Why I'm Not Getting the Flu Shot
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Last week, one of my fellow bloggers here at Baby’s First Year, Rebekah Kuschmider, wrote a post about why she’s getting the flu shot, and while I completely respect Rebekah’s choice, I have to say that I do not feel the same.
I have actually never gotten the flu vaccine in my adult life – not even during pregnancy which the CDC recommends – and I am not planning on getting it this year for myself or my baby (she is 8 months and according to CDC, old enough to receive the vaccine). Some people may feel this to be reckless since I have a baby who could catch the flu from me, but I have reasons behind my decision and I thought I’d share them.
A few reasons why I’m not getting the flu shot…
1. It isn’t as effective as you’d think.
The flu vaccine will only protect you from one particular strain of the influenza virus and basically the vaccine makers take their best educated guess as to which strain will hit the hardest and go with it. But, because the influenza virus changes and evolves over time it is likely you won’t actually get the right strain and may still end up with the flu anyway. According to an article published by the National Vaccine Information Center, this happened during the 2003-2004 flu season when the vaccine did not protect against that year’s most dominant flu strain.
2. The flu shot and the actual flu have similar symptoms.
If I don’t get the flu shot, I may or may not get the actual flu. If I were to get the flu shot, I would likely get some flu symptoms including fever, runny nose, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting… So, if I may end up with flu symptoms either way I’ll just take my chances.
3. There is still a risk of vaccine injury
According to the CDC, while unlikely, the flu vaccine could lead to fever-induced seizures, allergic reactions and potentially Guillain-Barré Syndrome. I realize that this is unlikely, but it’s just not worth it to me for something as mild as the flu.
4. One word: thimerosal
Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative that is used in the influenza vaccine and has been linked to autism. While I don’t believe that thimerosal is the sole component in causing autism by any means, I still find it more than a little sketchy that the FDA has done away with thimerosal in new vaccines for children since 2001, but still continues to allow its use in the flu shot. The CDC also states that, “The most recent and rigorous scientific research does not support the argument that thimerosal-containing vaccines are harmful. However, CDC and FDA continually evaluate new scientific information about the safety of vaccines.” This is basically a fancy way of saying that they haven’t proven it’s harmful, but they also haven’t proven it isn’t and are still checking into it. Basically, the idea of putting a mercury based preservative into my body for a something like a little flu doesn’t seem like a good risk/reward trade-off to me.
3. I have a very strong immune system and am breastfeeding my baby.
Before I had my baby I was a preschool teacher, so I have a pretty great immune system and rarely get sick. I’ve never had the flu shot in my adult life and I’ve made it through relatively unscathed thus far, so I feel confident that I’ll be ok – flu shot or not – since I’m not in a high-risk category. I’m also not too worried about passing anything to my baby while I’m breastfeeding, because of the amazing job the body does of creating antibodies to fight illness while breastfeeding.
5. There are other ways to prevent the flu
In addition to all of these other reasons for not getting the flu shot, I won’t be getting one because it is merely a preventative measure, not a sure-fire way to avoid the flu, and as such there are other natural ways to help prevent the flu that do not involve putting preservatives in my body. Regular hand washing, vitamin D supplements, probiotics, and healthful eating are just a few strategies that I plan on taking advantage of (read more suggestions here).
So there you have it: all the reasons why I’m not getting my flu shot and feeling confident that is the best choice for me and my baby.
Have you gotten or are you planning to get a flu shot for yourself or your baby? Why or why not?
Lauren Hartmann is the founder of The Little Things We Do, a blog about life and adventures in Portland Oregon. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook, or catch up on all of her posts here on Babble.
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I did get the flu shot.
I had not gotten the flu shot since I was a child (for many of the reasons listed above) until I became pregnant. When I was pregnant I mainly decided to get one because it was suggested by my midwife and because I really didn’t want the flu and not be able to take anything to relieve the symptoms. I never had any flu like symptoms as a result of the shot. Just a sore arm for a day or so.
My husband and I both got flu shots so that my son does not get the flu from us. He was breast fed and has been a fairly healthy child. But, this past month he caught a terrible viral infection and bacterial infection from us and other kids. It was hell for him, it was hell for us.
We opted out of a flu shot for the kid last year as he was most nearly always near us. We haven’t decided about this year. My doctor (who is a huge fan of homeopathic remedies, healthy lifestyle, acupuncture, etc.) recommended it for my son because he will be around other children. I appreciate and respect her suggestions… but, we are still thinking on it.
I really think topics like this and the other big decisions on health are one of the hardest things about being a parent, which is why it is such a hot topic. Doing what you feel is right, what you have researched, and not things that have been proven detrimental is the best any of us can do for our children. Cheers.. and may both or kiddos (and ourselves!) be healthy this flu season!
Totally respect your decision, just wanted to chime in that I have gotten a flu shot my whole adult life (my dad is immuno-supressed) and I have never had any flu-like symptoms. Neither has anyone else in my family that I know of. I am sure some people do, but at least in our family, that has never been an issue.
I don’t get the flu shot, but it’s because of an egg allergy, I absolutely would get it if I could. And I feel the need to point out one thing you got wrong there. There is nothing, seriously, nothing, mild about influenza. I’ve had it twice in my life and it is the sickest I’ve ever been. I literally felt worse with the flu than I did after brain surgery. Influenza is not a stomach bug that goes away in 24-48 hours. For me, it was 104 degree fever for nearly 2 weeks, the worst sore throat, chills, body aches, headaches and respiratory issues I’ve had in my entire life and I was an adult both times. I used to be a teacher too, so I have had my share of stuff, but until you’ve been truly sacked out with actual, confirmed influenza, I think you can’t appreciate just how not mild it is. For your sake and for your baby’s sake, I genuinely hope your prevention works out. I wouldn’t wish that misery on anyone.
To be factually correct:
1. The flu shot does not protect against one strain of flu, it protects against three flu viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season.
2. You cannot get the flu from the flu shot. The viruses used in the vaccine is dead.
Other key facts:
• Each year an average of 20,000 children under the age of 5 are hospitalized because of influenza complications.
• Annual flu-associated deaths range from 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people
Sure, no one likes to watch their kid get a shot. But, it isn’t about me. I’d prefer 10 minutes of an unhappy baby to a week’s worth (or more) of a sick baby or worse. That’s my decision.
My husband and I are getting a flu shot this week and my daughter (7 months) has already had her first flu shot (she gets 2 since it’s her first flu shot ever). She’s breastfed and we live a healthy lifestyle. The risks of not getting the shot are why we do it. Babies end up in the hospital every year from the flu and there are also annual flu-related deaths. Finally, my father-in-law is a doctor and he strongly urged us to do it based on what he’s seen first hand in the ER.
The flu is not “mild” for most people, and definitely not for babies. I am getting a flu shot this year and every year, and so will my child.
Thanks for sharing your differing perspectives in such a constructive way ladies! I was a little worried about the backlash I would get, but I appreciate the differences of opinion being shared so respectfully. Keep the discussion coming!
Since all the other commenters were rather pro-flu vaccine, I want to put in my two cents. I have never in my life had the flu. None of my siblings have had it either and all three of us have never in our lives had the flu shot. Also, because of the fact that every year that my parents ever got the flu shot, they both were sick as dogs for at least a week; I don’t forsee me or my little one ever getting the flu shot.
While I agree about the whole immune system thing, I have to throw a little warning. I’ve worked in healthcare for 5 years and in that time I have taken 1 sick day. Like you, I credited this to having worked around a population that was sick a lot. I was off from work for 3 1/2 months after having my son and a week after going back I got a nasty cold that lasted for 2 weeks. It wasn’t the flu, but it made me realize that being away from that population for so long, my “resistance” to illness had gone down.
I was like you, I never got sick so I thought I didn’t need a flu shot. Then I got it when I was 22 and it was horrible. I was so miserable after a week I went to the doctor even though I didn’t have health insurance and they gave me something like Theraflu but I was sick for over two weeks with a high fever and body aches. I lost almost ten pounds that time because I was too ill to eat and my parents wanted to admit me to the hospital because they were afraid. I got it again when I was 28 but then I had health insurance and went to the doctor sooner so it wasn’t as bad but I was again in bed for over a week, high fever and very miserable.
I’ve always been a really healthy person but I wouldn’t risk my baby getting the flu. No way. She gets immunizations against everything the doctor recommends. Sixty seconds of pain vs. weeks of possibly life threatening illness? I don’t even need to think twice about that one.