Would you let your child have the flu jab?

[User]

 

[summerdays]

One of my teenagers is sitting GCSE exams in the next few weeks/months.... so I would certainly consider it. Its not only their health that I would worry about but also passing it on to other members of our wider family some of whom have health issues (though they will probably have been offered the jab anyway).

Both of my teenagers are currently getting the new jab for teenage girls (its a 3 dose thing) so they are old enough to understand the idea of vaccination.

 

[Spinney]

As I understand it (tho' I haven't checked before posting this) - the normal flu season mainly kills off the elderly or others who have underlying health problems. The swine flu, on the other hand, is more often fatal to children and young adults - who were otherwise healthy before getting it.

If your kids have had doses of flu this year, there may be some immunity there. However as far as I know there is no risk associated with getting the jab, so I would get them vaccinated*. The momentary discomfort of a needle in the arm shouldn't weigh against protection against a potentially fatal illness (if that is what you meant - apologies if I have misinterpreted this bit).

The risk to others from carriers is not just about not them getting the current version of swine flu, but that the more there is of it about, the greater the chance of it mutating into something even nastier (I think!).

*as I haven't any kids, this is hypothetical, and you may think I am less qualified to offer an opinion...

 

[User169]

The Dept of Health here announced this week that all 6m to 4 year olds are to be vaccinated. I don't really have any problem with that.

A girl in my daughter's class was hospitalised this week with swine flu, so it is now coming somewhat close to home.

 

[Gromit]

Seeing how normal seasonal flue kills over sixty eight thousand a year and this swine flue thing has only effected a small proportion of the population, I don't think people with a very good immune system should worry about it. However if you have an underline medical problem you must go and get the vaccine.

 

[mad al]

Not sure really, but I always think of the folk who have had the "normal" flu jab and have ended up at death's door

I take a load of meds on a daily basis and am under no illusion as to what damage they do to my body. So with that in mind, what are the long term effects of any of these "jabs".

The swine flu jab is a difficult call, we saw our 9 year old ill over half term and even lost school on the 1st week back for the first time ever!!!!, but to be honest we never thought about the jab as we kept a very close watch on her 24/7 and she got better

 

[justAl]

No

 

[Norm]

No

 

[Saddle bum]

I've had it, no probs so far.

 

[rich p]

If we've got loads of vaccine over couldn't we flog it off at hugely inflated prices to poor countries?

Waddya mean we haven't got an Empire anymore, when did that happen?

 

[iacula]

I'm in a critical group on account of my Asthma, the swine flu jab delivery last week was only enough to vaccinate my local health centre's staff. So not sure where the excess doses are?

 

[Davidc]

My children are grown up now. If they weren't I'd be banging on the door at the doctors demanding a jab for them.

There are some very small risks from the vaccination. The risks from the flu itself massively exceed them.

I'm in 2 of the high risk groups myself so should get the vaccination on the NHS. I'll be first in the queue when the vaccine's offered. The balance of risks is less in favour of the vaccine because I'm older. The relative risks for me are ony about flu:vaccine = 2,500:1.

Edit: Oops. arithmetic error multiplying up the numbers in the article I took out of the bin to work out the risks....

 

[accountantpete]

Real flu is a nasty affair which can put you totally out of action for 3-4 days and make you feel weak for a considerable period after that. I think a lot of people mistake the usual winter colds for flu and imagine that it is nothing to worry about - I did until I got the real thing.

 

[Wigsie]

Real flu is a nasty affair which can put you totally out of action for 3-4 days and make you feel weak for a considerable period after that. I think a lot of people mistake the usual winter colds for flu and imagine that it is nothing to worry about - I did until I got the real thing.

My dad always said if you look out your window and see a £50 note on the lawn, if you get up and get it you have a cold if you don't you have the flu!

My kids are on their second wave of symptoms that match swine flu as I write and we got the tamiflu last time but they improved before we gave any to them so Mrs Wigs and I are stumped, although think they will get the jabs as soon as they return back to full fitness.

Mrs Wigs on the other hand being almost 12 weeks preggers she is on the list to get it, but we really don;t know then! maybe this is a different thread all together?

 

[Davidc]

Not according to the latest information. There may be no harm in giving the jab, but if you're less likely to be seriously ill than with seasonal flu, what's the point of sticking another needle in a fit and healthy 4-year-old?

That's the question with any medication given to a healthy person.

The decision's yours. Quite right too.

If I had to make the same decision I've said what I'd be doing and it would be different to yours.

One of the reasons would be today's information from the government website:

Most new cases in the last week have been among the under-one and one to four age groups.