Flu shots - required or optional?
Categories: Newborns, Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Teens & tweens, Health & safety, Medical conditions, Playground bureau
Influenza vaccine is designed to fight the three main strains of disease that researchers believe will circulate in any given flu season, but that doesn't mean you are guaranteed to evade the illness if you get a flu shot.It's the time of year when supermarkets, pharmacies and doctors offices are offering flu shots for patients of all ages, and the Centers for Disease Control recommends that you get your vaccine as early as possible, preferably as soon as they become available in your area.
Signs for flu-shot clinics sprouted up in my Midwest city before Halloween, and I do have a 3-year-old and an infant in the house. But we are not getting flu shots this year -- in fact, the only year my husband and I ever got vaccinated, we got the flu.
Throw in the fact that our crappy grad-student insurance doesn't cover the cost -- $120 for all four of us, thank you very much -- and that makes the decision to skip the shot pretty easy.
An informal poll of ParentDish staffers revealed that only one of us intends to be vaccinated, and that's because she has a very young infant in the house (babies and the elderly are the most at-risk populations). I have asthma, and while my doctor pushes me to get a shot, I find it makes my condition even worse.
Just yesterday I took my son for his first round of vaccinations, and I was happy to do so. Severe diseases like polio and diphtheria have been essentially wiped out in the United States, thanks to the medical community's diligence. But adding in a shot that isn't even guaranteed to protect him is gratuitous, especially because doctors now have access to antiviral drugs.
That said, if he does happen to get the flu, I won't hesitate to take him to the doctor. Most people who suffer from severe bouts of influenza ignore their symptoms or wait too long to be treated.
So how about you? Do you line up at the first sign of flu season, or do you skip it?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jenni 11-12-2008 @ 4:29PM
I never get them, I never get the flu; when I do it typically lasts only a couple days. My husband gets them every year, he gets so sick from the time he gets it for months! We both work in preschool classroom (he infants and toddlers; me threes and fours). So we both have pretty much the same exposure.
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ame s 11-12-2008 @ 5:09PM
The flu shot is a killed virus. If someone gets the flu after getting the shot,they either got the shot too late & had already been exposed to the virus, or gotten the shot too early in the flu season.
However, some children and adults are allergic to some ingredients in the flu shot, even though these allergies don't present themselves in every day life but only after taking the shot. For example, an aunt of mine can eat eggs every day with no problem, but having the shot will make her feel flu-like symptoms for weeks, even though the flu tests come back negative. For people like her, I think it is more wise to "take the risk", be extra-careful about handwashing, not touching their mouth, nose or eyes unnecessarily, than to have the shot.
My daughters both got the mist this year, although my younger girl wanted the shot. The shot only provides protection for 3 months. The year they got the shots in October, my older daughter had type B flu the following March. The mist claims to provide protection for the entire flu season. I'm not sure if it is true,but I know my older daughter hasn't had the flu since the mist has been offered.
Until I hit high school, I got the flu every year. I had a few years of reprieve, then had it as an adult. I do get the mist now because I don't have time to spend a week in bed, which happens when the flu gets ahold of me. I'm rarely sick, so I suppose my body decides to make a good show of it when the flu smacks me one. The "votes" aren't all in on the mist yet. My girls' doc, who is also my sister-in-law, recommended the mist for all of us this year.
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AnitaO 11-12-2008 @ 5:50PM
There was no option for "I don't get them because I am not at high risk." I am a nurse who has stayed home with my kids for the last three years. I've always refused the flu shot until this year because I was not working but now that I started a new job, I got the vaccine this fall.
I don't think that the flu shot is completely useless but it does not have a great track record. It only protects against a couple strains of Influenza and has missed the boat a few times. Since, outside of when I was working, I've never known anyone to get Influenza virus, I feel my family is at low risk and don't have my kids get the shot either.
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Jenni 11-12-2008 @ 5:51PM
People can say all they want that the flu shot doesn't cause the flu. I have seen the research and everything. However, I also have to take into consideration my experiences. I have talked to, literally, one person in the past 6 years who has said that they never got the flu when they got the shot. EVERY other person I have talked to says the same thing, "I got the shot and I got more sick that one year I got the shot than any other year;" or "I never get the shot but my (child/spouse/parent/etc..) gets it and they get sick every year."
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SKL 11-12-2008 @ 7:20PM
There's no option for "no, the benefit doesn't outweigh the cost and risk for my family."
I've had the flu plenty of times. Every time I come back stronger. I really don't see what the big deal is, unless you're in a high risk group. On the other hand, there are plenty of documented problems with the flu shot, including folks who have been hospitalized because they got sicker than the flu could ever make them. The government clearly admits there are significant risks to having the flu shot, so I don't understand why we still have people who insist it's "totally safe" and that there's something wrong with people who choose not to get it.
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Michelle 11-12-2008 @ 8:02PM
For us, the benefit DOES outweigh the cost and risk.
I have a former micro-preemie and an asthmatic. Either one of them could be hospitalized because of a bout with the flu, but it would be particularly devestating for my son, the preemie.
We don't get the option of the mist, either. It's the needle for us! (me too, since I, also have asthma)
But, I would NEVER tell anyone that they HAVE to get the flu shot.
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ame s 11-12-2008 @ 10:29PM
I have never had the flu during years I had the flu shot, but one of my children has had the flu despite having the shot. I'm still waiting on the "final results" as far as the flu mist is concerned.
I think we have to beware when we do research on our own, as opposed to the research done by medical professionals, especially those with children or relatives who have reactions to flu vacs. Googling just isn't going to cut it in this situation. If I spend enough time, I can Google and do net research until I find several opinions that match my own, but that doesn't mean I am correct.
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ninainindia 11-13-2008 @ 12:15AM
I have never had the flu shot and I can't remember the last time I had the flu. I think the flu shot pushing is the pharmaceutical companies' way to rake in money.
As a child I had the flu a couple of times of course. The treatment? Stay in bed and in a few days to a week you will be all better. I have never gone to the doctor for the flu either.
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Don 11-13-2008 @ 7:30AM
In response to the argument about how I was more sick after getting the flu shot.
The flu shot contains only a small amount of all the known strains of the flu that are out there, the flu shot is made six months in advance of the flu season so epidemiologist look at what strains are prevalent and active in the area they wish to treat. They then decide which strains would be the best to curb most of the more severe strains of influenza and put only those in to the vaccine that you may get every year.
It would be impossible and very bad for you if the flu shot contained every strain of flu, so it's a best guess as to which strains to protect against each year. The flu shot was never intended to protect against all types of influenza only the most prevalent for each season, it was only designed to minimize the risk of contracting more severe strains of influenza that can be deadly.
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mh 11-13-2008 @ 8:01AM
I think that if people aren't allergic to the shot or have some medical reason why they shouldn't then yes, enforce it like other enforced vaccinations. I know people have rights, but simply being scared of a little needle is not a good enough reason not to take a shot that not only benefits the recipient but their loved ones and everyone they come in contact with. It's selfish to spread germs to others when they may not be able to afford getting ill for medical or financial reasons.l There are PLENTY of free clinics to get a flu shot. Suck it up and get one.
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mh 11-13-2008 @ 8:02AM
I think that if people aren't allergic to the shot or have some medical reason why they shouldn't then yes, enforce it like other enforced vaccinations. I know people have rights, but simply being scared of a little needle is not a good enough reason not to take a shot that not only benefits the recipient but their loved ones and everyone they come in contact with. It's selfish to spread germs to others when they may not be able to afford getting ill for medical or financial reasons.l There are PLENTY of free clinics to get a flu shot. Suck it up and get one.
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laura 11-13-2008 @ 8:35AM
I also am a nurse, my pesonal experience has been the same as what has been previously stated here. I recieved the shot the first couple of yrs and ended up with more colds both years than I do now and I havent had the flu shot in over 8 yrs.
Everyone here who has commented has made a valid point so no need for me to repeat what has already been said...
However what I will add is that yes for those at risk vaccines can be a good thing but for those who are not why over do it. Our western medicine practices of a pill or shot for almost every aliment out there does not allow our body's to properly function the they were intended to do so.
Bottom line- we are responsible for ourselves and the choices we make in all aspects of our lifes.
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kate2 11-13-2008 @ 10:15AM
My mother is being treated for lymphoma, and we have seen more doctors and nurses in the past 3 months than you can shake a stick at, and this conversation always comes up as my mom is interested in it, for some reason. These are highly educated Johns Hopkins professionals, btw. I imagine they would shake their their heads and laugh at the annecdotal stories repeated here - every single one of them emphatically endorses getting flu shots; they and their families get them, and recommended it to even my mother undergoing chemo, b/c the so-called "risks" are so minimal. Just food for thought from real experts.
p.s. my annecdotal story - my family of four have gotten the flu shot for at least 5 years now, and NONE of us has gotten the flu; while the past 2 years everyone else around us who chose not to vacinate ended up with it. And btw, most peoples version of the "flu" is actually just a really bad cold, respiratory infection, etc, but that's a different column!!
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Nicola 11-13-2008 @ 2:58PM
Thank you, Kate. This is it exactly. All of the people who say, "I got the flu shot and then I got the flu, so I'll never get it again!" or tell stories about how they had the flu THREE times the year that they got the flu shot have reinterpreted events to suit their version of the story. Most people who "get the flu" do in fact have nothing more than a bad cold. And a bad cold can indeed be BAD, but its still not the flu. The flu is bone achingly chest crushingly on fire feverishly horrible. If you weren't down on your knees crawling to the bathroom for a pee and then laying on the floor for half hour before you had the strength to crawl back, then you didn't have "the flu". You had a cold.
I have an auto-immune disorder and used to be hospitalized every fall/winter for complications from the flu. Until the flu shot came around. I still got plenty of bad colds, but never again had the flu until last winter -- the "Oops, wrong strain in the vaccine" winter. Got the flu and ended up in hospital with secondary pneumonia.
The flu shot DOES work and trust me, its a lot cheaper than the alternatives. I took my son to the doctor at first sign of last year's flu and they gave him an antiviral -- he got better in two days instead of five, but it cost over $100! With insurance. People DIE from the flu. Get your shot.
Tricia 11-13-2008 @ 10:38AM
The benefits outweigh the risks for us as well.
My youngest is 4 years old and has had 3 heart surgeries. We are the first in line for the flu shot and we've never gotten the flu. I was the crazy woman 4 years ago threatening to undress my child in the flu shot line when they wouldn't give me the shot (because there was a shortage and we weren't considered "high risk"). They only gave it to me after I threatened to show them her chest scar. I'll admit I was a bit hysterical but I'll do anything to prevent my daughter from an unnecessary hospitalization.
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Michelle 11-13-2008 @ 1:23PM
We were the ones in line at Kroger for HOURS with all the elderly during that shortage 4 years ago. The nurse refused to give the shots to us, until I explained to her that my extremely small, early and sick son was getting ready to leave NICU and they wouldn't discharge him without documentation that we'd gotten our flu shots. I was in tears, and fully prepared to cause a major scene. (Afterwards, I would have had to find a new store to buy my groceries) Thankfully, she gave us our shots and my son came home a couple weeks early, smack dab in the middle of RSV season!
Dena 11-14-2008 @ 7:55AM
For those who are saying there's no risk from flu - have you seen this Web site - www.familiesfighting flu.com? It tells the stories of perfectly healthy kids who died from the flu. If you can't afford it, your local department of health probably has free shots available. I've gotten the flu shot for years and years and have NEVER had a problem. My kids (5 year old and 9 month old) both had their shots already this year, with no difficulties at all. In fact, the 5 year old (who has received a flu shot every year of her life) said it didn't even hurt!
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Nicola 11-14-2008 @ 5:35PM
Just had a read through that website and it was TERRIFYING. You're right, everybody who refuses to vaccinate should have a look. The flu is deadly. I can't even imagine the pain that those families have suffered. I am so sad now...
mel 11-14-2008 @ 9:24AM
I think there is a common misconception of what the flu really is. It seems a lot of people associate it with a common cold or a 24 hour virus. It's hardy that! It's influenza and it can be deadly! The one year I did not have the shot I got seriously ill and was hospitilized...and it was a strain that I could have been vaccinated against! My son was 10 months old at the time and luckily, had been vaccinated. Thank goodness for that! Several doctors told me several times that had I not had him get the shot, he would have been at serious risk! I was a stay at home mom at the time so I thought the chance of me getting anything was minimal. I guess all it took was a trip to the grocery store, library, shaking someone's hand....I learned my lesson that year. I have never been so ill in my life and I will never take that chance again! Also - many parents avoid the shot because of thimerosol concerns. The nasal mist does not have thimerosol.
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Nicola 11-14-2008 @ 5:25PM
Indeed, Mel, well put. I contend that a huge spanner in the works of people getting their flu shot is that so many people claim to have "the flu" every time that they get a bad cold. The two are not even comparable. If you go to your doctor, they will swab your nose and test for flu -- and then tell you to go home and sleep off the cold. If you had flu, you wouldn't have had the strength to drive to your doctor! The flu is absolutely deadly and largely preventable with the flu shot. Last year they messed up and got the wrong strains, putting a whole lot of people in hospital (myself included). People who aren't susceptible to the flu probably won't get it either way, but better to be safe than sorry, eh? Especially for your children!