Travel with Children - Flu shots anyone?

Just curious. I don't want so much a debate on its benefits but wondering if those of us who fly a lot are quick to get these for ourselves and our kids. I'm kind of a fanatic on this, since I was one of those H1N1 "victims" (5 days in the hospital).

Even before my adventure, I would march my kids down every fall.

Some of it is the "I've paid good money to travel. I'm not ruining my trip with anyone getting sick!" Plus it's the whole idea of all those people on the plane, sharing the same space...

We usually connect in either Paris or Frankfurt. Talk about fellow passengers connecting from everywhere!

Is this me or is anyone of this mentality too?

We travel just enough that I got my infant the flu shot specifically because of the travel and being on a cramped airplane in close quarters with people that constantly want to touch her.

I got the H1N1 flu vaccine when it became available. It was nearly 6 months pregant and was going to London for holidays. I heard sad stories about pregnant women or women who had just given birth ending up in hospital or dieing, which is why I made the decision to have the shot.

Even the seasonal flu shot, I will have it and my toddler son too as he just started daycare on Monday.

As the parent of a child who nearly died from the flu shot, there's no way I, or anyone in my care, including my son, will ever have another flu shot. My son developed that "one in 10,000,000" reaction, a near total meltdown of his immune system that left him unable to ever have any other vaccinations for anything else and highly susceptible to every germ going around.

Did you know that 40 pound 4 year olds are given the same dosage of the flu shot as a full grown adults?

Did you know that community pediatricians are "discouraged" from reporting adverse reactions to the flu shots?

I'll take my chances with H1N1.

What a nightmare! Is he okay now? Did it leave any permanent symptoms? I assume that this child had no health concerns that would have given any indication the he'd get this horrible reaction.

Did you know that 40 pound 4 year olds are given the same dosage of the flu shot as a full grown adults?

No they aren't, at least here in France. I asked about this specifically. Yes, my oldest two, who are 9 (off the chart and the size of a 12 yo) and my 12 year old are now given the full dosage but not the 7 yo.

I'll take my chances with H1N1.

Actually, the sickness itself is just a flu. I was sick but without any complications, it was just a matter of rest.

Usually what happens with the sad stories of deaths, etc. is that for some reason, this flu has the tendency to be followed by pneumonia and that's what is deadly. I was actually getting over the flu itself when I started to have trouble breathing.

My mistake was that I didn't get myself to a doctor quickly enough and when I did, he gave me a wimpy antibiotic and I kept getting worse. I really was only put in the hospital to be monitored and because the antibiotic that worked had to be given through an IV.

I actually tested negative when I arrived at the hospital because the flu had run its course. This was in a way good, because H1N1 cases were put in isolation.

This was at the height of the pandemic and the vaccine wasn't out yet. I know my youngest for sure had it before I did and she was barely sick (so go figure...)

So if you opt out of the vaccine, it's not the actual flu to watch out for but don't make my mistake and make sure any pneumonia symptoms are quickly addressed.

What a nightmare! Is he okay now? Did it leave any permanent symptoms? I assume that this child had no health concerns that would have given any indication the he'd get this horrible reaction.

Did you know that 40 pound 4 year olds are given the same dosage of the flu shot as a full grown adults?

No they aren't, at least here in France. I asked about this specifically. Yes, my oldest two, who are 9 (off the chart and the size of a 12 yo) and my 12 year old are now given the full dosage but not the 7 yo.Here in the U.S. 4 yr olds get the adult dose - I asked before it was given to him, and was told that it was done "according to the dosage protocal" that they used.

My son has permanent damage to his immune system from the shot, and we have been advised that for the rest of his life, he should avoid injected proteins, such as any type of vaccination.

The child had asthma, which is why the doctors pushed so hard for him to get the shot, and asthma was never listed as a contraindication for the shot.

I am a doctor. I get a flu shot every year. It has saved me many weeks of misery.

asthma was never listed as a contraindication for the shot.

They actually recommended it for asthma sufferers here, because of the risk of pneumonia. I'm sure you've already been told to trot him down and have him seen at the slightest symptom of respiratory problems, flu or no flu.

So he can't even get a tetanus shot now?

Generally, we don't get flu shots..

Last year, there was the H2N1 (I think that's what its called), but no pandemic..

But maybe for general health, we'll research it for family benefits..

Last year, there was the H2N1 (I think that's what its called), but no pandemic..

Last year, it was included in the regular flu shot. I got it because there wasn't another option. So I'm both vaccinated and had H1N1...

The pandemic was the H1N1 in 2009.

Here in the U.S. 4 yr olds get the adult dose - I asked before it was given to him, and was told that it was done "according to the dosage protocal" that they used.

My son has permanent damage to his immune system from the shot, and we have been advised that for the rest of his life, he should avoid injected proteins, such as any type of vaccination.

The child had asthma, which is why the doctors pushed so hard for him to get the shot, and asthma was never listed as a contraindication for the shot.

The doseage for children ages 36 month to nine years is 0.5cc, which is the same as the adult doseage, so your child received the CDC's recommended dose of the vaccination.

Asthma is not a contraindication for the shot. I am not sure what other, if any, medical problems your child has, but am sorry to hear this. Does he have an egg allergy?

Last year, there was the H2N1 (I think that's what its called), but no pandemic..

Last year, it was included in the regular flu shot. I got it because there wasn't another option. So I'm both vaccinated and had H1N1...

The pandemic was the H1N1 in 2009.

Thanks..

I was going to have my family get the flu shot..

But there was so much pandemonium with everyone lining up at the clinic, by the time it died down, clinics were closing due to the lack of numbers.. A pandemic that didn't happen.. so we just decided to forgo the shot..