Flu Shot for child in December??

[Chelle D]

I just called my pediatrician to schedule a flu shot for my 2.5 year old and the office said they are not scheduling them until after December 12! So I have a December 13th appointment. But is that too late for a flu shot? The scheduler at the office was less than helpful and sad it would be fine. I just think it should be earlier.

[clairea]

That is not too late. The sooner in the season you can get them, the better because then you will have protection for the entire flu season. However, whenever you get the shot it will still protect you for the remainder of the flu season (which I believe runs through about March). It is later than ideal, but it is sort of a case of "better late than never".

I know my former pediatrician's office actually split the appointments, and would give shots to all high-risk children first (usually during October and early November) and you couldn't get appointments for other children until after that. So I actually wound up going in twice - once right at the beginning of the season for my high-risk DS (asthma) and then mid-November for DD.

[BlueMoose]

What do you guys think about getting shots for kids who are 7 and 10? My kids have never had them before, but I'm wondering if they should.

[Jessica]

Chelle--We got my son's flu shot in December last year because he was born in June and you have to be six months to get the shot. The ped said he still would be protected for much of flu season and it definitely was worth it.

Not sure about older kids, BlueMoose.

[Robyn1007]

Here's a good site with the CDC's recommendations for flu shots. While the 7 and 10 year old are not considered high risk if they are healthy in general. I'm not considered high risk but would like to get one since I work with kids all winter long.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/flushot.htm

[valchemist]

What do you guys think about getting shots for kids who are 7 and 10? My kids have never had them before, but I'm wondering if they should.

our pediatrician told me (about my kindergartener) that if you are expecting a winter baby, your kids should definitely get flu shots because you want to avoid exposing the newborn to flu germs at all costs.

[TKay]

Dh and I as well as our kids (ages 6 and 7) all get flu shots every year. Dh works in health care and is adamant that we do whatever we can to stay healthy. I don't think December is too late. Sure, earlier would be better, but at least you've got protection for the rest of the season.
We have a friend (who also works in hospitals) who says she thinks flu shots are a crock. Her family doesn't get them. I don't get that. I believe in having as much protection as you can.
Good luck.

[sneezles]

We have a friend (who also works in hospitals) who says she thinks flu shots are a crock. Her family doesn't get them. I don't get that. I believe in having as much protection as you can.
Good luck.

While I don't think it's a crock I don't see the need for those of us who aren't high risk (and even though my age puts me at a greater risk now I'm not going to get the shot). I haven't had the flu in over 12 years so I have never had one. I worked around children most of those 12 years (school librarian). What I do believe is the shot is really a cr@p shoot since there is no way they can know exactly which strain will hit. If you're comfortable getting the shot that's fine but hose of us who aren't comfortable with it should be fine too.

[BlueMoose]

our pediatrician told me (about my kindergartener) that if you are expecting a winter baby, your kids should definitely get flu shots because you want to avoid exposing the newborn to flu germs at all costs.

Excellent point....I went ahead and made an appointment for Friday.

[BucknellAlum]

My son's middle school is offering the FluMist to all kids, with parental permission.

My pediatrician doesn't give it, but he said if DS is healthy he can have it. I opted against it, as it is a weakened live virus vaccine, plus he has no other health issues, and has never had a flu shot in the past.

I always wonder how many people truly get the flu each year. I know I hear people in the store or at school saying they have the flu, but it always seems to be a bad cold to me. I mean, the flu is supposed to hit you like a truck and knock you out for a week, right? I don't know why people who take one day off with a cold think they have to call it "the flu."

[615bride]

My DS's appt for the flu shot is Nov 29th so I don't think Dec is too late. Jan and Feb is the peak time for flu (or so I was told).

[Robyn1007]

I always wonder how many people truly get the flu each year. I know I hear people in the store or at school saying they have the flu, but it always seems to be a bad cold to me. I mean, the flu is supposed to hit you like a truck and knock you out for a week, right? I don't know why people who take one day off with a cold think they have to call it "the flu."

All of the info I've looked at only mention fever symptoms for 3-4 days but nothing about knocking a person out for a week. I'm pretty sure what I had in September was the flu as it knocked me out quickly (I could feel it progressing as I sat at work that morning) and knocked me out for a couple of days. Fortunately it hit on a Thursday so I took that afternoon and the next day off of work and even though I wouldn't have been perfect I would have gone back to work after that if it hadn't been a weekend. I did continue to come home and take 1.5 hour naps the entire next week so while you may not be able to tell just by looking at someone they may have it.

Here's a great site to check symptoms etc:

http://www.flufacts.com/about/cold.aspx

[TKay]

While I don't think it's a crock I don't see the need for those of us who aren't high risk (and even though my age puts me at a greater risk now I'm not going to get the shot). I haven't had the flu in over 12 years so I have never had one. I worked around children most of those 12 years (school librarian). What I do believe is the shot is really a cr@p shoot since there is no way they can know exactly which strain will hit. If you're comfortable getting the shot that's fine but hose of us who aren't comfortable with it should be fine too.

Oh, I didn't mean to be disrespectful to those who don't get the shots. If you are fine without one, that's great. For me, personally, I'd just rather boost my odds if I can. The funny part is that dh and our friend both work in hospitals and have such opposite opinions. She really does think flu shots are garbage and nobody should get them. Dh is adamant that we all get shots every year (in fact, he's concerned that the boys haven't had theirs yet). My sister works in the school system and very rarely gets sick. So who knows? You're right that the shots are sort of a cr@p shoot. I guess it's just a shot I'm willing to take. :)

[Kathy B]

I work in a hospital, too, and they highly encourage all of the employees to get one.....MAINLY because they don't want us to get the flu and pass it on to patients who are ALREADY in the hospital for other health problems. For some of them, getting the flu on top of what they already have going on could be fatal.

I had never really thought of it that way before, but not only does it help protect you, but it keeps you from being a possible source for those around you.

Our family (including DS and DD) will all get them this year. (DS already has).

[Beth Y]

My DD had the flu a couple of years ago and it put her out for about a week...fever, didn't eat, bad cough. It was horrible.

My 5 year old son has already had it this year, but as we caught it early, he was able to go on Tamiflu and the symptoms weren't too bad. Had fever about 4 days and some respiratory stuff, but not bad. They say Tamiflu reduces it by about 3 days.

No one else in the family got it, but three of us had had the flu shot and his twin sister was put on Tamiflu with him, as a preventative. They were both scheduled to get the flu shot the day after he came down with it.

Our pediatrician said that they are seeing it much earlier this year.