Flu Shots - Chicago,IL

The facts are that the immune system is capable of fighting off the flu. He seems to be very protected by you in staying home and being breast fed. The flu vaccine is full of chemicals (preservatives) that break down the immune system. Even IF it prevents the flu, it has started a "breakdown" process that is hard to reverse.

The CDC will also tell you (online) that the flu vaccine is made from the previous year's strain and it might not be effective.

My two cents!

M.

I find it unnecceary to give them a flu shot. I dont' give any of mine the shot and I have never had it.
My hubby has, (military) and when we did all get the flu guess who also got it really bad?? Yep, hubby.

I encourage you to google Dr. Sherri Tenpenny. She has done extensive research on vaccines, to include the flu vax. I think you will find her information beneficial in making an informed decision.

I have never had a flu shot and neither have our children. My dh(AD Army) gets a mandatory flu vax every year and he ends up sick as a dog and feels miserable for weeks. I know "they" tell you the flu shot can't make you sick but I've seen the effects of the shot on my dh every year.

Peace,
J.

I have never gotten the flu shot, and either has my 5 year old daughter. We are overall a healthy family with good immune systems. Since my daughter was 2 years old, she has been to the doctor one time each year for her regular yearly check up. She's been in school, and probably the only one that remains healthy throughout the year. I just don't want to jinx anything, so I don't bother with the flu shot. If we (she) happens to get it, then I suppose we will have to deal with it, but I seriously doubt it will lead to death because she doesn't have any of the other problems, like asthma, etc. They don't always get the shot right with the strain of flu that might actually be around... so you may end up with the flu anyway. I did have my daughter vaccinated... and it was a really difficult decision to do so, but, to me, not to give the flu shot is a much easier decision. Either way you go, I'm sure you and your little one will most likely be just fine.

I get them for myself - asthma. My kids could get asthma too, but they are also at daycare, so they get them. We went through three weeks straight of going to Walmart on Saturday (yes, we cleaned the carts and used covers), and my son was sick on Monday. The kids will be in crowds, you and/or your husband may be in contact with someone with the flu. If you children or anyone they live with, leaves the house, you could be exposed. My son, husband and I being vaccinated has protected my baby who will most likely get her's next week when she is 6 mos. It's just not worth the risk for me.

The fact that matters to me is that people die from the flu, and that is not in question. The flu is miserable. You can prevent the flu. Kids who have the flu pass it to other people too, and even if they are fine later, somebody they pass it to might not be. I had the flu once, and I will never let myself get that sick again if I can prevent it, nor would I let one of my children get that sick. We always get our shots. The other thing that stikes me are old grave yards and the tiny, little grave stones give me pause, those are real.

M.

Well, I have gotten this year's Flu Shot (the one without preservatives) and my kids got it too.
They and myself, have not gotten any side effects from it. At all.
I get it because I have Asthma. My kids get is because I have Asthma and my older daughter is in school. If I get sick... it is very serious for me, because I have Asthma. I have almost ended up in the hospital before, because of it.
My kids, have never gotten the Flu nor badly sick from the vaccination, nor from other sicknesses.
My kids, get the nasal mist form of it.

all the best,
Susan

I have never gotten the flu shot, and and especially won't now that it's combined with the h1n1 component. The h1n1 vaccine was just developed, and has been through no clinical trials. There were only a handful of h1n1 cases last year, hardly an epidemic. In fact, an article was just published in a major journal (like the APA or something, can't remember) that stated negative effects of the h1n1 vaccine. Several health professionals I know refuse to get it. I've been advised to seek out a flu shot that does not have the h1n1 included. I refuse to be the clinical trial! Good luck!

We have never gotten flu shots in our immediate family (husband, myself and my sons).

Up until very recently they were not recommended for people outside of high risk groups (as per my physician in years past). The recommendations then changed to include almost everyone, and I do not trust why that is the case.

Since we homeschool and work from home we do not view our risk to be sufficiently high to take a chance with that particular vaccine.

Whatever you decide, good luck and good health.

My husband was a teacher and so he always got a shot because he's exposed to so many kids. Then also my son has asthma and it's highly recommended plus he went to daycare. Now he's in school so he's exposed to way more. My daughter is 3.5 years old and she gets one too since she's in daycare. I get one just because I don't want to bring anything home. Especially with my son who has asthma since he gets so sick and easily develops pneumonia and/or bronchial infections.

I was in this same spot a month ago. I went ahead and vaccinated my daughter. I guess I thought of all the things we vaccinate against the flu is the one she'd most likely get. Not too many kids I know have Mumps or Measles etc. So if I vaccinated her against those things why was I hesitating about the flu. She is way more likely to come into contact with the the flu than any of those other things.

Just so you know, the first time your child gets vaccinated against the flu they give two doses one month apart - so it will be two shots. I wasn't aware of this but wish I had known that I would be needing to make another trip to the Dr. office one month later for the second dose of flu vaccine.

I get it for my kids (and me) because I'm constantly surprised at how they pick things up. No matter how I keep them away from other kids that are sick, it's little things that you don't think about each day that can get them. No matter how vigilant it may be.

IMO, there's really no downside to getting one. I believe they do the mist for little kids, so there's not even a needle to deal with.

I've never gotten sick from getting it.

We just all got a out flu shots.
We get them every year and we've never had any reactions.
Even if you are home all day, just having your child sit in a shopping cart and touching the handle is plenty of exposure to all kinds of germs. People wipe them down sometimes, but most people forget to at least some of the time.
My son got a DTap booster last May so he could start middle school this year.
My husband and I will get the DTap booster too since whooping cough seems to be running rampant right now.

My husband and I get it, but the kids do not. If you do decide to do it, trying calling your local health department to see if they have a preservative (aluminum, mercury - yep, it's still in them) free version that he could get. Here's an article on the subject of flu shots from Dr. Sears. http://www.metrokids.com/MetroKids/January-2010/Should-Yo...

My kids take daily probiotics and 2000 IU a day of Vit D3 per Dr. They are rarely sick, and neither has been breast fed for over a year now. There are some theories that the flu is a result of low vitamin D levels.

The current recommended intake is severely low. I take 10,000 IU a day per Dr. after blood testing. If you ever have to get yours or your son's blood tested for any reason, have them test Vit D while they're at it.

I started getting the flu shot when I first started teaching many years ago. I have had it every year (even when I stopped teaching when I had kids) and I have never gotten the flu or had any side effects. All 3 of my kids have gotten their flu shots every year since they could and have never had the flu or any side effects.

Every child/person is different and people make choices for what is best for their situation. Talk with your child's dr. or other parents who you know and respect their parenting. I'd be a bit weary of what you read on-line. You will find strong feelings on both sides.

I too have always stayed home with my kids and my kids were not in a preschool setting until they were 3. It is still possible to get the flu.

I personally hate to see my kids sick...you feel so helpless. We had a stomach bug go through our house last month and it was miserable...I want to do anything I can to prevent my kids from getting sick...and the flu is much worse then a stomach bug.

Good luck and do what is best for you and your family!!

I have always gotten my flu shot and my son has had 3 now (he's 2 1/2).

I admit that some years I have still gotten the flu, but it's been milder because of the shot.

My son and I have always been out and about and now he's in preschool. If we were homebodies, perhaps I wouldn't have done the shot, but I'm not prepared to sit inside all winter.

He is most likely around your friends/family. What are their jobs (teachers or medical professions and I'd get the flu shot)? You don't mention older siblings but what about cousins? Friends kids?

More people die from the flu than from flu shots. Personally, that's enough for me.

Good luck!