My baby is 1 years old, and I'm having mixed emotions about the flu shot. Should I get it for her, or not?

Answer 1

Yes, you should get the flu shot, especially if your baby is in day care, so she's exposed to lots of other (potentially sick) babies.

Babies under 2 are at high risk for serious complications if they actually get the flu, and are likely to have to be hospitalized. That's WAY worse than anything reasonably likely to happen from an immunization. PLEASE IGNORE the person who told you to listen to "dr google" on immunizations instead of your actually medically trained doctor.

Answer 2

A flu shot cannot cause a flu. It can indeed have side effects, and getting it doesn't entirely prevent you from subsequently developing a flu, and a nasal spray vaccine, rather than a shot, can, theoretically, cause a flu in particularly susceptible individuals. But it is not even theoretically possible for a flu shot itself to give you the flu. I sense the some sampling bias in others' observations. First, the population targeted for receiving flu shots is that which is already most vulnerable to getting sick (i.e. "at-risk population"). Second, it's likely that with most people you know, you don't actually know for sure whether they've had a flu vaccine or not; it's only when they get sick in spite of having received a flu shot that this gets brought to your attention. Finally, most influenza-like illnesses are not caused by actual influenza viruses. Lunaria, pneumonia can't spring up only two days after exposure to the flu unless it was caused by something else. The incubation period, first of flu, then pneumonia, would have to be considerably longer than that. If you're talking about a flu shot for seasonal flu, whether she gets it or not, she's still quite likely to get a flu this year, swine flu. To protect against swine flu, she would need to get an H1N1 nasal spray vaccine (unless she's already had that, or if she has certain medical conditions, in which case she should get a n H1N1 shot vaccine instead, or if she has an allergy to chicken eggs, in which case she shouldn't receive any flu vaccines).

Answer 3

I debated whether or not to get it for my 8-month old. My pediatrician was recommending flu shots for kids under 2, and I know that the flu is more dangerous for the really young and really old. I had him get the shot because he has young school-aged siblings who are likely to bring things home. But if he were an only child (and not in daycare) I probably wouldn't have gotten him the shot. He did seem a little wiped out a couple of days after the shot.

Answer 4

I am the most anal of parents, and I research everythign before I do it. My doctor is the same way. She is a mom of 3 little ones, and we talk A LOT about these vaccine issues. She assures me that it is way better to get the shot, and that she did for her own kids, even her 7 month old. I totally trust her. She isn't a doctor who just goes with the flow - she is interested in research, and data, and new information all the time. She tells me about sitting in a pediatric ward waitng thorugh the night to see if a patient will make it to the morning, and how horrible it is to watch a child die of something that there is a vaccine for. That goes for all the vaccines, not just flu. So, my son had all his vaccines upon her recommendation, which I trust.

Answer 5

My dear i understand completely how you feel when my son was 1yrs i went threw the same problem, i consulted my sons doctor asked them what would be best and ofcourse they say you have to get the shot but i wanted to know for sure so i went to the best source my family and asked what they thought. And well i got my answer yes it is good to get so that when your child does get the flu it isnt as harsh to them, and i understand they have to build up there system. so if i were to get my child the flu shot i would wait til they are 2yrs so that they have a year to work on the immune system and you also have that year to work on feeling comfortable enough with taking your child to get the shot.

Answer 6

The academy of pediatrics recommends the flu shot for little ones. A bad flu can be deadly for babies. I am getting the shot for my son.

Answer 7

Definitely get it. If she gets the flu at 1 she has a good chance of having to get hospitalized! The good totally out weighs the bad!

Answer 8

Yes i would definatley get it..... it will do more good than harm and besides when they are that little and if they get a bad flu they could end up in the hospital...you don't want to go through that i say get it...

Answer 9

get it... the flu could lead to RSV and RSV kills. I had the same mixed emotions.. but trust me it is well worth it!

Answer 10

ABSOLUTELY NOT! Please do your daughter a favor and do a google search on immunizations.

By suggesting you do a google search, I'm encouraging you to find the answers for yourself. We are a country filled with people who elevate doctors to god-like status. They make mistakes. A lot. Look up the info for yourself and you will be surprised. People tend to just do whatever their doctor tells them to do...they figure he/she is soooo much smarter. Not necessarily true.