Please note, Mommybites is not for or against flu vaccines as we know this is a personal choice. Just as we’ve published guest posts over the years about holistic remedies for cold and flu, we also publish blog discussions about traditional medicine and pediatrician recommendations.
“Do you want to give your child the flu shot today?” This is the inevitable final question at many of my office visits during the fall and winter season. It seems like an innocuous question. However, as more and more parents are joining in on the trend of refusing to vaccinate, this question has become more complicated.
For those of us who have been unfortunate enough to get the flu, we know how miserable it can be. The symptoms typically include severe muscle aches, fatigue, fever, runny nose and a nagging cough – just to name a few. To most, these symptoms are merely an annoying inconvenience leading to missed days of work or school. But unfortunately for some infants and children (as well as the elderly), the effects of the influenza virus can be much more severe, leading to pneumonia, bronchitis, and even death. Each year an average of 20,000 children under the age of 5 are hospitalized because of influenza complications. So why isn’t the answer to the question of the flu vaccine an automatic yes?
Let’s discuss some of the most common reasons for saying NO to the flu vaccine.
My child got the flu vaccine last year and still got the flu… so what’s the point?
It is known that the flu vaccine does not necessarily prevent the flu. Each year, the CDC makes an educated guess as to which strains of the influenza virus will be prevalent for the following year and includes these in the flu vaccine. Is this guess always correct? Of course not, and you can never be guaranteed protection. Just recently, the CDC announced that 2014-2015 flu vaccine is less effective than hoped for due to mutation of one of the viral strains.
However, refusing to vaccinate for this reason is akin to refusing to wear a helmet while riding your bike or a seat belt while driving. These safety devices may not always effectively prevent injury, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wear them. Just because the flu vaccine will not 100% prevent the flu, the chance that it might protect against a potentially serious illness is important to consider.
My child is healthy and has never gotten the shot in the past.
That’s great that your child is so healthy! But what about your 3-month-old nephew who cannot get the flu vaccine because he is too young? While the influenza virus may just mean a runny nose for your child, it may mean a visit to the Emergency Room and/or hospital stay for your nephew.
And we can’t forget about good old fashioned luck. No study has shown that if your child has never had the flu and/or recurrent viral or respiratory illnesses, that he or she has a reduced risk of contracting it in the future.
Aren’t there side effects?
Yes, but they are mild in comparison to the potentially severe complications from the influenza virus. Contrary to popular belief, the flu injection and FluMist cannot give you the flu; however mild and short-lasting side effects are possible (e.g., local pain at the injection site, low grade fever, muscle aches, vomiting, headache and wheezing).
What about the other ingredients and toxins in the vaccine? I’d rather use natural remedies to boost immunity.
In recent years, preservatives added to vaccines, such as thimerosal (a mercury-based preservative), have been extensively studied due to questions regarding their safety and possible link to autism. Scientific research does not support the argument that thimerosal-containing vaccines are harmful. Nonetheless, only multi-dose vials of the flu vaccine contain thimerosal, and the majority of pediatric practices use single dose vials only.
Remember, the flu vaccine is strictly regulated by the FDA and the CDC; the same cannot be said for over-the-counter dietary supplements. And although herbal remedies may have some immune system benefits, they are no match for the influenza virus.
Every parent must talk with their doctor to educate themselves regarding the flu vaccine and make a choice. And although I have already gotten my flu shot this year, my husband refuses to do so as “he never gets sick.” Only time will tell if that belief can survive through another flu season.
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Dr. Arielle Ornstein is a board certified pediatrician practicing in Bergen County, New Jersey at Tenafly Pediatrics. She earned her MD from the New York University School of Medicine and subsequently completed her pediatric residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Ornstein has a passion for preventative medicine and fostering healthy lifestyle choices, and was recently named as one of “NJ’s Favorite Kids’ Docs” for 2014. She and her husband Doug currently live in Manhattan with their dog Azzy and are hoping to expand their family in the near future!
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