The CDC recommends that children and teens should start getting their flu vaccine in September, or as soon as the flu vaccine becomes available, so many kids have started getting flu shots already.
That's great as we prepare for this year's flu season, but parents should remember that they do have more options this year, even as experts recommend that all children get vaccinated against the flu. That option is between a flu shot and FluMist - the nasal spray flu vaccine.
FluMist isn't for every child, but it is a good option to consider in getting your child vaccinated against the flu if he is older than age 2 and doesn't have any health problems. Learn about the differences between FluMist and flu shots to help you figure out which one to get your child this year.
Related:
Preparing for Flu Season
FluMist
Flu Shot Reactions
Cold Symptoms
Just curious, what are the reasons why a child younger than 2 can’t receive FluMist? Is it that the new vaccine form hasn’t been studied in that age group yet, or that it was studied, and found to be not as safe with this age?
Toddler-
As my pediatrician explained to me, children under 2’s immune system is not as well developed. Although the FluMist is a weakened virus in certain subsets of the community – those with weak immune systems – could potentially get sick.
It’s considered safer for them to get the shot as the shot contains dead virus only – i.e. it doesn’t matter how weak your immune system might be there is no way it can make you ill.
Hope that helps but as always talk to you pediatrician.
Per the studies performed and documented in their link –
For children under 2 years of age there was an increase in both hospitalizations and significant wheezing compared to children under 2 who recieved teh normal flu shot.
DONT USE EITHER!!!!
From what I’ve seen and read, flu mist puts the live virus into you and also injects 2 different packets of dna for the bird flu.
People who don’t use vaccines are healthier.
I don’t want you to believe me, go look it up for yourself.
Google Colloidal Silver
http://www.invive.com/index_orig.html that is the one that people say is most effective
don’t trust anyone, investigate EVERYTHING.
Give your child vaccine = sick child
Don’t give your child vaccine = healthy child
Look it up for yourself. Make sure the doctors telling you that it’s safe for your child aren’t making any money off of the vaccines. Please, research this people! Question what is forced into yours and your children’s body.
I agree with all of you saying you’re better off if you do not get the shot, but the problem is that I work in a hospital and NYS DOH just made it mandatory for all health care workers to get vaccinated. I’m looking for information on the FluMist vs. Flu Shot because I do not handle shots very well at all. I didn’t plan on EVER getting a flu shot because I’ve never had the flu but everyone I know who’s ever gotten the shot has gotten sick… But this year the rules have changed. No one’s happy about it here, and I’ve considered getting a different job, not centered around health care. That’s unrealistic, however, so I need as much information on the FluMist as possible so I can present it to our hospital’s Employee Health for consideration.
Are you kidding about the whole no vaccine? Do you realize how many lives are lossed each year as a result of getting the flu. Imagine what the numbers would be without a vaccine. Modern medicine is a blessing not a curse. Protect yourself and your loved ones.
OK–I am a mom of two and they have had all vaccines since birth–MMR-flu shots–you name it -they are the healthiest kids ever-my son aged 10-never been to a hospital–scored top 7% in the nation on school tests, my daughter is 7-she has been so healthy-gets one mild cold a year -my kids are athletic smart and strong–Vaccines are good!!!! people who don’t vaccinate are nuts–give up electricity too -that is a modern invetion as well –as long as you chose to live in the past.
I really trust our pediatrician when it comes to her advice on flu shots and vaccines in general. She highly recommends them and quite frankly I am very happy vaccines are available to my children. I really think it’s foolish to make a blanket statement like..”flu vaccine = sick child”
goodmom, I am glad for you that your children are very resistant to mercury and cancer viruses. Many of us are not that lucky. It is irresponsible to use your anecdotal experience as justification to attack those who have done more research and have had worse experience than you.
Congratulations on your “Top Kids”, but the rest of us do have the right to prevent further damage to our families. You should go buy a fluvirin shot at walgreens that contains 25mcg of mercury. After all, your family is immune to the dangerous toxins in vaccines.
gooddad,
You want research? Go do a pubmed search on prevalence of vaccine side effects. Then let me see you come back here talking about how dangerous vaccines are.
I’ve been told to get my kids the flu shot so if they do get flu like symptoms I will be on higher alert and to look for symptoms of H1N1. If they get the flu shot and can’t get influenza then if they do show signs then I can respond faster and seek medical attention if it is H1N1.
Remember…the CIA is in cahoots with the health industry to control your mind with flu vaccinations! The flu isn’t real! 9/11 was an inside job! Don’t let the government control your mind!
Anti-vaccination tards have lower brain function than the rest of society.
“Anti-vaccination tards have lower brain function than the rest of society.”
Aren’t you anti-vaccination?
Anyone using the vulgar and offensive term “tard” has lower brain function in my opinion. Learn to convey thoughts without using ugly words like that and maybe then I would consider that you might be intelligent.
logan
I suppose the CIA is killing all these people that are dying with H1N1.
I don’t think the government is controlling your mind, but something else is killing your brain cells and making you the TARD!
@me says
Thank you! I cannot believe a low-life would used the word ‘tardy’ or any derivative of it!!