Flu Shots

Denise, my DD is sick right now too which has me worried about doing it! Poor boos!

My mom is a nurse and she even says she wouldn't give it unless they are completely healthy. I hope your baby feels better soon.

H got one at his 2 year checkup last week. Here's my question: We offered to pay for our nanny to have a flu shot and she said she "didn't feel comfortable" getting one (she is convinced that vaccines are bad, as best I can tell---she did not give any other reason for it.) I don't want to make her get a flu shot, but here's what bugs me. She lives with two friends, a married couple, who are also convinced that you "get sick from" the flu shot, so they aren't getting them, either. She takes care of their 9 mo. old baby in the evenings and on weekends, and she likes to take H over there to play. It's entirely possible that we'll have a newborn in the house as soon as next week. A newborn, of course, can't have a flu shot. Newborns are in the high risk category for death from influenza. If we end up w/ H's sister next week, should I insist on a shot (provided she has no medical reason not to take it?) I never thought to ask her when we hired her about vaccines, though I did ask if she was in generally good health, and she said she was---though she's been sick more than our previous nannies. Part II of the question: I am also now reluctant for H to spend a lot of time at her house, now that I know the whole household "doesn't believe in" vaccination. I understand that if H has been vaccinated, he's unlikely to get a disease, or at worst would only be mildly affected, and I also understand that not everyone he comes in contact w/ on a daily basis will be safe, but this feels like a risk I should be able to manage----am I off base here?

Boy, not sure. You are correct that the flu vaccine is to help make the flu not so bad if you get it. You have to feel comfortable with your decision though. Do you really like your nanny? Is she with H everyday or only a little bit during the week? I hear, but it seems to be said every year, that this year is supposed to be a bad flu season. Not much help but I would talk to her if you feel it is the right thing to do and get her input as to why. Good luck.

As a health care provider, misconceptions like this drive me nuts. The flu vaccine that is given as a shot is not a "live virus" vaccine (only the nasal mist vaccine is a weakened virus vaccine). You cannot get the flu from the shot. What some don't understand is that the vaccine is for one particular strain of the flu virus and one strain only. The decision on which strain to vaccinate against is made very early and can some times miss the mark of what virus is actually going around (hence the stories of "I got the flu shot but got the flu anyway). When I was single, I never got the flu shot. When I got married, I sometimes got the flu shot. Now that we have DD, I always get a flu shot. I really can't take care of her if I'm laid out on the couch with the flu.

hbv, i think you should use the new baby as "leverage"!!! i mean it's hard to try to "force" somene to get a vaccination, but I think you could explain that with the new baby coming, etc., you really need her to do it. re:: having H in the house with the 9 mo old...are you saying the parents haven't given the baby his/her shots? geez, I wouldn't really want DD in that situation either!

My daughter is in a high risk class because of her respiratory and immune issues, so we always get the flu shot - all of us. Her Dr. insists that our entire family get it to protect her from getting it. And Katie's ed-dad is exactly right - it's awfully difficult to care for a child(ren) when you are sick as a dog! Perhaps suggesting it that way might work? That's a tough call.

You are all coming up w/ exactly the same arguments I have already used on her----my mom was a nurse for more than 35 years, and all of these "get sick from the flu shot" things drive her (and me!) nuts also. She's w/ H 4 days a week. Recently I've discovered that she's spending more time than I'd really like at her house w/ H anyway (umm, if I wanted him to go somewhere else for the day, he'd be in a licensed daycare and I wouldn't be spending a fortune on a nanny!) Still, with things so in flux for the next few days with the possibility of the other baby, I'm reluctant to call her on the carpet right now. I think I am going to let it slide until we know on the other baby next week and then address several things w/ her, as we'll need to revamp the schedule and everything anyway if there's a change in the family. Thanks, everyone (and sorry about the hijacking, love!)

no problem, h! my SIL is my day care provider three days a week....one day when she was frustrated with J, she said, "I'm not a day care, you know?" and I'm like, "oh really, then why am I paying you?" it's so hard to try to "manage" the people who are so loving and good to your children but sometimes it's necessary!

I am also a healthcare provider and agree with the above arguments. My DD has not had a flu shot yet, but will probably get one soon at her 2 year old visit. I have gotten them sporadically while working in medicine, but will try to always get one so that I do not make DD or DH sick. Having had the flu a few years back and infecting DH and probably another friend (I got sick first and the others followed quickly) it was HORRIBLE. It took weeks to get over. Anyone with respiratory problems should be vaccinated since they are more at risk for the flu. JMO

Snaps, should I wait until DD is over her cold or just do it asap? (I'm worried her cold will never go away...all winter last year, she had this hacking cough). THANKS!

The general rule is that if kids are NOT sick with an active infection (ie. fever, on antibiotics, etc.) then they are OK to get the shot. The vaccine is NOT a live virus so it will not make you sick. I would check with your pediatrician though about the cough so they can at least listen to your child's lungs and make sure they are clear.

Thank you, Snaps!

Ii got the flu shot for my grandson every year from the time he was two (he is now five). We have a live-in babysitter and I told her I wanted her to take the shot and I would pay for it. She did not want to take it because her mother said "the flu shot makes you sick!" And she is high-risk anyway because she is diabetic. I said I could not make her get the shot, but if she didn't, she would have to go home to her mother if she got sick. I couldn't take care of her or let her stay in the same house with my grandson. She took the shot.

Our baby K just got the flu vacc. this past Thursday. At her age, it is given in two doses, so she will need to go for another one in a month. As a side note, two days later on Saturday, K had a fever, which has STILL lasted through today (Tuesday), although finally this afternoon no fever, then again tonight. The doctor saw her yesterday, and thinks it is a reaction to the Chicken Pox vacc., which she also got on Thurs., which is a live vacc. I didn't realize children this young could get the flu vacc., and at first I was hesitant, but then remembered how bad it is when I have it, and decided ok for her. HBV--I do know a few families who do not do vaccinations, including the children. People who have decided against them are pretty set on that, and I don't know if you can convince your nanny. I wouldn't be so worried about H since he is vaccinated, but I can see your concern about a new baby.