Parenting Issues Debate

If the only reason you don't want to get it is to avoid the pain, ask the doctor if he has the mist (unless the mist is contraindicated for your DD). If he does have the mist, she could get one in the mist for and then one in shot form. She won't be able to get both in mist form on the same visit. If you wanted her to get both in the mist form, she'd have to wait a month in between the two.

It's really up to you. My DS will be getting them both once his doctor has them. He is asthmatic and can't receive the mist, so he has to get the shot.

Thank you to mom2jess_n_ky for my beautiful siggy!                                                                                                                                                                                           

OK, you're thinking about not getting your child the flu shot in order to spare them the pain (a minute or two at most) of getting the shot.  But you're willing to risk them being down in bed, sicker than sick, with a fever of 104-105 degrees, possibly getting pneumonia, being sick for 5-7 days?  Hmmm..... doesn't really make sense to me - and that's how long and how sick kids around here are getting who get influenza.  We haven't had any children die in our community, but people DO DIE from H1N1 and regular influenza.  And it's KIDS that are getting this the worst, not adults or senior citizens (who are the ones who usually get sickest from the seasonal influenza).

Would I get the shot?  Yep, got the seasonal flu shot back in September on the first day that my employer offered it.  Got the H1N1 vaccine last Monday, 5 minutes after I walked into work.  Would I want my kids to get the shot?  You bet. DD already has gotten her seasonal flu shot at work, she'll be getting H1N1 as soon as her employer gets another supply.  I'm encouraging her b/f and my one DS who is home to get both shots too.

My youngest has had dozens of procedures and uncountable sticks with various needles. We weighed decisions re: her care in part based on which could end up leaving her worse off, doing or not doing.

Re: the H1N1, given the serious complications that some are experiencing, I'd consider that what's involved in sustaining life in a critical care unit by far surpasses a minor, quick shot. So if it were me, I'd take them for the shot.

Re: seasonal flu, not getting the forms of flu going around last year is no guarantee of not getting what's expected this year. While the chances of complications are less than with H1N1, there is still a lot of discomfort involved.

Maybe, if you do take them for the shots, explain to them that the quick poke can save them a lot of misery. They are old enough to understand this, and during the course of their lives will encounter other situations where taking a moment to do something unpleasant can be a huge help to them in the end :)

We are not getting either vaccine for our kids. They don't have health issues that would make it difficult for them to deal with the flu and we have access to excellent medical care.

We are stressing good hygiene habits, like washing hands, as always.