Recently my DS recieved the flu shot at his six month check up and little did I know, but it was a live virus. So all it did was get me and my little one sick....and while he seemed to get a mild version of the flu, I was attacked full force with it. And man was it AWEFUL. I was achey, tired, miserable....plus I had to take care of of a sick (teething) baby when all I wanted to do was SLEEP.

I just wanted to get anyone else's thoughts...my mom said it was a coincidence, but I am sure it was from his shot! My sister tells me the shot is worthless since there are many strains of the flu, so getting a shot to prevent just one is silly.

But what do you think? Does anyone else get the flu shot or have their little one's get it as well? I am thinking I will NEVER get it again.

Researchers are usually able to predict which strain of viruses are most likely to strike a particular year. Yes a shot will not protect you against all the strains but usually against most likely ones. They do get it wrong occasionally.

Vaccines given as a shot are using inactive/killed virusea, good for anyone over 6mo old. The nose spray vaccine is given w/ live/attenuated virus and is good for anyone over 5yrs old.

One of the side effects of the flu shot is to actually get the flu. From what I've read, this is more likely to happen to children who have never had the flu, but their sympotms should be milder.

Vaccination is a good idea for anyone w/ small children, b/c most do not have any side effects or they are very minor.

It may have been a coincidence, but you may also have been one of few to suffer from the side effect.

I think it would still be a good idea to get it again next year b/c your child having been exposed to it once, may not have the reaction again of getting the flu, and for you if you get the flu the natural way, you are only then protected form one strain, the vaccine gives you protection for I think 3 strains, so you are still ahead of the game.

My friends are always telling me how the family is always sick b/c their kids are bringing all kinds of bugs from play groups/day cares. So side effects or not, I always get vaccinated.

Is it possible that it wasn't the flu but a cold? DON'T FORGET flu vaccine takes 2-4 wks before it becomes effective.

When ds got his flu shot in November, I asked if it was a live vac, and he said no, so there would be no chance of getting the flu from it. I will continue to give ds the flu shot, I have always gotten it, and have had such great luck.

They did tell me it was a live virus btw--I mean who knows if I had a cold or the flu, but it sure got me thinking :\ I do respect your thoughts however!

I got them for my kids when they were infants. I never got one for myself. Because I honestly don't want to deal with any reactions. To me it's like a crap shoot. My kids did fine with it, but there was the chance they might not have.

BTW, I thought it was stange that you got the shot in the very late winter/early spring. Isn't the flu season basically over?

I thought the exact same thing as Kiera- why did they bother giving it so late?

I didn't know you could even get them a flu shot until they are a year old. Don't those shots contain egg protien? Anyway, now that I know that I probably will try to get one for DS if they are still offering. Mostly because in 4 months he'll be in day-care and exposed to who knows what. You know what is really scary? Apparently they had a big conference at the hospital here with the staff and they were talking about the Avian Flu. They are being told to have enough supplies on hand at home for 4 months! Kind of scary when the medical professionals are warning to take that kind of a precaution.

The flu just hit our area with full force -- so people who were given theirs back in October are getting a mild case of the flu 'cuz their shots are wearing off. I was told the flu shot is a DEAD virus and that the inhalable -- flu mist is the LIVE virus. Because there was a flu shot shortage a few years ago and we considere getting the flumist, but were told not to if we were around anyone who was immuno compromised or if we did get it, avoid that person for a couple weeks.

Alex just turned six months old, and they said he was able to get it....sooo I was like, why not! And a lot of people were getting sick around here...I didn't want to chance it.

You can get a flu shot when your child is 6 months. The flu hit really hard around thanksgiving when DS wasn't quite 6 months old and several elementary school age kids died from it. I was scared to death until I could get him a shot.

Avian flu scare is rather silly. Studies show that it's very very difficult to contract -- it hasn't made the human to human jump -- the people who have gotten it, get it from the birds which they live, sleep and breathe with 24/7

I refuse to get the flu shot becasue everyone I know got the flu after they got it

Unless he got a nasal vaccine it wasn't a live virus, and there is simply no medical possibility that he got sick from it.

This is from the CDC:

What kind of flu vaccines are there?
There are two types of vaccines that protect against the flu. The "flu shot" is an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. A different kind of vaccine, called the nasal-spray flu vaccine (sometimes referred to as LAIV for Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine), was approved in 2003. The nasal-spray flu vaccine contains attenuated (weakened) live viruses, and is administered by nasal sprayer. It is approved for use only among healthy people between the ages of 5 and 49 years. The flu shot is approved for use among people over 6 months of age, including healthy people and those with chronic medical conditions.

Each of the two vaccines contains three influenza viruses, representing one of the three groups of viruses circulating among people in a given year. Each of the three vaccine strains in both vaccines – one A (H3N2) virus, one A (H1N1) virus, and one B virus – are representative of the influenza vaccine strains recommended for that year. Viruses for both vaccines are grown in eggs.

What are the risks from getting a flu shot?
The viruses in the flu shot are killed (inactivated), so you cannot get the flu from a flu shot. The risk of a flu shot causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small. However, a vaccine, like any medicine, may rarely cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. Almost all people who get influenza vaccine have no serious problems from it.