Flu jab in WA for kids aged 18months + 3yrs old
#1
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Joined: Feb 2007
Location: WA but not forever!!!
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Flu jab in WA for kids aged 18months + 3yrs old
Hi there,
We moved out in March to WA. Obviously we have been reading the press about the 3 children that died when they got a secondary virus / bacterial infection at the same time as flu.
Can anyone explain to me why the kids here have the flu jab yet in the UK they don't. I don't know whether they should have the jabs or not.
I know a lot of mums who have now had the jab because there kids have asthma but mine don't suffer with this so is it still needed or not?
Cheers J
We moved out in March to WA. Obviously we have been reading the press about the 3 children that died when they got a secondary virus / bacterial infection at the same time as flu.
Can anyone explain to me why the kids here have the flu jab yet in the UK they don't. I don't know whether they should have the jabs or not.
I know a lot of mums who have now had the jab because there kids have asthma but mine don't suffer with this so is it still needed or not?
Cheers J
#2
Re: Flu jab in WA for kids aged 18months + 3yrs old
Hi there,
We moved out in March to WA. Obviously we have been reading the press about the 3 children that died when they got a secondary virus / bacterial infection at the same time as flu.
Can anyone explain to me why the kids here have the flu jab yet in the UK they don't. I don't know whether they should have the jabs or not.
I know a lot of mums who have now had the jab because there kids have asthma but mine don't suffer with this so is it still needed or not?
Cheers J
We moved out in March to WA. Obviously we have been reading the press about the 3 children that died when they got a secondary virus / bacterial infection at the same time as flu.
Can anyone explain to me why the kids here have the flu jab yet in the UK they don't. I don't know whether they should have the jabs or not.
I know a lot of mums who have now had the jab because there kids have asthma but mine don't suffer with this so is it still needed or not?
Cheers J
We have been in undated with parents worrying regarding this awful thing that happened last week.- I am a nurse at a GP practice
Flu vaccinations are available for children in UK and Oz if the child has a chronic condition such as Asthma or Diabetes etc. The flu vaccination would have been free of charge in Uk (if I remember rightly) but here is is only available to persons under 65 on prescription (apart form Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders). Medicare only provide the flu vaccine free of charge to people over 65...except Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders.
Usually the uptake here in Oz has been minimal for young children, but some adults obviously choose to have it.
This week I have been administering the flu vaccine (some in 1/2 doses due to age) to children as young as 15 months of age.
Visit your GP and have a chat with him/ her to discuss the options. I would say that as a rule if a child and his/ her family are fit and healthy then a flu vaccine isnt really necessary....its up to you really- your GP will probably give you a script for a flu vaccine if you insist.
BUT understandably parents are very worried and have been bringing children in for checks even if the child has only had a 'cold'....HTH
#3
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Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: WA but not forever!!!
Posts: 943
Re: Flu jab in WA for kids aged 18months + 3yrs old
hi,
We have been in undated with parents worrying regarding this awful thing that happened last week.- I am a nurse at a GP practice
Flu vaccinations are available for children in UK and Oz if the child has a chronic condition such as Asthma or Diabetes etc. The flu vaccination would have been free of charge in Uk (if I remember rightly) but here is is only available to persons under 65 on prescription (apart form Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders). Medicare only provide the flu vaccine free of charge to people over 65...except Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders.
Usually the uptake here in Oz has been minimal for young children, but some adults obviously choose to have it.
This week I have been administering the flu vaccine (some in 1/2 doses due to age) to children as young as 15 months of age.
Visit your GP and have a chat with him/ her to discuss the options. I would say that as a rule if a child and his/ her family are fit and healthy then a flu vaccine isnt really necessary....its up to you really- your GP will probably give you a script for a flu vaccine if you insist.
BUT understandably parents are very worried and have been bringing children in for checks even if the child has only had a 'cold'....HTH
We have been in undated with parents worrying regarding this awful thing that happened last week.- I am a nurse at a GP practice
Flu vaccinations are available for children in UK and Oz if the child has a chronic condition such as Asthma or Diabetes etc. The flu vaccination would have been free of charge in Uk (if I remember rightly) but here is is only available to persons under 65 on prescription (apart form Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders). Medicare only provide the flu vaccine free of charge to people over 65...except Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders.
Usually the uptake here in Oz has been minimal for young children, but some adults obviously choose to have it.
This week I have been administering the flu vaccine (some in 1/2 doses due to age) to children as young as 15 months of age.
Visit your GP and have a chat with him/ her to discuss the options. I would say that as a rule if a child and his/ her family are fit and healthy then a flu vaccine isnt really necessary....its up to you really- your GP will probably give you a script for a flu vaccine if you insist.
BUT understandably parents are very worried and have been bringing children in for checks even if the child has only had a 'cold'....HTH
The 2 friends that gave there asthmatic kids the flu jab seemed to have reactions to. 1 vomited a couple of hours later and the other ended up in hospital with a temp of over 40. Who knows if it was the jabs or not but doesn't sound that pleasant. I guess any parent with a sick child at the moment will be feeling a bit anxious.
Thanks for the advice.
J
#4
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 517
Re: Flu jab in WA for kids aged 18months + 3yrs old
hi,
We have been in undated with parents worrying regarding this awful thing that happened last week.- I am a nurse at a GP practice
Flu vaccinations are available for children in UK and Oz if the child has a chronic condition such as Asthma or Diabetes etc. The flu vaccination would have been free of charge in Uk (if I remember rightly) but here is is only available to persons under 65 on prescription (apart form Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders). Medicare only provide the flu vaccine free of charge to people over 65...except Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders.
Usually the uptake here in Oz has been minimal for young children, but some adults obviously choose to have it.
This week I have been administering the flu vaccine (some in 1/2 doses due to age) to children as young as 15 months of age.
Visit your GP and have a chat with him/ her to discuss the options. I would say that as a rule if a child and his/ her family are fit and healthy then a flu vaccine isnt really necessary....its up to you really- your GP will probably give you a script for a flu vaccine if you insist.
BUT understandably parents are very worried and have been bringing children in for checks even if the child has only had a 'cold'....HTH
We have been in undated with parents worrying regarding this awful thing that happened last week.- I am a nurse at a GP practice
Flu vaccinations are available for children in UK and Oz if the child has a chronic condition such as Asthma or Diabetes etc. The flu vaccination would have been free of charge in Uk (if I remember rightly) but here is is only available to persons under 65 on prescription (apart form Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders). Medicare only provide the flu vaccine free of charge to people over 65...except Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders.
Usually the uptake here in Oz has been minimal for young children, but some adults obviously choose to have it.
This week I have been administering the flu vaccine (some in 1/2 doses due to age) to children as young as 15 months of age.
Visit your GP and have a chat with him/ her to discuss the options. I would say that as a rule if a child and his/ her family are fit and healthy then a flu vaccine isnt really necessary....its up to you really- your GP will probably give you a script for a flu vaccine if you insist.
BUT understandably parents are very worried and have been bringing children in for checks even if the child has only had a 'cold'....HTH
I understood that it was a secondary bacterial infection that killed these poor children and not the flu. Given that the pneumococcal vaccine Prevenar is part of the childhood immunisation program here, surely most kids would have some kind of protection already and, as you imply, would not really be at risk from the flu itself?
Mark
#5
Re: Flu jab in WA for kids aged 18months + 3yrs old
Hi,
I understood that it was a secondary bacterial infection that killed these poor children and not the flu. Given that the pneumococcal vaccine Prevenar is part of the childhood immunisation program here, surely most kids would have some kind of protection already and, as you imply, would not really be at risk from the flu itself?
Mark
I understood that it was a secondary bacterial infection that killed these poor children and not the flu. Given that the pneumococcal vaccine Prevenar is part of the childhood immunisation program here, surely most kids would have some kind of protection already and, as you imply, would not really be at risk from the flu itself?
Mark
Just a reminder too- the recommendation also is that children under 6 years of age will require 2 flu vaccinations 1 month apart in order to have full protection- we are hoping that parents dont forget that bit- maybe they will though once the scare is over.
Oh and also remember that there are only usually 3 strains of flu virus in the vaccine so you can be unlucky and catch a different strain!
#6
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,560
Re: Flu jab in WA for kids aged 18months + 3yrs old
Would you recommed getting the flu jab for your kids or not?? most people ive spoken too havent but its hard too know what to do for the best.
kezx
kezx
#7
Re: Flu jab in WA for kids aged 18months + 3yrs old
I am not bothering with mine. Mine are generally healthy children, no asthma etc. A nurse friend of mine told me that unless your kids are prone to chest infections or any other breathing related illness then to not bother.
#8
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,560
Re: Flu jab in WA for kids aged 18months + 3yrs old
kezx