still put in most influenza vaccines on the market today? Why don't the vaccine manufacturers make ALL influenza vaccine mercury-free?
In the product manufacturer inserts for Fluarix, Fluzone, Flulaval, FluMist, Fluarix and Afluria all state in the “Use in Specific Populations section” that the safety of these vaccines have not been established for pregnant women and nursing mothers. Flurarix manufacturers insert says, “Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Fluarix. It is not known whether Fluarix can case fetal harm when administered to pregnant women or can affect reproduction capacity. Fluarix should be given to pregnant women only if clearly needed.”
Yet, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AGOG) recommend in early October 2008 that women, including those who are pregnant, get their annual influenza vaccine.
Why would any woman carrying a child put herself and her unborn child at risk by getting a vaccine the vaccine 's manufacturer does not recommend and cannot guarantee is safe for her or her child? Where is the Hippocratic Oath to "first, do not harm" when obstetricians and pediatricians are recommending influenza vaccine for pregnant women and children?
Recent news reports have revealed that in the last few years, influenza vaccine was ineffective for most who received it because the influenza strains contains in the vaccines did not match the strains which were circulating in the U.S. In young children, effectiveness was as low as seven percent. The odds weren’t exactly in the favor of those who received it.
If the government and manufacturers fail to choose the right influenza strains again this year, then we will have once again put a boat load of money into the pockets of one of the most wealthy and powerful industries out there - the pharmaceutical industry. And we will not have factored in the potential greater long term health costs that will be paid for the damage done to the brains and immune systems of many children and adults who were encouraged and even forced to use influenza vaccine.

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