Flu Shot for Infant

Just an FYI...two elementary school girls in my state died from flu complications last month. They did not get the flu shot. The reason they are coming out with these vaccines (chicken pox, HPV) ladies is because they are becoming more deadly. There is a higher chance of complications now a days. Both of my sons have gotten flu shots every year and they have continued to lead heathly lives. It's not cool for the doctor to push you into anything, yet I would get all of the information before making a decision. I guess I just look at it like this...kids have died from these viruses...but I haven't heard of anyone dying from the vaccine.

I wouldn't do it. It's not necessary. Flu isn't the end of the world either. There is a book called Vaccination Deception that is excellent and shocking the results and unnecessary risks vaccines cause!

I don't agree in unnecessary medicine. I think that vaccines are great for life threatening illnesses but not for the chicken pox or for the flu. I recieved my flu shot when I was pregnant, and my asthmatic nephew gets the flu shot as wella s my 80 year old grandfather. For everyone else I think it's not needed. I can't tell you where I think a child under 2 years of age fits though. I would probaly do it.

I have a one year old who has never been sick. He got a flu shot with his other vaccinations at his one yr check up. He is still perfectly healthy. They use dead flu virus in the vaccinations, its not just weakened, dead. Also, vaccinations that use thimersol are no longer used. They stopped producing them in 1996. We all got a flu shot because we're going to see my family for Christmas and my Dad has lung cancer and during his chemothereapy his immune system will be weak. In order to keep us and my Dad in top shape we all got shots! Also, the flu can be deadly for an infant. Your child won't get the flu from the vaccine but they can pick it up at any public place, art class, grocery store, coffee shop, high chair at a restaurant, anywhere. I think your doctor or even pharmacist can ease your fears. They know more about it than random stangers on the internet.

Hi, first it does not matter if your child goes to daycare or not! She can get sick from anything, anywhere. This is a hard choice to make. But you should know, flu shots are Dead viruses. Also, baby flu shots do not have presevatives or mercury in them. You can not get the flu from receiving the shot. If you get a cold or flu it is probably a different strain. If you are breastfeeding you can get the shot, just make sure it is the one with out the preseratives and pass on the benefits. They pushed me to get a flu shot because I am pregnant, I declined. My daughter however did receive her shout, she is 5 yrs. She probably won't get it again. Good luck with your choice. Remember, you are the mom - don't let Dr. pressure you into anything. Just listen to what they have to say and research it.

Hello there. I have a 2 1/2 yr old son and I have never thought twice about the flu shot. I wont do it. A good friend of my husbands lost their little one at just a yr.old also my aunt is a doctor at UCLA and they have been doing studies on it and so far the out comes have not been good. But its your choice and you do what ever is right for you and your family I hope this may help out though!

i have two boys 3.5 and 10 neither one of them has ever had a flu shot and neither one of them has ever had the flu. I dont beleive in flu shots, I beleive in immunization against things like polio and whooping cough but the flu is the flu. your childs immune system should not be messed with I dont think you should introduce that to a child.

Hi there,

I'm again going to sound like the radical mom who's not going to vax anymore ( I replied to another poster about 4 month old having adverse reactions to immunizations ) but that's okay. LOL All of my kids are actually up-to-date on their shots, but after researching what is in them, I won't anymore.

Flu shots are awful, awful things IMO. If your child is healthy, why introduce the virus into his system? The flu shot contains an ACTIVE culture of the flu virus. Then it contains things like formaldehyde, chicken embrios, detergent, and mercury. Yep, mercury.

In addition to all of this, the flu vaccine that your child would receive now, only contains the strain of flu virus from when it was manufactured. No season of flu is the same. There are different strands. So not only would your child get sick FROM the flu vaccine ( since it contains an active virus in it ), there's no guarantee that he won't get the flu again.

HTH,
Christy

My personal opinion was and always will be that I do not believe in the flu shots. I feel we are taking away the things are bodies are very successful at doing at its own. It needs to be able to fight and make up its own antibodies on its own, and un neccessarily introducing things into our bodies on an un natural scale is un called for.

My children have never had a flu shot. They have been fine, get ill occassionally but get over it and right back to life. As they've gotten older they've gotten less and less ill, or the length or severity of their illness has decreased. So, I cannot speak of any adverse reactions since they've never had it before.

But, my husband has. He ended up in the er and we still have no idea to this day what exactly it was that put him there, except that it was just that ~ his flu shot. My husband rarely gets sick, and thought he would get the shot, because everyone else was doing it and why not? Within two hours of having it he was sweating, running a high fever, vomiting and to the point of incoherent speaking. He was barely able to tell my daughter who was 13 at the time to please watch him and if he stopped breathing call 911. She called me, and we took him immediately to the hospital. Of course no one would admit it was the flu shot, he just got a bad case of the 24 hour flu. ???

Anyway, its your call, your Mom. But, I would tell you to follow your heart. And if you dont feel its right, then stand by your word. Do not let the doctor intimidate you to feel like you should do anything you dont want to. Good luck, and many blessings to you and your family.

We need to keep our immune systems strong as children, and as adults. Their is a wonderful product out there that my family takes and it has made a world of difference as well in keeping us well this year as of yet. It is nothing like anything you've ever tried before. If we begin to get sick its the sniffles and thats it. If your interested in knowing more.. I'd be more than happy to talk to you about it. I have put a posting up under the business reviews under my name. =)

By the way, I have three dogs.. two choc labs (mother & daughter) and one pitbull/lab blonde that we rescued about 6 months ago. Those are my children as well... and yes a lab would be a good one for a first child practice! =)

As a homeopath, I certainly do not recommend flu shots as a matter of course for children OR adults. Naturally, this is a personal call in each instance.

For my clients and my family, I suggest and use Influenzinum....an oral homeopathic remedy one takes at just about this time of year. There are no side effects and the rate of flu prevension with this remedy is quite high.

If you'd like to know more, you may contact me at 800-930-2331.

To your health,
C. Springer
Certified Homeopath & Principal Instructor
Homeopathy Teleseminar Training
www.cathleenspringer.com

I disagree with any baby getting a flu shot. My son's doctor was very pushy about it as well so i agreed to the shot. After the appt. we went home and i put my son down for a nap, when he woke up he was throwing up all over his room. later than night the fever started. This lasted for about two days then it got worse. I went in to wake him up in the morning to go to grandma's house while i went to work. When I looked at his face his lips were white and dry, he had a fever of 105.3. I took his clothes off and put a cold rag on his head, then called 911. they came and rushed him to emanuel hospital. He was very dehydrated and was not getting enough oxygen. This was a bad reaction to the flu shot.

I think you should follow your instincts.... I have a 7 mo old as well and he doesn't attend day care either. I am torn and am looking at quite a "discussion" with my pediatrician. They give me a hard time every time I say I don't want any thymerisol (mercury) in his shots.....It is a preservative that is added to the shots. I have heard too many negatives to "chance" it. I don't get them either. I have heard of an excellent book that I am told would give me more thorough information. It is "what your Dr. doesn't tell you" or something along those lines....I will find out and get back to you. Good Luck. Do what you think is right for you.
G.

The flu shot will not help during the flu season or any other time. By the time a flu stan is discovered and a shot is made the germ has changed. There are several different types of flu. The Dr.s get a kick back for the perscriptions they write. The more perscriptions, the more perks! Vitiam C and washing hands are your best bet at not getting the flu. don't take chances with your children.

I'm not trying to push my opinion on you, but I don't believe that you should do the flu shot because it isn't even for the strain of the flu that is out there right now. Honestly, you are risking giving your child the flu with the shot as it is and then to turn around and not have it protect against the Flu strain that is affecting everyone as it is. But over all, it is your choice!

No Way! No shots!!!! C. RN I live with 2 damaged children directly related to 'post flu shot flu'
Allergic reactions to shots. There is a book out for mothers, written by an MD
Can't think of name (try internet query) in which he explaned the politics of the pharm industry. Unless you live in a getto or 3rd world country don't risk it.

I would say that you could wait. I would also hesitate to vaccinate an infant of only 7 months, especially since she is not in daycare, nor does she have siblings in school (is that right?). My daughter did not get a flu shot until this year, and she is 4.5 years old. Our reason initially was because she had a moderate allergy to egg-whites, so we avoided the vaccine for obvious reasons. She was not in day care or any school until 3.5 yrs old. Even last year, at 3.5 she did not get a flu shot, and was fine overall (I think she was sick 2 times that season). However, this year, we did the Flumist because I am pregnant and she is in school more days per week, and of course, this is projected to be a tougher flu season.

Are you breastfeeding? If you are, you could get the shot and the anitbodies your body produces will transfer through your milk. I did that last winter when my little girl was 4 months (she wasn't old enough to get the shot). So that could be an option if you breastfeed. I also felt no symptons to the shot.

Hi B.;

I have my husband always had a flu shot every winter time and he still got a flu and worse every winter time. I have my son who has asthma and give him a flu shot, suddenly his asthma started acting up again and had an asthma attack again,again after the flu. Since that incident, I never allow my children to have a flu shot. I never had a flu shot since I arrived in america. If there's a flu, I haven't hit by flu badly. I am not a sick person but if I had a flu or cold, I will only have for couple days and then it goes away.
Sometimes you have to use your own judgement and not to depend too much on your doctor. I am not a medicine person either. If I have a flu or cold, I always make hot tea with lemon,honey and drink those almost everyday and I never drink any cough medicine. I rather do it my way and If it didn't cure then I will call my family doctor and check me out but first I have to take care of myself first. Lot of vitamin C and rest , drink lot of fluid is the answer to cure my cold. Good luck.

A.

I get the shot for both my kids. Remember that the people that are most likely to get a serious to deadly reaction to having the flu are the elderly and infants under two years of age.

Both of my children were born here in Portland Oregon. We spent a few short years up in Alaska too while they were in shots ages. I NEVER was offered a flu shot for either of them either here in Oregon or in Ak. I don't know why they are doing this now. If they are not in day care and if the flu is in your area, just wear a face mask while shopping and wash , wash hands when you get home. And maybe they should bring back gloves as they wore them in our grandparents day! Prayer, eating right, sleeping enough hours , staying hydrated, should be enough for immunity i think. Jean

I would have to say I agree with the majority of the other moms. Why introduce the flu into you childs body at 7 months, when she has never been sick, and she's not in daycare. I could go on and on about my opinion on such things, but I think the other moms have pretty much said it. Follow your instinct!!! Just because the Doctor suggests it doesn't mean you need to do it. If your circumstances change in the months and years to come, where she has more exposure, like daycare or preschool, then reconsider it. I am 33 years old and have never had the flu shot, my mom is 71 and never had the flu shot, my son is 3 1/2 and never had a flu shot, my other son is 10 months and never had the flu shot.

Oops, I guess I did go on and on a bit :)

Hi B.,
I understand your fear. But my advice is not to wait. Many infants die each year from the flu. My boys have gotten flu shots every year for their entire lives. They are now 10 and 2 and very healthy. Remember that the flu shot is not a live virus it is not going to give your baby the flu just protect him. Do not wait until you see someone with the flu because that may be to late. Your child may be exposed without your knowledge. The medicine is safe and proven. Even if your baby isn't in daycare you never know what she may be exposed to in the grocery store. If you are worried ask for more information from your pediatrician but don't wait too long and take uneccesary risks.
Good luck

My pediatrician wanted my 1 year old to get a flu shot and I said NO. I don't find it necessary as he is not in daycare either, but is watched by a family member during the day and they don't go out a whole lot where he'd be likely to get sick. They DID give him the chickenpox vaccine without my knowledge, however...another shot I find to be pointless. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against modern medicine or anything...but those are two shots I don't think are necessary all the time...

I have gotten my daughter a flu shot since she was little. I think she got her first one when she was 5 or 6 months old and she just got one and she is now 17 months old. She has never had any type of reaction to it. I recommend it for any child.

Well, as you have most likely seen, there are several different opinions on this one. You have to do what's best for you. I did not get my son the flu shot when he was an infant. He ended up in the hospital with RSV in March of that year! He now has asthma and has been in the hospital 3 times for that, so our doctor recommended he get one this year, so we did. But I probably wouldn't have if he didn't have such a terrible history. You just have to do what's right for you.

HMM well I had the same problem with my Pediatrician and I went for it because I have an older child in public school and I don't reccommend it. he has been sick since he recieved it and even when its better the runny nose persits. I would vote no it's even harder to get treatment for a flu when it's on going and things could get worse. Stick to your guns mamas always no best and we don't we ask.

My advice....Get the flu shot. I had a perfectly healthy baby girl until last November. She was 9 mon. old, got her 1st cold of the season and then after that what I thought was teething. It was pneumonia that never went away as well as a combination of asthma and the FLU set it off!! Finally last July after spending time in and out of the hospital they were able to make her better. She is also at home and not in daycare. It is so worth keeping those viruses and bacterias away from your children as much as possible. The flu shot is a good thing even though your child doesn't go to daycare you or your husband working outside of the home can expose her or just going out to the grocery store. I have found those most of our families illnesses are brought in from my husbands job rather than my kids at school!!

Mommy of 3 soon to be 4!

My son received his flu shot at about 6 months old (as soon as he was old enough to get it), and he did not have a bad reaction what so ever. He got a little tired and cranky for the first day or so after his shot but I was told that was normal. I was nervous too, but I wanted to make sure that my little one was covered since the flu seems to be getting worse and worse.

Hope this helps!
D.

My son started the flu shot about 2 years ago. After winding up in the hospital finding out that he has asthma and the flu set it off. He's never had any bad reaction to the shot but with him I think it was a life saver. Wasn't sick at all last year. And my son doens't go to daycare either but that's not the only place they can catch things. The Mall, the grocery store. Germs are spread everywhere. I haven't heard of anyone I know getting a bad reaction either. I also have a 1 year old grandson that just got his first flu shot this year. He did great.

Good luck to you.

My daughther is 6 yrs old and we have never gotten a flu shot for her or myself, she has also never gotten the flu. You need to do what you feel is right for your daughter. Not the doctor. Best of luck.

i know this message is old but i wanted to chime in! i have to say that i would not get a flu shot for your baby...but i'm pretty crunchy granola myself. i have never gotten a flu shot myself or had one given to my daughter- nor do i plan to- and my daughter like yours is home rather than at a daycare. also, she is breastfed, and we are careful about exposure to sick people and careful about random people in public touching her (she's chubby so everyone wants to squeeze her). she's had colds a few times and even had the croup once believe it or not, but i still feel that the flu shot is unnecessary. all (ALL, not most) of my friends' babies who got the flu shot last fall got sick from it, and about half of them ended up getting the flu later in the season anyway. just my two cents!

S.

Hello,
I just read So What Happened? and your message was there so I read it. It's been a while that you wrote, but thought I would tell you our story. When I was working at the hospital they give out the flu shots to all the employees. There were times I didn't get it and times I did. A few years ago I got it and in a few days I was sick with the flu. My husband then said he and our son will get it and sure enough they did. It wasn't too fun. This last year I didn't get it and I was well all winter. I just got my first cold last month. I was concerned last year to give my then 3 year old the flu shot, but I did and he was just fine and didn't get the flu. Since May 2007 I am a stay at home mom now and my kids have still gotten a few colds. My son is in pre-school 3 days a week. I feel that I will get the shots for my kids my daughter is 13 months. When reading some of the messages I feel like they are right the flu is a lot more deadly then the shot itself. It's a tough call really, because I got the shot and became ill. Do what you feel is right, like Oprah says, go with your instincts (gut) Wish you the best! N.

I have a little girl who is now 7, but I got her the flu shot when she was 3. She had an Anniphaxis reaction to it. I almost lost her. I got her to the car and was putting her in her car seat and I thought she was cuffing kinda weird, and she was acting tired. Then her face and lips went as white as snow and she went out. I called her name and toughed her,but she would not wake up. She looked dead. She was not breathing. I took her out of her car seat and back to the hospital.I Thank God that i didn't leave the hospital yet. I got her back and the nurse freaked out. Told me to get her in the room now. After they got her back, they told me that we would be staying the night at the hospital to watch her.

She can never have the flu shot again. she is not alergic to eggs or anything like that cause they tested her for everything. She is just alergic to the mixture of the shot. The doc's and CDC all say that she is a mistery to them, because they say that had never happenend before. Now my other two boys get the flu shot every year, and so do i and her dad. I think that if you do choice to get it, u should really wait like 30 minutes after to make sure she doesn't have any kind of reaction.

My son is now 20 months old and had a flu shot last year when he was about 9 months old. He had no reaction from it. I think at that age it's better to get one because the risks of getting the flu are much worse than the risks of the actual shot.

It's a very personal decision, but I think you should get the flu shot. Even though your baby is not in day care, if they are healthy, there is no reason to believe they will have a bad reaction. My baby had all of his flu shots (he was about 7 months for his first one, just like yours) and in fact they are supposed to have two flu shots their first year, and he was only able to get one because of the shortage a few years ago. The flu can be very dangerous for a baby, and the risks of the shot are much less than the risk of your child getting sick. There is no cure for the flu, they just have to ride it out. Again, it's up to you, and there are small risks to the flu shot, but just like vaccinations, the risks are very small compared to the risk of getting the flu. Just one mom's opinion--you will make the best decision for your baby!!

I personally and professionally don't agree with flu shots except for people who's immune systems are gone. Our immune systems can only get stronger if we allow them to. My opinion.

Go with your instinct - but if you choose not to, good nutrition, extra vitamin C w/bioflavonoids (orange juice or other juices with lots of vitamins/minerals). I would also keep pure therapeutic grade essential oils on hand to diffuse in the air to purify the air every day - can create an unhealthy environment for bacteria and viruses right in the air in a totally natural, non-toxic manner.

Blessings,

B. C., CR, SCCI, BCRS, LSH, EFT-CC
Board Certified Raindrop Specialist & Instructor
Essential Oil & Herb Specialist
Certified Reflexologisit

My son got his flu shot a couple months back and well most people said I didn't have to get it I still did. I look at it like this I would rather have him get the flu shot instead of getting the flu so bad that he would end up in the hospital. Just do what you feel is right for you and your child. The choice is really up to you.

Just wanted to say that my son just turned 18 years old - but he has had a flu shot every year since he was born. He did have some health problems at birth which is why it was suggested he have the flu shot at that time. He has never had a reaction or any problems from the shot.

I refuse to give my kids the flu shot because I have a son with Autism and that was most likely caused by the mercury that was still in the core vaccinations when he was a baby.

Why they insist on poisioning our kids is beyond me!
They know that Mercury causes health problems and is one of the main causes of autism. That is why they have outlawed it's use in the core vaccines.... Yet they still give it to children in the Flu shot!!

I also want to know why they use a preservative in the shot that will allow it a shelf life of at least 50 years.....when they always end up running out of flu shots by the end of the flu season.

I am the mother of 3 and my kids have never had the flu shot. This year I was pregnant w/#3 and nervous about flu season. I asked my doc if they should get them and they said no. They told me that since my girls were hardly ever sick it was not necessary. I am a complete germaphobe and with lots of handwashing and cleaning of shopping cart handles, we have avoided any sickness. Both of my girls are in school and exposed to alot, but if you practice good handwashing hygiene you cut your risks. It is most definitely a personal choice and you should go with what feels right to you.

My son had a flu shot last winter when he was 9 months old. He was healthy, had never been sick, and almost immediately got his first cold (over Christmas.) He's had several colds since. He was at home with me, not in daycare so I really believe that the shot was a mistake.

I don't believe in the flu shot... My son 4 hasonly been sick once in his life and my daughter age 2 has never been sick. We are a very active family always out door and busy with group of other people so I can't say we are not exposed.to many germs and many other children. I have them take a multi-vitamin everyday and tehy have always been fine. We don't have anything against doctors and medication we just try to avoid unnecesary things being put into out bodies. In fact I work with a company that informs people about in-home toxin that make us much sicker then anything we'll find outside the home. My home is toxinfree now and perhaps that is why we have no illness. http://wisemommy.fourpointwellness.com

I get the flu shot for both of my boys and it really seems to help. they don't get sick as often. It even cuts back on things like strep throat. My youngest always get that if he get a cold. the flu shot prevents the colds. Remember too that if your little one was born premature, it's better to get the shot than risk getting ryese syndrom.

I am not a big fan of the flu shots. I think that if we build up our immunity and that of our kids. I have never had the flu shot and neither have my kids both of them. We have had the flu only one year in the last 7 that I have had kids, AND I am a teacher and have been exposed a lot to it. I know other kids that have had reactions to the shot and have swore they will never have them again. If your baby does not go to daycare, I think it is unnessary. Just my opinion. ;)

I agree with most of the mothers here, if your child is healthy and was not a premie when she was born there is really no need for her to get the flu shot. THe ultimate choice is yours but when she's 2 or 3 getting the flu shot is a better idea but not under a year.
M.