2010 Flu Shots

My kids, have gotten the Flu shots every year.
My daughter, gets the nasal mist. My son got the shot.
I myself, get it because I have Asthma. And I got the H1N1 shot last year. My kids as well.
My Mom gets it because she is 'elderly.'
My Husband does not, because he does not believe in it. He has no health issues.

We all, have NEVER had any bad reactions from it or complications or side effects, nor from the H1N1 vaccination.
The Flu shot does not make you sick.

Because I have Asthma... when others are sick.. it can be VERY serious and critical for me. Totally incapacitating etc. Therefore, my kids also need to be vaccinated....

**ADDING THIS: by the way, per Karen N.: YES, "Pertussis" is in epidemic stages in parts of California. In my State, a baby died... because of it. AND because the parents, probably got the baby sick. In adults, Pertussis is not as serious nor even evident in symptoms. The majority of people/kids who get it, are not vaccinated. Booster shots are recommended for Adults/older children... because they can transfer the Pertussis to younger kids, elderly who are more prone to it and can suffer more severely from it.

all the best,
Susan

Not a chance!

None of us have ever gotten them except for my 6 y/o daughter, and she only gets it because she is asthmatic. This year none of us will get it simply because it comes with a "built-in" H1N1 component this year. I am not convinced on the safety and/or effecacy of that. It came on entirely too fast and there was suddenly a vaccine for it available nationwide. Call me suspicious or what have you, but I just don't trust it. Who knows what the long-term effects are with that vaccine and its not a chance I'm willing to take with my family. We practice good hygeine and handwashing and have had (knock on wood) 7 flu-free years in my home :)

yes, yes and because my pediatrician and my PCP have had long discussions and they recommend it and I agree that better to be vacinated than get sick. My husband gets it as part of his job as a police officer...if he didn't the PCP would give it to him as he is type 1 diabetic.

Are you getting O.? Yes.

Are you getting O. for your child(ren)? Yes. We will have a newborn in the house in a few weeks and it would be absolutely irresponsible as a mother if I did not do everything I could to protect the baby against exposure to the flu... and the best way to guard her will be to make sure those around her fully vaccinated.

Hey y'all: In regard to vaccines, I will also add the flu is not the only thing to worry about this season... My 4 yo daughter came home with Pertussis (bacterial whooping cough) last week. Since then, I've gotten 'educated'... Many states across the U.S. are having Pertussis out-breaks. (If you weren't aware of this, Pertussis is treated very seriously. If someone in your household gets it, the health department gets notified.) Even though the DTaP vaccine (or TDaP for adults) will not totally protect against Pertussis, if you do get it, you should get a milder version if you've had the booster. Adults are being urged to get re-vaccinated; please consider it if you haven't had a TDaP booster since you were 12/14 years old. Infants are extremely at risk because they won't cough; they'll just suffocate without the normal symptoms.

ALWAYS. We don't miss our flu shots. Even if you have a strong immune system and rarely get sick, you could be a carrier and infect someone with a compromised immune system -- such as a person going through chemo.

Therefore, I see flu shots as not just a means of keeping healthy (I haven't had a case of the flu, or even a cold since I've been getting them), but as a way of being a good citizen by helping to keep other people healthy, too.

Yes
Yes
Because the flu stinks, and some people die.

From the CDC:

What 2010-11 seasonal influenza (flu) vaccines will be available for children and adults in the United States?
There are two types of seasonal influenza vaccines for children and adults: the trivalent inactivated vaccine (TIV) (the flu shot) and the live attenuated vaccine (nasal spray)

The following vaccines will be available for children and adults this season:

Vaccine Trade name Manufacturer Age group
TIV Fluzone sanofi pasteur >6 mos
TIV Fluvirin Novartis Vaccine >4 yrs
TIV Agriflu Novartis Vaccine >18 yrs
TIV Fluarix GlaxosmithKline >3 yrs
TIV FluLaval ID Biomedical Corp. of Quebec, a subsidiary of GlaxoSmithKine >18 yrs
TIV Afluria* CSL Biotherapies >9 yrs
TIV High Dose Fluzone High Dose sanofi pasteur >65 yrs
LAIV FluMist MedImmune 2–49 yrs

*However, if no other age-appropriate, licensed inactivated seasonal influenza vaccine is available for a child aged 5 years through 8 years old who has a medical condition that increases their risk for influenza complications; providers may use Afluria. However, providers should discuss the benefits and risks of influenza vaccination with the parents or caregivers before administering Afluria.

A more detailed table is available on CDC’s website.

What was the experience in 2010 in the Southern Hemisphere when using flu vaccines made by CSL Biotherapies?
Australia and New Zealand are the only two Southern Hemisphere countries to use CSL Biotherapies seasonal flu vaccine during the 2010 flu season. During the 2010 flu season in Australia, administration of seasonal flu vaccine manufactured by CSL Biotherapies (brand names Fluvax and Fluvax Junior) was associated with increased frequency of fever and febrile seizures in children aged 6 months through 4 years old. In Australia, fever in children aged 5 through 8 years has also been reported following vaccination with Fluvax.

Extensive investigations by Australian authorities have indicated that administration of CSL flu vaccine in 2010 was associated with fevers and febrile seizures in young children in the 4-24 hours following vaccination at higher rates than was observed with seasonal flu vaccine during previous years in Australia. On April 23, 2010, seasonal flu vaccination of otherwise healthy children 5 years and younger was suspended in Australia by the Chief Medical Officer. Similarly, following reports of febrile seizures, the New Zealand Ministry of Health recommended against use of CSL Fluvax for children less than 5 years. In addition, there have been increased reports of fever in children aged 5 years through 8 years after Fluvax or Fluvax Jr in 2010 compared to the previous three flu seasons. To date, despite extensive investigations, no cause has been identified to explain these findings.

While data are limited, no increase in fever or febrile seizures has been reported to date among children administered other flu vaccines during the 2010 flu season in the Southern Hemisphere. On July 30, 2010, vaccination of children less than 5 years was allowed to resume in Australia using flu vaccines other than the CSL flu vaccines.

In several studies conducted in flu seasons prior to 2010-11 in the United States, no association between flu vaccine administration and febrile seizures has been detected. Afluria was approved for use in adults 18 years and older in 2007, and subsequently, approved for use in children age 6 months and older in November 2009. Thus Afluria has not been widely used for pediatric vaccination of U.S. children.

Are CSL flu vaccines licensed for use in the United States?
The seasonal CSL flu vaccine, marketed in the United States under the brand name Afluria, is approved by FDA for use in people aged 6 months and older in the United States. However, on July 30, 2010, information was added to the Warnings and Precautions section of the Afluria package insert to inform U.S. healthcare practitioners that administration of CSL’s 2010 Southern Hemisphere flu vaccine has been associated with an increased number of reports compared to previous years of fever and febrile seizures following influenza vaccination in children aged predominantly less than 5 years.

What does CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommend regarding use of Afluria?
ACIP recommends:

Afluria should not be used in children aged 6 months through 8 years.
Other age-appropriate, licensed seasonal influenza vaccine formulations should be used for prevention of influenza in children aged 6 months through 8 years.
If no other age-appropriate, licensed seasonal influenza vaccine is available for a child aged 5 years through 8 years old who has a medical condition that increases their risk for influenza complications, Afluria may be given, and providers should discuss the benefits and risks of influenza vaccination with the parents or caregivers before administering Afluria.
What are CDC and FDA doing about this situation?
For the 2010-11 flu season, CDC and FDA will conduct enhanced vaccine safety monitoring for flu vaccines to monitor for new or unexpected adverse events. CDC and FDA will closely monitor for seizures after flu vaccination using existing vaccine safety data systems, including the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) Project. VAERS reports following 2010-11 flu vaccinations will be regularly reviewed with special attention to reports of febrile seizures in children aged less than 10 years. Medical personnel at CDC and FDA will routinely review submitted VAERS reports and obtain any needed additional clinical or other information for reports of febrile seizures or other serious adverse events following administration of 2010-11 seasonal flu vaccine. The VSD will be used for rapid ongoing analyses to monitor for serious adverse events following seasonal flu vaccine including seizures in young children. VSD is also available to evaluate possible associations suggested by VAERS or other sources as needed.

Investigations into the cause(s) of fever and febrile seizures following vaccination with CSL flu vaccines are ongoing. FDA and CDC are collaborating with Australia’s regulatory authority (Therapeutic Goods Administration), other international regulatory counterparts, and CSL to obtain additional information.

What is a febrile seizure?
"Febrile" means "relating to a fever." In some young children aged less than 5 years old, having a fever from any cause can bring on a seizure. During a febrile seizure, a child often has spasms or jerking movements—large or small—and may lose consciousness. Febrile seizures usually last only a minute or two, and do not cause any permanent neurological damage. They are most common with fevers reaching 102°F (38.9°C) or higher but can also occur at lower temperatures or when a fever is going back down.

What kinds of things can cause febrile seizures?
Febrile seizures can happen with any condition that causes a fever, including typical childhood illnesses like a cold, the flu, an ear infection, or roseola.

Is there an increased risk for febrile seizures after children receive a flu vaccine?
Several studies of children in the United States have shown no increased risk for febrile seizures following seasonal flu vaccines. O. study included more than 45,000 children aged 6 months–23 months who received influenza vaccines during the years 1991–2003. Multiple systems are in place to monitor adverse events, including seizures, after seasonal flu vaccines. There is no indication that seasonal flu vaccines or the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccines used in the United States during the 2009-10 flu season were associated with an increased risk for febrile seizures. Febrile seizures can occur, however, when a child is sick with an influenza (flu) virus infection.

How serious is a febrile seizure?
Most children who have febrile seizures recover quickly and have no lasting effects. However, febrile seizures often result in a visit to an emergency room and can be very frightening for parents and caregivers.

About 1 in 3 children who have O. febrile seizure will have at least O. more febrile seizure. Most children (greater than 90%) who have a seizure will not develop epilepsy. Genetic predisposition and other factors, such as cerebral palsy, delayed development, or other neurological abnormalities, increase a child’s risk for developing epilepsy after a febrile seizure.

I'm a parent or care giver of a child under 9 years. How can I be certain that flu vaccines are safe?
There are other seasonal flu vaccines available for children under 9 years in the United States for the 2010-11 flu season. No seasonal flu vaccines other than the CSL TIV used in the Southern Hemisphere have been found to increase the risk of a febrile seizure. In addition, no increased risk of febrile seizures was found after vaccination with the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine. Flu vaccines have a long track record for safety. Vaccines, as with any medicines, carry some risks. The main adverse event associated with the seasonal flu vaccine is soreness at the injection site. See the Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) for seasonal influenza vaccine [51 KB, 2 pg]. Parents should speak with their child’s healthcare provider about any concerns they have about flu vaccines for their children.

No, I won't be getting it and would never give it to my children for sure. My doctor won't even give it to her children. There has not been enough long term testing done on these, they come out with a new O. every year and use the population as guinea pigs. A lot of people get very sick from receiving the shot.
I try to feed my children healthy food and give them a vitamin C supplement when a cold/flu is going around. We all stay very healthy. In the off chance that someone in our home does get the flu, we handle it the same way people have been handling it for years. Keep the fever down, lots of fluids. Its not fun, but certainly not worth the risk of the flu shot.

No, neither I or my child will get the flu vaccine. I have never received it due to an egg allergy, I also read the reports every year as to what strain is in the vaccine and then what strain comes out during flu season. They almost always get it wrong. I also don't think there was or has been enough research with H1N1. Many women in the early stages of pregnancy that received the H1N1 last year miscarried within days of receiving it that's a major red flag to me. We have no health issues to put us in a high risk category. My husband will be getting it but that's his choice. His work environment warrants it. My mother used to get it every year and she always would get the flu. And severly that has on more than O. occassion put her in the hospital. She now does not get it and hasn't had the flu since.

No and no.

Kids are 5 and 8. We've never gotten them. I did once approx. 17 years ago - got very sick from it, haven't had O. since.

My kids get a bug at least once a year, it lasts 24hrs at the most. I make sure they are hydrated and get rest and they always recover. They also eat a diet rich in veggies and fruits. Very little processed food & sugar, what they do eat processed is gluten free & as healthy as possible - except @ Birthday parties and similar. In my opinion, they have strong immune systems. They get over stuff very quickly. I don't know - I guess if it ain't broke why fix it? :-) I'll go and knock on some wood now, just in case.
M.

Absolutely Yes
Absolutely Yes

I work in a high school with 3000 students and about 500 employees. My children both go to daycare. My younger son is 9 months old. We all hang out in germ factories all day long, and I'm not interested in either of my kids winding up in the hospital due to the flu or h1n1.

I'm also pretty sure there are some parents who send their non-flu-vaccinated-yet-drippy-nose-coughing-just-vomited-this-morning-but-sent-them-in-anyway kids to interact and spread their germs to everyone else.

**ADDED** Just recently the CDC, the AMA, and March of Dimes recommended that all pregnant women receive the flu shot. It was noted that last season only 1% of all pregnant women received the flu shot, yet 5% of all pregnant women were significantly affected by the flu.

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YES YES YES! Children (and adults as well) can die from the flu and I will not take any chances. My children get EVERY vaccination recommended, and always will. Vaccines save WAY more lives than any complication that could occur. I also insist that my kids grandparents all get vaccinated or I will not bring my kids around until after flu season. My kids have both had breathing problems and the flu could easily turn life threatening.

I will be getting O. for me, my husband, and my 2.5 year old son. My daughter won't be old enough until half way through the season, and she will get O. then. I would rather have it and not need it than get the flu. I have asthma and have been getting flu shots for about 10 years or so. With a chance that my kids develop asthma too, it is not worth the risk to their health or their lives. No matter what others say.

No, I'm not and I'm not getting O. for my girls either. My reasoning is not a good O.. Just because, kids get sick. I make sure my girls dont share drinks with ANYONE. and they wash their hands. They have (knock wood) never had the flu, but they have gotten colds. And they nor I have ever gotten a flu shot.

Yes. All 5 of us get the flu shot every year. I just think its a good idea. My two older kids attend public school and my daughter attends nursery school. They are exposed to lots of germs so anything to prevent them from getting sick is good with me.

I will likely get O. (if I can remember to before they run out) because my immune system is stills slightly compromised from chemo.

Here's a site from the CDC regarding what they're expecting for the flu season, who should be receiving the vaccine, and other relevant information:
http://www.flu.gov/

Yes, for our whole family.
My great grandmother died in the Spanish Flu of 1918 leaving 6 kids without a mother (my grandmother at the time was the oldest at 12 yrs old). Her dying words to the eldest was to try to keep the family together, but they were all adopted out across Pennsylvania and New York.
It's not worth having a loved O. die over this, and people do still die of the flu.
Some of these children (see flu stories) were not vaccinated, and they died:
http://shotbyshot.org/story-gallery
Burying a child is something I never want to learn about first hand.

No, we are not getting O., and never will. I vaccinate my kids, I am going to be sure to protect them from what I can, but we have never gotten the flu shots and have never gotten the flu.

No I'm not getting O.. My children aren't either. The kids get enough vaccines without adding O. that's hit or miss as far as the strain that actually makes rounds this flu season. In 12/2004 my 2 youngest (2 & 4) had the flu. They had the fever for 5 days and then were fine. In 2/2005 our 2 oldest (5 & 7) had the flu. Same thing, fever for 5 days and then fine. Once school starts we take the kids to the chiropractor 1x/week and make sure they get plenty of vit C, eat healthy and get plenty of fresh air (they get enough recycled air throughout the school day). A new pediatrician just started at our practice and when I told him we won't get the flu shot when he offered it said under his breath 'I'll pray for you'...we won't be seeing him again. In fact the head of our practice even said that he most likely won't get the flu shot in any given year. Nobody in our family has any health issues and it's good to build immunity to various illnesses the natural way. We do vaccinate our kids but forgo the flu shots.

Absolutely for me and my kids. I have spent a lot of time researching it and other vaccines over the past two years. The shot doesn't come without risks (although minor) but neither does skipping it.

My boys have lung issues, O. has had a lot more than the others, but we have been in the hospital too many times where he was very seriously ill and struggling to breathe.

It is a personal decision for everyone but while I respect some choose not to, I expect the same respect that for our family it is a lot riskier to skip it and if he would get it and, God forbid die, I would always wonder if that O. step I could have taken would have made a difference for him.

Good luck figuring out what you should do in your own family.

Yep, I will be getting O., I'm 12 weeks pregnant. My husband will most likely get O. as well, and we will vaccinate my almost 3 yo son also.

The current CDC reccomendations are:
Who Should Get Vaccinated
On February 24, 2010 vaccine experts voted that everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine each year starting with the 2010-2011 influenza season. CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted for "universal" flu vaccination in the U.S. to expand protection against the flu to more people.

While everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season, it’s especially important that the following groups get vaccinated either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications.
Pregnant women
Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
People 50 years of age and older
People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:

1. Health care workers
2. Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
3. Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

No and NO. I would never take the flu shot. This year they are talking about adding the H1N1 to the flu vac. That vaccine as not gone throght any long term testing yet. I work in the medical field and almost everyone I work with has refused the flu vaccine. Infact, I do not know anyone that I work with who took the H1N1 last year.

http://www.mercola.com/Downloads/Swine-Flu-Posters.htm

Absolutely not. There is no way anyone is putting that in my (esp since I'm pregnant!) or my child's body. Viruses in shots need something to survive on and guess what they eat while they are in those tubes waiting to be injected? Many of them feast on aborted fetal tissue! That is also being injected into you along with all the other junk. Check out this link:
http://www.cogforlife.org/fetalvaccines.htm

BTW: None of us has had the flu in years and we never get them. We and our child also get sick much less often than most people. Did you know that 6 illnesses is now the average per year for kids? It used to be 2...HMMMMM........That is NOT proof that we need more pharma, my friend! Changes to inactivity and crummy food in people's lifestyles have made them more prone to disease. In my opinion, a "magic shot" is not the answer-just a dangerous and false sense of security. Take a Vitamin D w/ probiotics supplement--go to www.homefirst.com for more info--and get lots of fresh air and some exercise and you'll be just fine.

Good for you for asking intelligent questions! Blessings!

I don't and don't for my kids. I think we are way over vaccinated. You can get the shot and still get O. the other 50 strains of flu out there. Just my opinion though!

I used to never get myself or my kids their flu shots but when 2 out of my 3 kids caught swine flu last year, I'll definitely be getting them this year, and mine too. My O. child who did not catch swine last year, was vaccinated against it. My OB just told me yesterday that the flu shots this year already have swine mixed in them so it's only O. shot this year.

I can't get O. due to a mild egg allergy, but my daughter will get her Influenza shot and not the H1N1. They are combining them this year, but I spoke with a doctor friend who told me you can request the separate shots. I didn't vaccinate her against H1N1 last year because it was such a new, untested vaccine and she was already getting her regular flu shot for the first time and I didn't want her to have 2 different doses of 2 different shots. This year, I will refuse the H1N1 vaccine again because they are seeing some neurologic effects from last year's vaccine, they had issues with vaccines being recalled for ineffectiveness after they had been given, there were issues with the dosages being incorrect and I still feel it's too new and not tested enough for me to expose my child to it.

No
and
NO

I have never gotten a flu shot and neither has any of my kids and we have not had the flu. In fact, my kids have not thrown up since they were babies. My daughter had perfect attendance at school until last year when she missed 2 days for a sinus infection. Maybe it's our liquid vitamins we all take. Check them out at http://www.YummyLiquidVitamins.com Good luck.

yes and yes. me and my son need protected,he had alot of lung related issues last year.

My boys always get O. and so don't the rest of us in the family. My oldest has asthma and just a cold can be bad for him so if I can help prevent him from getting it I will.
edit: those that are crabbing about the h1n1 being in it this year because last year it was "new" and not tested. You do all realize the flu shot is "new" every year? and h1n1 was made the exact same way as the regular seasonal flu shot and that strain would have been included in the shot last year if it had been seen before the flu shots were already in production.

Yes, and yes. I guess because generally I do believe that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And because although it's not perfect, it is the best we have and I want the best we have for my kid.

I am high risk with asthma, so getting a serious flu could mean hospitalization and at worst death. As a single mom, those don't seem like good things. :-)

Not getting O.... I rarely get the flu anyway.
My child is not ever going to be vaccinated if I have anything to do with it.
I've heard too many horror stories of vaccines gone wrong. Lack of testing is another reason as well as inaccuracy of which strain is 'coming'. Tons of added ingredients would be another. In addition, my gut says no, and up until now, my gut has never led me wrong.
I am a proud No-Vaccine Mom for these few reasons and so much more.

If you are really worried, be sure that you all take in a quality source of Vitamin D3 daily, especially during flu season. You can even request a test from your doctor to check your D3 levels. A wonderful product to try (got the flu while pregnant after years of avoiding it, and this pulled me out within a few days) is D3 Serum made by Premier Research Labs. Their website is www.healthline.cc. Also, Mercola.com will offer tons of wonderful information avoiding the flu and facts behind the flu vaccines.

We will NOT be getting the "flu" shot. We have never done this. Yes, everyone gets sick at different times throught the winter. Then, not suprisingly, we recover. None of us (kids or parents) have been medicated for an illness yet. We are not genetic freaks who never get sick, we simply follow doctors advice for viral flus and our bodies heal in 3 to 14 days all by itself. Go figure! Almost every single person I have talked to whose family recieved the flu shot has gotten the flu within 2 weeks of the shot. The doctor will always say coincidence. I disagree. Flu shots do contain mercury, that fact is not denied. There are other toxic substances in the shots, too. But hey, why not pump that right into your sweet little babies body? Beats a snotty nose, right?
Denise, I don't mean to sound argumentative towards you. It is a good question and a hot topic for me. Good luck making the right choice for your family!

Yes to both questions. My husband will get O. too.

My daughter and I both have chronic illnesses and our specialist suggest that we get O. along with anyone who is a caregiver to our daughter.

Unfortunately, others chose not to vaccinate. If my daughter were to catch the flu from any of those children at school it could cause major damage to her lungs.

I am getting O.. My children will be getting them as well. You know a bit about my son's medical history. His oncologists recommeded that he and everyone else in the family get flu shots to help protect him (in theory keeping us from getting the flu and passing it on to him). We were told not to give him any of the other vaccines he was due for while he was going through active treatment but the flu shot was strongly suggested.

no and no, Have you ever checked the ingredients list? I would never give it. They are not helping anyone. They are just destroying our bodies.

I am not getting O.. Why not? The last time I had a flu shot in 1998, I got the flu. I have not had the flu since. I would get O. for my child if they are in a day care setting or in school. We did not have flu shots last year and no O. got the flu. I dealt with bronchitis and ear infections but not the flu. Sometimes there are different types of flu's and the shot may not be the O. that is going around. While it helps against the flu virus it does not mean that you will not get a mild case of it from the shot itself or if you are around someone who has the flu.

I had influenza once and since then we are all getting the shot except hubby, he is in the National Guard Reserve and they get the nasal mist.

Yes. Yes.

Why?

-- Because influenza kills 36,000 Americans each year, on average. 36,000. That is O. 9/11 attack each month. And I don't want me, my child, or anyone to whom we might pass the flu onto to be O. of those people.

--Because influenza causes 75 MILLION missed work days each year in America.

-- Because there are people who can't take the flu shot (because they are allergic to eggs, under 6 month of age, have had Guillian-Barre syndrome, or other serious reaction to the flu shot) and therefore rely on herd immunity to keep them from getting sick.

--Because you CAN NOT get influenza from the vaccine. All influenza vaccines in the US use killed viruses, and have for 15+ years. You CAN get influenza if you wait too long to get the vaccine or because the vaccine is not 100% effective, but you CAN NOT get it FROM the vaccine.

-- Because there are thimerisal-free influenza vaccines available. You just have to ask to make sure you are getting O..

-- Because I can't afford to take a week off of work if my son gets sick. Or if I do.

--Because I don't want my child to suffer the misery that is the flu. And I don't want to have to either, and there is an inexpensive, reasonably safe way to avoid it.

--Because there are no guarantees in life, simply the weighing of risks.

--Because I have a Doctorate of Public Health.

The times I got the flu shot, (back in the day before I researched vaccines), I always ended up with the flu. Now I have kids and have learned a lot about these things. I choose to boost my children's immune systems naturally and opt out on the shots. Check out Super Immunity for Kids by Dr. Leo Galland...easy, healthy ways to boost immunities thru essential fatty acids in their diet. My toddler is never sick, even her pedi is amazed. Here's a link for the book on Amazon...
http://www.amazon.com/Superimmunity-Kids-Children-Healthy...

Also, before getting the vaccine, check out this 60 Minutes story from 1976 concerning the swine flu vaccine the government scared people into getting back then. Don't take anyone's word for anything these days, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH, especially when it concerns your children's health!! A link for the video clip..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpLF5UwUDoo

Are you getting O.? No
Are you getting O. for your child(ren)? No
If so, why and if not, why not? I have heard of some really bad vaccine injuries to this and other vaccines. Plus I don't like the thought of putting a live virus and God only knows what else they put in with it into mine and my kids bodies.

Oh and by the way, I have had the flue vaccine in the past and have gotten sick.

Nope. We don't do vaccines at all. Reasons? Don't trust them. In the past they have made mistakes and some people/children have paid a price for it. I'm just not willing to risk myself or my family. Most problems arise from a flu virus that moves on to a secondary infection like pneumonia and is not properly treated. That goes for most all other diseases that are vaccinated against as well. Glad to know that I have a choice in the matter ")
We keep ourselves on a daily dose of vitamin D3 for the past two years. So far we've been healthy.
Best Regards,
C.

I'm pregnant and am getting O.. I will also get O. for my toddler son. We got flu shots last year as well as H1N1 shots. We got colds last year, but not the flu.

Some facts:

-You can get flu shots without Thimerosal (mercury).

-Flu shots are a kind of prediction. Some years there are flu viruses floating around that are not covered by the flu shot given that year. You can generally count on a 75% chance of not getting the flu in a year you get a flu shot. In the three years that I have been getting the flu shot, O. year I got the flu. It happens. I would rather go to my local drug store for a 10 minute stop, get the flu shot and get that 75% chance of coverage, than to spend a week feeling awful with a flu that could have been prevented. Also, there is evidence that protecting against some strains helps lessen the duration and the strength of the effects of other flu strains.

I'll get O. for my daughter (18 months), but my husband and I probably won't get O.. My husband, just because he'll say he doesn't have time. Personally, my exposure risk is limited being a stay at home mom. My daughter will be in a mother's day out program and her risk is greater.

We've all had our flu shots. This year I felt pretty bad the day after. So did my kids. I have some large swollen lymph nodes in the arm that got the shot and I had chills yesterday. My sister had same side effects. My kids are very grouchy today too. Anyone else have more 'side effects' to this years shot?

I have been debating on whether to do it as i have a baby who will be 6 months in december and a 2 year old. I have heard many bad things and this article about what is happening with the vaccine in Austrailia (giving kids seizures so that they have now banned the flu vaccine there, yet they are planning on giving the exact same vaccine to the USA.) has pretty much helped me make the decision on not doing it.
http://www.naturalnews.com/029586_Australia_vaccines.html

I've never had the flu vaccine myself and I've never gotten it for my kids either but this year is different. My 4 yr old started a pre-kindergarten program and even the first week of school, I noticed a couple of kids being dropped off with snotty noses or coughs. I can only imagine how things will look as we get into the flu season. Because younger children are more susceptible to having serious side effects if they get the flu and our potential exposure has been increased, I decided to have both of my boys vaccinated for it this year. I'll probably be getting O. this year too.

if it is not combined with H1N1 then yes for me and my kids (not the flu mikst just the shot).
reason: my kids' school has stopped using cleaning supplies, instead they are going for water and vinegar. i don't believe in it being as good as let's say lysol, so i have to get them the flu shot.
also, flu shot does not guarantee not getting the flu. two years ago we had it and a few months later we got the flu.
flumist: it's a live virus, a lot of people who have gotten it, have ended up getting the flu.

I am not getting O..
*I have only had 1 flu shot, and it was ineffective due to me already being exposed to the flu before I received the shot. I realized I can do without it, someone else is in need of it more then me. For a few years, the flu shots were denied to people in my category (under 50 and pretty healthy) due to a short supply of the vaccine.
My child will be getting O..
*My child is young and does not have a fully developed immune system, and I want her to be protected (I do not give her the H1N1).

You can request a solo flu vaccine without the H1N1. I also worked in the medical field and all my contacts refuse the H1N1, but gladly accept the regular flu vaccine.

I generally don't and wouldn't but the my job is now making it mandatory...I am an RN, I have a history of Guillian Barre and could be excluded but then would have to wear a surgical mask at work any time I am there, which I find unbearable for any length of time...

I will not get them for my children and my husband does not get O. either. I agree alot with Susan B and the other mother's statements against it.

I never used to get flu shots, but started once I got pregnant. I get O. free at work (I'm in a medical center). My 16 month old just got his first dose a few weeks ago adn is getting the second O. next week. He is in daycare and has been getting sick with colds frequently, and he had a febrile seized the last time he ran a high fever. So I will do anything I can to minimize risk of the flu and risk of high fevers. Also, as many already mentioned, the pediatric shot comes without the themarisol.