I'm taking my 3 1/2 year old son later this week for his flu shot (and Mommy and Daddy are going to get ours too). When I made the appointment they asked if I want to do the mist or the shot. I've read about them and I'm leaning toward the shot because although I'd love to save him from the needle, he HATES having anything sprayed in his nose so I'm not sure it would really be better. Any time he has a cold and I come toward him with saline its world war 3.
Also, we have a 2 month old at home so the fact that the mist is live virus makes me slightly nervous considering how big brother loves to nuzzle his face up to baby brother's. Yes I know the virus is weakened and the stats say that its extremely rare for someone who has had the mist to pass it to someone who hasn't, but still.
So just wondered what other mommies think.
(Also I just have to say, please only respond with answers to my actual question - shot vs. mist. If you're someone who doesn't agree with vaccinating your children, I am 100% behind you. I know all about the issues around that as I work in the field of child development and Autism. I am torn about it too, I space out my boys' vaccines to try to minimize the load each time, but my son had the flu last year, I got it while pregnant, and it was a nightmare. He is developing perfectly, we are out of the Autism woods with him for sure, so I'm doing one or the other.)
Thanks Moms!
The flu mist is a live vaccine and the person getting can get sick and they can also spread it especially if they get sick we have a high risk child so we have been told that we all need to get the shot because of that small risk with the mist I would not risk it with an infant at home.
We've done the mist for my 2 boys (6 and almost 4) and it's been great. For us, much better than a shot. However, if you already know he hates a nose spray, then that makes it a tougher call. My oldest certainly doesn't enjoy a nose spray, but when he knows the alternative is a needle, he doesn't complain.
My daughter gets weekly injections for several health issues. Because of these injections, she cannot get live vaccines, so we always get the shot. I read on a support group for one of her illnesses that a doctor told one of the moms that she needed to keep her immune-compromised child away from other children who have gotten the flu mist. All the other parents on the discussion group got worked up because... how can we know who in a classroom has gotten the mist?? I don't know how accurate it is, but since it came from a doctor, it made me a bit nervous. Anyway, I wanted to share that with you because of your concern for your baby.
My daughter has had very bad pain in her arm since the flu shot this year. She's never had this kind of pain (lasting more than a week now). I don't know if the nurse got a nerve, muscle or something, but the doctor said the pain should be gone by now. We plan to go in by Friday if the pain continues. She has had no other issues since getting the shot.
I get the shot because we can get it free at work. My daughter has gotten the mist twice and is doing good with it.
Hey -
My son was unable to have the mist for a few years because he has asthma. But, for the past 3 years he has gotten it and he LOVES it. He is not a fan at all of getting anything sprayed up his nose, but he loves the Mist vs. the flu shot. (He's 8 now).
My daughter got the mist for the 1st time this year (3.5) and she loved it too. I have never really had to do the nasal spray with her, but she was great with the mist. Sniffed when they told her to.
Just so you know, the mist is nothing like the nasal spray you do when they are sick. It doesn't spray nearly has forcefully or hard as the nasal spray does. It really is a very small spray and they sniff slightly and then they are done.
Personally, I think the shot is way worse for them and so I vote for the mist every time. You may want to ask them about the mist for your son in regards to having a 2 month old at home. If you do end up getting the mist, I would just keep your older son out of the face of your younger son for 2-3 days.
Good luck with your decision!
L.
My pediatrician suggests the mist to the shot but offers both. I have 6 kids and they have been getting the mist as far as I can remember. We also participated in the initial trial of the flu mist and we have never had any complications. My dr said the mist actually lasts longer in the body and will protect longer than the shot will. The mist is not just for children either. Not to jump on someone's post but I don't think that you are immune to the flu if you had it the previous year. The flu (to my knowledge) changes that's why you are supposed to get a shot or mist every year. The vaccine won't prevent you from getting the flu it's supposed to lessen the symptoms. Also, shouldn't get the mist if you have any egg allergies. Good luck!
My older son got the mist last year and it was easy, peasy. He also wasn't scheduled for any additional shots, so I thought - Why put him through it. So I plan on doing the same for him again next week.
My younger son has always been a shot kid, but this year, I think he is at the same "no shot" and as long as he has no cold, I am going to do the mist for him.
The nose thing is soooo fast "poof" and only one side. They don't even know what happened its so fast.
We did the flu mist for my daughter again this year and she is 3 1/2 also. Last year I had a 3 month old and she got the mist for the first time. I loved the fact that it saved her from getting a shot, I did have to hold her down both times, but it was manageable. Our pediatrician said it weas fine to give her the mist even though she loved giving his tons of kisses.
good luck with your decision!
I am doing the shop for my kids. I went with the mist for my 2nd last year because I thought it would be better but he did not like it at all. And then we found out he would need to doses so this year it was the shot. My oldest last year also got the shot only because i didn't want to go back a 2nd time and my youngest the shot because he had some asthma issues when he was younger and the mist wasn't an option.
We just got our flu shots yesterday. I don't do the mist either because I don't like that it is a live virus. The needles are so small now that we barely felt it being administered. My 2.5 year old daughter didn't even cry! I vote for the shot over the mist.
HTH,
A.
i use the mist for my 7 year old. i used it for my 14 year old for as long as they would let me. the kids don't get the flu at all. i get the flu when i don't get the flu shot. i already got mine this year.
I too don't like the whole live virus thing. I don't get the shot myself. My system seems to do well enough without it. My kids do get it because they are in daycare.
My 4y always gets the shot because she was too young for the mist and she does well with them.
My 10y is asthmatic and so is advised to ONLY get the shot not the mist.
I had the mist a couple of years ago and just felt bad and puny for about 3-4 days after that. I have never had those effects with the shot, and so have gone back to the shot for the last few years. My whole family of 5 got the shot this year with no problems.
I've done flumist for the last three years with myself and my boys. We like it just fine and have had no problems.
We've done the flu shot w/out the thimserol and the flu mist (twice). Each time our daughter has had the flu mist, she gets the flu (a watered down version, but still the flu). That's what happened to us this year. So from now on, we're skipping the mist and will request the flu shot for infants and toddlers (w/out the thimserol). Our daughter HATES shots, but I keep telling her it's over in one second and you don't get sick afterward.
we did the mist one year....my son had a bloody nose for a few hours after but he was five so i honestly cant say he wasnt picking it or something after they misted lol.....it was awesome without the needle .....in years prior ican still picture the nurse chasing him around the table....
My daughter is 4.5 and got the flu mist this year and we got it for her last year also. They will have you sit him in your lap and you'll most likely have to hold his hands and maybe his head if he won't hold still. Its over so fast so not a big deal. I also have a 2 month old at home but we haven't had any issues.
I have always gotten the shot but my son has gotten the flu mist for the last three years (he's almost six). He hates needles and shots so the mist is much better for him. He has never gotten sick from the mist.
I haven't researched it, but a nurse at the hospital told me that the mist was a live virus and you actually get the flu from it. That didn't sound good to me, so I'd go the shot way, especially if your son doesn't like sprays anyway.
I think the shot would be easier and quicker, considering his aversion to nose spray.
If you're in the medical field then you must be aware that there is absolutely no link between vaccinations and Autism. That was independently and scientifically debunked as a worldwide hoax, and the Lancet went so far as to retract former doctor Andrew Wakefield's article attempting to falsely link the MMR vaccine with Autism.
Anyway, your baby can't get the flu if your older child gets the FluMist. As long as your child doesn't have any egg white allergies, he should be fine with the injection. My middle daughter, who hates needles and does have Autism, didn't do so well with the FluMist. The capsule broke in her nose and cut up inside her nostrils causing profuse bleeding which ended up scaring her and freaking her out far more than any injection could. I've never seen a child with Sensory Integration Disorder comply so well with shots since the FluMist Incident.
