Help Please I Need Advise

It takes about two weeks for the flu shot to work so I can understand why she might have gotten the flu right after she got the shot. This is why they recommend getting the shot early in the season.

With all the research I've done on flu shots I would never give it to my little one. Just feed her healthy foods, lots of fresh fruits and veggies to build her immune system.

Hi A.,

I have given my 2 year old the flu shot each flu season. It takes 2 weeks to become effective so if she got the flu right after the shot it didn't have time to kick in. I agree with you about the H1N1 shot. I don't feel like I know enough about it. Just go with what you feel. If you made it through with the flu last year, you can always do it again.

A.,

I am a nurse with two kids ages 6 and 25 months. Let me first say that giving the flu shot to you child is totally your decision, however, you can not get the flu from the flu shot. The virus that is injected into the body is a killed or dead virus, therefore there is not possible to actually get the flu from the shot. It is possible for you to have a reaction to the shot that results in low-grade fever and aches. This reaction might resemble the flu!

The H1N1 shot is new, but it is made using the same process as the seasonal flu shot. The risks associated with getting the H1N1 shot are the same as getting the seasonal flu shot.

In the end, it is your decision. My children have already gotten the seasonal flu shot and will get the H1N1 shot when it becomes available.

The H1N1 virus is a flu virus. The same research that was used to make seasonal flu shots for the past 60 years has been applied. It is not a new vaccine, it is a flu vaccine for a particular strain of virus. It is just as safe as the seasonal flu virus. The seasonal shot is not a live virus, so in no way can it cause the flu. The nasal mist does have a weakened form of the live virus, but it can only survive in the nasal mucosa, nowhere else in the body. All flu shots are safe. The decision to vaccinate is ultimately yours, but you really do need to have all the facts. Any flu virus can have devastating effects, usually when in conjunction with an existing health problem. The benefits of a flu vaccine far outweigh any supposed risks.

Hi there,

I have been in the same situation but managed to find more information.... the flu shot that they give adults and children is made up of a dead virus so the actual shot cannot make you sick. However it does take 2-4 weeks before you are immune to the flu once you have had the shotso she coul dhave picked up the virus at daycare and it just came out just after the shot. My friends daughter is a dr and she did and extra few years studying viruses etc and she has assured me that the shot is dead and cannot make you sick, however if you get the nasal spray, this is live and you can get mild flu symptoms.The regular flu tends to make older people and young children sick, I ended up getting my son vaccinated because otherwise he woul pick up everything at daycare, however I make sure to get it done either late on a thursday or on a friday so that he has the weekend at home with mommy to be loved on and cuddled :)

I had also decided to stay far away from the H1N1 vaccine until I found out that because i am pregnant (30weeks) I have a 50% chance of dying if I do get it. But I am still not decided as to what to do.

There are mercury free shots available if that is a concern fo ryou, you just have to callaround and ahead and see where you can get them.

By giving a child a flu shot you are increasing their antibodies, therefore helping them build resistance to viruses in the future.

During flu season always make sure they are eathing healthy adn getting lots of vitamin C from fruits and veggies, this helps their immune system if they do get a virus.

I hope this helps.

This is the 3rd year my son has had the shot without getting the flu. He's a healthy little guy considering he was preeemie and only weighed 4 lbs at birth. He has only had antibiotics 3 times in 3 years, twice for ear infections and once for tonsillitus which he got overseas.I don't believe in medicating children unless it is vitally neccessary.

I'm a nurse with a 5 yo daughter. I would never forgive myself if my daughter got the flu and was one of those that does not survive. She gets the flu vaccine. And she will get the H1N1 as soon as it is available for her.
Just my opinion.

A. if your in doubt about the flu shot you know the saying "when in doubt, don't do it. Seriously, If you were
to find out what the ful shot and the N1N1 contain, scarry!
I take the necessary precautions and stay away from the
Flu shot and the N1N1. Chris

My daughter is 22 months old and she is not getting either flu shots based on my research and my friends' thoughts on the whole vaccine pandemic - one who is a cancer research scientist and the other who is a pediatric surgeon. Also, my own pediatrician.

But like most here have said - go with your instincts based on your own research. Overall you have to feel good about your own decisions and I would get your husband to take some of the responsibility =)

I agree, it's a tough decision. But the reason why your daughter got the flu isn't from the shot - either she was infected before it took effect (it takes 2 weeks to "kick in"), and the strains that were prevalent last year weren't in the shots that were given. Some years they get it right, some years they don't.

We choose to get the shots in my house, based on one FACT: More kids have died from the flu than from the vaccine. I would feel absolutely horrible as a parent if I knew that I could have given my child something to prevent an illness, and I chose not to. Especially with daycare - you can't control what other parents do, and unfortunately, so many bad parents bring in sick kids intentionally. Right now, the only flu that's really out there is the H1N1 - the regular flu season is just starting, so you have plenty of time to get her vaccinated. I would wholeheartedly do it, it's not something to be messed with.

I agree with you on the H1N1 - we are not getting that vaccine, it has not been tested enough in my opinion. Too much of a rush job.

The flu shots are based on last year's flu, which is almost never this year's flu. It is also egg-based. No one in our family gets flu shots. I have talked to many people who did have the flu shot and still got the flu.

Just another testimonial to add to your research...
I never used to get a flu shot (just didn't think it was necessary) until I got the flu several years ago. I was sick for almost 2 weeks. It was the worst thing I'd been through in a long time. The flu shot can't guarantee preventing the flu 100%, but if you do get it, you will probably get a mild case and hopefully get over it quickly. You might have to miss a day or two if you get a fever from the shot (my husband did this year). So, my daughter has gotten her flu shot every year and so do we.

At first I didn't think we'd get the H1N1 shot this year because it was new, and then I realized that they make it the same way they make the seasonal flu shot (which is just as new every year), and then I heard about 78 kids dying from H1N1 in the last 2 months. I haven't heard about any flu-shot related deaths yet. So I think we'll probably get it if we can.

Good luck with your research.

As a mother of two beautiful daughters I understand your concern and hesitation related to the flu vaccines. A mother's instinct is strong and valuable, however, we can't use just this instinct to make medical decisions. When my daughters are sick with a fever, all my mother instinct wants to do is hold them and comfort them. My common sense tells me that my body heat plus their body heat will only increse their fever. So instead of holding them, I dress them in an undershirt and underwear and talk to them in a calming way. IMO, you should use your logical sense and have your daughter vaccinated against the seasonal flu, especially since she attends day care. No matter what you do to follow universal precautions she spends the majority of her day with toddlers who know nothing about universal precautions. My daughters and I have gotten the seasonal flu vaccine each year. The only years I didn't get the seasonal vaccine in the last 18 years was the two years I was pregnant with my daughters and forgot about vaccinations because I was so busy with all the other precautions associated with pregnancy. This year was the first time any of us got the flu. Neither my youngest nor I have gotten the flu. My oldest got the flu right after she received the vaccine. Since the injectable vaccine DOES NOT contain live flu virus, she did not get the virus from the vaccine. She got the virus from the sick children who were in the doctor's office the day she got the vaccine. It takes two weeks for the vaccine to become effective, so she did not have protection from the virus when she became infected. I vaccinate my children, not because they are unhealthy, but because we live in a world where anyone around us could be unhealthy. When a parent chooses not to vaccinate their child they are taking a risk not only with their child's health, but also with the health of every person their child comes in contact with. Not vaccinating your child is like playing the lottery and hoping you don't win. I'm sorry if I sound harsh, but this is your child's health that you are dealing with.
I am still undecided about H1N1, so I don't have any advice on that one.

I don't understand why you won't give her the H1N1 vaccine just because it is a "new" shot. All flu shots are "new" shots every year because they have to adjust it to accommodate the strain they think is going to be around. I heard on the news yesterday that if the swine flu had began 1 month earlier last spring, the vaccine for it would have been combined with the regular flu vaccine.

You say she was sick with the flu 2 times last year. Was it really the flu? Did the doctor actually run the test to determine that it was the flu? I'm only asking because you hear people so often say they "have the flu" when it's really only a cold and they haven't even been to the doctor and been tested.

Also, you sound like you blame one of her "flu" sicknesses on her getting the shot just because she got sick right after she got the shot. You DON'T get the flu from the flu shot. They tell you to take a Tylenol not to rid off the flu, but because the injection site can be a little sore.

By attending day care she is exposed to so many more germs/viruses than a child kept at home. But, with all of this exposure, her immune system is building up its immunity to alot of these germs and viruses. It's a double edge sword. If I were you, I would get her vaccinated for both regular strains and H1N1. That is the best way to keep her the healthiest.

I do not normally give my kids the flu shot. I personally think we over vaccinate as it is. That being said, 2 of my boys are just now getting over the flu (most likely N1H1 since the other has not hit TX yet, but they didn't do the test to differentiate).

My kids were not in day care full time (they went part time) and if you have a licensed daycare, they should be sanitizing everything everyday (FYI, church daycares do not have to be licensed). Pay attention to who is not coming to school. If there is infectious disease, the staff should notify you. I used to work in the daycare industry, so I know a good bit about what is required.

This is something you should discuss with your dr. If she is otherwise healthy, she may be fine without it.

Good Luck!

The best thing you can do is go withyou notherly instinct on this one. You as a mom need to be using your universal precautions and teaching them to your children. Cover your cough. wash your hande constantly, and carry the antibacterial hand rub with you, avoid touching your face with your hands, or others. that is hard at this age but the fact that their immune systems arent as strong as ours makes me not get these shots. your body has natural defenses for thes illnesses, and I feel that each time they do get sick the antibodies get stronger. Lets put it this way if your child never got a cold and you send he or she to primary school what do you think is going to happen. They have no defenses their body will not know what to do when it gets sick ( Its never been sick) REMEMBER TO USE YOUR UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS!!!

I am against all shots. I personally know two families who kids now have brain damage and four others who little ones were in the hospital for four days each after getting their shots and one friend who little girl now has autism. I have a 2 year old and 6 month old. My boys have never and will never get any kind of shot. I recomend getting the book: Vaccines are they safe?

B.
www.MyToxinFreeHome.com

Please get her both vaccines, H1N1 and seasonal. If she was only sick 4 days last year, it was probably a cold or the milder form of flu since she had the vaccine. With her being in daycare, she'll be exposed to all the things going around, and you want to give her the best protection possible. Stories about problems with vaccine come from many years ago, and the new ones are way safer. Protect your precious child and the others in daycare.

I would get her the shot since she is in daycare. Either have her get it on a Friday so if she gets sick hopefully it will be over the weekend, or see if her dr offers the non live virus vaccine so it won't make her sick. Good luck!

A.,
There are natural ways to boost her immune system. Why risk the shot when it clearly was of no help last year. Go to Whole Foods or People's Pharmacy and ask them to help you find the following and ask what dose for a 2 yr old: Cod liver oil, probiotic, immune boosting herbs.
Also, limit sugar intake as much as possible during the flu season. Get plenty of rest.
And wash hands - especially when coming home from the grocery store or other public places.
Hope this helps!

personally--i have never given my children the flu shot-- and they have never gotten sick from the flu...and i work in healthcare.

If your gut is telling you not to then you shouldnt. Especially if she got the flu after she got the shot last year. Go with your gut because moms know best!

Hi A.,
I really feel for you having to struggle with this decision. I have three kids and we have never gotten the flu shot. Although they are much older, if they were 2 years old right now, I still wouldn't give it to them. We did our research years ago and thank God that we started strengthen their immune system and ours.

Over 6 years ago my husband and I started a home business because we were hurting financially. I never knew that the Nutritional products would help our immune system the way the have and educate us in the process.

I said all that to tell you about the Founder of the Company Dr. Myron Wentz who is a well known and well respected Microbiologist and Immunologist and is very experienced in this field. I wanted to share with you a statement from his blog so that it will help you. I am praying for you and know you will make the right decision for your child. Don't let anyone scare you.

Here are his comments: (for more of the statement, here is his blog: www.drwentz.com)

The subject of the talks I gave was “A Nutritional Approach to Immunity,” a subject of great interest to me and—judging by the positive reception I received—clearly of interest to people in that part of the world. After all, most of the influenza viruses as well as SARS originated there. I lectured on the importance of the prerequisites of having the strongest immune system possible. Immune system maintenance can be easy with a healthy lifestyle and nutrition, and especially proper supplementation. I pointed out the false hopes and counseled caution on relying on vaccines and pharmaceuticals.

However, if you have personally decided to get vaccinated or are required to do so, I urge you to opt for the nasal mist rather than the injectable vaccine. The nasal mist is free of mercury-containing thimerosal and is the natural route for administering a vaccine for a respiratory virus.

A.
I haven't looked to see if you have many repsonses yet but wanted to share my thoughts.

I have done a lot of research on the various flu shots and decided not to get the shot for anyone in my family, including my 18 month daughter. I know a lot of people disagree and that's their right.

My suggestion is that you and your husband both read as much information on both shots (even though you already made a decision on h1n1). They contain mercury - enough so that I will not take the chance.

Whatever you decide, feel good about your decision and don't second guess it, you are doing the best you can and only God controls the outcome. Remember to look at several sources so you can make an educated decision.

Good luck and God bless you.

I agree that you and your husband should do your own research and make a decision that you both are comfortable with. You have gotten a lot of information from some caring mothers on here!
I have a great "work-from-home" business that I worked alongside my full-time job for 2 years, and I would love to share it with you. If you would like to see if it is a fit for you, email me at "____@____.com".
Blessings,
S. M

you have to do what you think is best for your family... I am not given my kids either but i use all natural vitamins with loctoferrin in it which supports the immune system its the only vitamin in the US that contains it. I also give a probiotic and a omega 3 fo kids to my 3 children. f you like to know wht use email meback I'll be more than happy to share or if you just want the website let me know

Best wishes

Please go to the internet and look up Dr. Sheri Tenpenny. Research, do your homework. Be sure she has good vitamins, not the over the counter sugar or aspartame filled ones but ones that will metabolize. Congratulations on being willing to research instead of just doing what is expected.