Is the flu shot safe? | Autism PDD

I haven't posted here in ages....but I still check in occassionally and couldn't help responding to your post.

I am not totally anti-vaccine or pro-biomed or anything like that, but I do feel that giving my daughter the flu shot at age 6 months and 18 months is one of the worst things I've ever done as a mother and I still feel guilt-ridden about it. 

The year Ansley (my dd w/ autism) was born there was an outbreak of flu and kids in other states were dying.  My docs insisted I get my baby a flu shot and I automatically did it the next year as well.  I NEVER gave my older daughter a flu shot b/c I don't believe in unnecessary vaccines...but I was pressured in to it with Ansley and I still wonder if it affected her.

You have to do what your mommy-gut tells you, but I will never allow any one in our family to have a flu shot ever again unless they are so weak that they are about to die.

 

More food for thought:  Who gets flu shots more than anyone else?  The elderly....they routinely get flu shots once a year.  Just look at the rates of dementia and Alzheimers.  I know it may be a coincidence, but it's a big enough coincidence for me.

Does the flu shot have thimerisol in it?  What are the risks in NOT giving this to either my 7 mo or 3.5 yo and are those risks the same? I keep reading that it can be so dangerous for our kids to get the flu at a young age, but im just so torn about this.

My 3.5 yo is caught up with all of his vaccines, but Im spacing out my dd's (one shot per month).

id love to hear how you are all handling flu shots this year and how old your kids are.

Thanks!

I don't know the answer, but when my son was a baby (under 1 year) they offered a perservative free flu shot for him (which I think means no thimersol). We haven't gotten the flu shot and neither of my kids have gotten the flu. I might reexamine that if I had a child who was frequently sick or had a weak immune system. My kids won't get them and they are almost 4 and 20 months.

NO THE FLU SHOT IS NOT SAFE! At least in my opinion. Most still have thimerosal in it. You can ask for thimerosal-free, but even those have traces of thimerosal in it. We got our son the flu shot when my daughter was 5 months old. The previous flu season several children (particularly under 2) had died of complications from the flu. And, that year there was supposed to be a flu shot shortage. So, I got ds one in order to protect him and to protect his sister. He had started pre-school and I knew he would be bringing home germs. Well, he regressed and started exhibiting a lot more autistic symptoms. They also got the strains wrong and both my kids were terribly sick several times that winter.

Never again for us. They keep asking us - I give them the "do you REALLY want to go there with me?" look and that is usually the end of that.

If your children are healthy and do not attend public school or daycare for many hours a day, a flu vaccine is not as important.  I didn't begin flu vaccines for my two boys until they were in preschool, and they have been getting the FluMist for the past 3 years.  I remember one year when they kept catching colds, so they didn't get the flu vaccine and there was a bad strain of flu going around which affected their leg muscles after the fever was gone.  My older one couldn't walk for 3 days!  

Whether or not to vaccinate your children is a personal decision, and you just need to weigh the pros and cons, and the likelihood of whether your children will contract the flu.

I personally don't like the flu shots.  I have always gotten the flu shot since I was 2 years old about and Im 28 now. I was the type of kid that got sick one cold after another all through the winter all the way into adulthood.  I decided not to get the shot about 4 years ago and it was the best winter.  I hardly got sick. From then on I have not gotten it and I dont get sick and congested nearly as bad as I used to when getting the shot.

 

Im not saying dont get it, but I dont beleive in them.

  Here is the info on what is in each manufacturers flu shot. Be informed, then you can make an informed decision from there  :)

Flu (influenza) Information View evidence of Flu (influenza) Vaccine Risk View evidence of Flu (influenza) Vaccine Ineffectiveness Flu (influenza) Vaccines Afluria flu (influenza) vaccine Manufacturer CSL Biotherapies Microorganism influenza virus Licensed 09/28/2007 Recommendations One intramuscular injection Ingredients Beta-propiolactone, Neomycin , Polymyxin B, Sucrose, Thimerosal , Mercury, Sodium phosphate-monobasic, Chick embryo cells, Potassium chloride, Neomycin sulphate, Calcium chloride, Sodium deoxycholate, Sodium phosphate- dibasic anhydrous, Potassium phosphate- monobasic. Product Descriptions Package Insert Begrivac Influenza vaccine (split virion, inactivated) Manufacturer Wyeth Microorganism Influenza virus Licensed 08/13/1998 Recommendations From children 6 months and older, one i.m. injection, size of dose smaller for 6-36 months, booster dose recommended for children who have not previously been vaccinated Ingredients Formaldehyde, Polymyxin B, Polysorbate 80, Sucrose, Sodium chloride, Potassium dihydrogen phosphate, Disodium phosphate dehydrate, Potassium chloride, Egg protein, Virus: Influenza virus antigens, Magnesium chloride hexahydrate, Diethylether . Product Descriptions http://medguides.medicines.org.uk/displaypage.aspx?t=medicin e&i=52 http://emc.medicines.org.uk/emc/industry/default.asp?remoteS earch=Begrivac http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=Begriv ac%2C+intramuscular http://www.pei.de/nn_163516/EN/drugs/impfstoffe-am-en/influe nza-en/influenza-node-en.html?__nnn=true Enzira Influenza vaccine (split virion, inactivated) Manufacturer CSL Microorganism Influenza Licensed 04/19/2005 Recommendations Adults and children from 36 months, children from 6 to 36 months at a reduced dosage, second dose should be given for children that are previously unvaccinated Ingredients Sodium chloride, Potassium dihydrogen phosphate, Potassium chloride, Sodium dihydrogen phosphate dehydrate, Egg protein, Calcium chloride, Virus: Influenza, Anhydrous disodium phosphate. Product Descriptions http://emc.medicines.org.uk/emc/assets/c/html/displaydoc.asp ?documentid=16589 Fluad® Influenza vaccine Manufacturer Chiron Microorganism Infleunza virus Licensed (EU) Recommendations Ingredients Squalene, MF59. Product Descriptions Fluarix® Influenza Virus Vaccine Manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline Microorganism The Influenza virus. Licensed 08/31/2005 Recommendations Not for use in children. Single dose for adults Ingredients Formaldehyde, Gentamicin Sulfate, Latex, Polysorbate 80, Thimerosal , Ovalbumin (egg), Egg protein, Influenza A virus hemagglutinin, Influenza B virus hemagglutinin, Octoxynol-10, alpha-tocopheryl , Hydrogen succinate, Hydrocortisone, Sodium deoxycholate. Product Descriptions Prescribing Information Safety Data Sheet http://www.fda.gov/cber/efoi/approve.htm FluLaval Influenza Virus Vaccine Manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline Microorganism Influenza strains A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1), 15 mcg; A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2), 15 mcg; B/Malaysia/2506/2004 Licensed 10/05/2006 Recommendations Age 18 or older, single injection. Ingredients Formaldehyde, Thimerosal , Mercury, Egg protein, Influenza A virus hemagglutinin, Influenza B virus hemagglutinin, Sodium deoxycholate. Product Descriptions Prescribing Information http://www.fda.gov/cber/efoi/approve.htm FluMist® Live, intranasal influenzae Manufacturer MedImmune, Wyeth Microorganism H1N1, H3N2, B/Jilin/20/2003 (B/Shanghai/361/2002-13 like strains of Influenza virus Licensed 01/05/2007 Recommendations Ages 5-49 Ingredients Gentamicin Sulfate, Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), Sucrose, Potassium phosphate. Product Descriptions Prescribing Info http://www.fda.gov/cber/efoi/approve.htm Fluvax Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (Split Virion) Manufacturer CSL Limited Microorganism Influenza Licensed Recommendations One injection yearly, from three months of age with differing strengths according to age. Ingredients Neomycin , Polymyxin B, Sucrose, Sodium chloride, Sodium phosphate-monobasic, Potassium chloride, Egg protein, Virus: Influenza, Sodium phosphate- dibasic anhydrous, Potassium phosphate- monobasic, Sodium taurodeoxycholate . Product Descriptions Package Insert Fluviral, Fluviral S/F Influenza Virus Vaccine Trivalent, Inactivated Whole-Virion Active Immunizing Agent Manufacturer Shire (Canada) Microorganism Influenza virus Licensed Recommendations Annually in the fall. Children under 9 years of age require two injections one month apart, the first time they have the vaccine. Differing dosages for different age groups, from 6 months up. Ingredients Formaldehyde, Thimerosal , Egg protein, Virus: Influenza, Sodium deoxycholate, Triton X-100 . Product Descriptions Package Insert Fluvirin® Purified Surface Antigen Vaccine, Trivalent, Types A and B Manufacturer Chiron Corporation Microorganism Influenza virus H1N1, H3N2, B/Malaysia/2506/2004 strains Licensed 07/21/2006 Recommendations Not for use for patients under four years of age: 1 or 2 injections for those 4 to 8 years of age, one injection for those 9 years of age or older. Ingredients Neomycin , Polymyxin B, Thimerosal , Egg protein, Triton N101, M phosphate- buffered saline. Product Descriptions Package Insert http://www.fda.gov/cber/efoi/approve.htm Fluzone® influenza virus vaccine trivalent, inactivated Manufacturer Aventis Pasteur Microorganism Influenza virus types A and B -- A/New Caledonia/20/99, A/Wyoming/03/2003 (an A/Fujian/411/2002-like, B/Jiangsu/10/2003 (a B/Shanghai/361/2002-like) strains Licensed 07/10/2006 Recommendations One or two i.m. injections for those 6 months of age or older, (reduced potency for age 6 to 35 months). Ingredients Formaldehyde, Gelatin, Latex, Thimerosal , Egg protein, Virus: Influenza. Product Descriptions University: http://www.vaccinesafety.edu/components-Influenza.htm http://www.fluzone.com/ http://www.vaccineshoppe.com/us_pdf/fluzone_2005.2006_5097.5 098.pdf http://www.fda.gov/cber/label/inflave071405LB.pdf http://www.fda.gov/cber/efoi/approve.htm Focetria ® Pandemic influenza vaccine Manufacturer Novartis Microorganism Influenza virus Licensed May 8, 2007 (EU) Recommendations Ingredients Squalene, Virus: Influenza, MF59. Product Descriptions Grippol Vaccination for flu prevention three-valence polymer-sub-single liquid Manufacturer Institute of Immunology Microorganism Influenza Licensed Recommendations children from 6 months, 3 doses with four week intervals ; over 3 years, one dose Ingredients Virus: Influenza, Superficial glycoproteins (gemagglutinin and neyroamynidasa), Polyoxidonium, Hemagglutinin culture flu viruses of type A(H1N1), A(H3N2). Product Descriptions Package Insert Inflexal, Inflexal S, Inflexal V Influenza vaccine (surface antigen, inactivated, virosomic) Manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur Microorganism Influenza Licensed 03/29/2005 Recommendations from six months, higher dosage for those over 3 years of age Ingredients Sodium chloride, Egg protein, Virus: Influenza, Disodium dehydrogenate phosphate, Potassium dehydrogenate phosphate , Lecithin. Product Descriptions http://www.crucell.com/Products-Inflexal_V http://www.angelini.it/public/schedepharma/inflexal.htm http://www.pei.de/nn_163516/EN/drugs/impfstoffe-am-en/influe nza-en/influenza-node-en.html?__nnn=true Influvac Influenza vaccine, surface antigen, inactivated Manufacturer Solvay-Pharma Microorganism Influenza Licensed 07/15/2005 Recommendations Adults, elderly, and children over 36 months, single injection. Ingredients Formaldehyde, Sodium chloride, Potassium dihydrogen phosphate, Disodium phosphate dehydrate, Potassium chloride, Egg protein, Calcium chloride, Magnesium chloride hexahydrate, Virus: Influenza. Product Descriptions Package Insert Mastaflu influenza vaccine, surface antigen, inactivated Manufacturer Solvay Microorganism Influenza Licensed Recommendations adults and children from 36 months, single dose Ingredients Sodium chloride, Potassium dihydrogen phosphate, Disodium phosphate dehydrate, Potassium chloride, Egg protein, Calcium chloride, Magnesium chloride hexahydrate, Virus: Influenza. Product Descriptions http://emc.medicines.org.uk/eMC/assets/c/html/DisplayDoc.asp ?DocumentID=12737 Mutagrip Influenza Vaccine (SPLIT VIRION) Manufacturer Aventis Microorganism Influenza Licensed 08/28/1998 Recommendations Single 0.5 mL i.m. injection for those 36 months of age and older. Ingredients Sodium chloride, Disodium phosphate dehydrate, Potassium chloride, Monopotassium phosphate, Egg protein, Virus: Influenza. Product Descriptions http://home.intekom.com/pharm/ranbaxy/mutagrip.html German: http://www.impfkritik.de/fachinfo/influenza-mutagrip-aventis -2004-2005.pdf http://www.pei.de/nn_163516/EN/drugs/impfstoffe-am-en/influe nza-en/influenza-node-en.html?__nnn=true Optaflu Manufacturer Novartis Microorganism Influenza (flu) virus Licensed June 13, 2007 (EU) Recommendations One intramuscular injection, seasonally Ingredients Dog kidney cells. Product Descriptions Dr. Sherri Tenpenny Speaks Out "The Hidden Hazards of the New Flu Vaccine, OptaFlu" Vaxigrip Inactivated Influenza Vaccine Trivalent Types A and B (Split Virion) Manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur Microorganism Influenza Licensed Recommendations 6 months of age or older Ingredients Formaldehyde, Neomycin , Sucrose, Thimerosal , Sodium phosphate, Virus: Influenza, Triton X-100 . Product Descriptions Package Insert

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