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Flu & Pneumonia Shots
- Thread starter anonymous
- Start date
My girls always get the flu shot. They have never gotten the pneumonia shot. I asked the dr in Minnespolis about it when we were living up there and he said the type of pneumonia CF kids typically get is not the same as what the shot would protect against, so he didn't think they should get it.
The flu shot cannot make you sicker.
Here's the scoop - pharmaceutical companies try to anticipate which flu strains will be present during the flu season... and they linclude these strains in the flu shot.
Often times, like bacteria, viruses can mutate. The flu is a virus and thus has the potential every year to mutate. If it mutates, and that mutation of the strain is not inlcuded in the flu shot then the flu shot won't work.
If your child encounters a flu strain that is not in the shot they received, they'll get sick as if they didn't have the shot. Having the shot doesn't make anyone sicker.
People who say "oh I got the flu shot once and I got so sick that year. I haven't had it since and I never get sick" are using false causality. The flu shot they got that one year must not have covered the strain they encountered. And the years they didn't get the shot, they simply didn't encounter the flu virus.
The science is very straight-forward on flu shots.
PneumoVax (vaccine for Strep. Pneumo.) is to vaccinate against a type of bacteria. Although pseudo is the most common bacteria associated with CF, Strep. Pneumo is the most common cause of infection in "normal" people, including sinusitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
So let's say you, as a parent, get bronchitis one winter. Chances are its caused by a virus, or perhaps a bacteria. The most likely bacteria it will be caused by is Strep. Pneumo. Your kid will be protected against catching that bacteria from you if they receive a PnemoVax.
Hope that clarifies. Let me know if you have any more questions.
Bottomline is that your kid should get both.
Here's the scoop - pharmaceutical companies try to anticipate which flu strains will be present during the flu season... and they linclude these strains in the flu shot.
Often times, like bacteria, viruses can mutate. The flu is a virus and thus has the potential every year to mutate. If it mutates, and that mutation of the strain is not inlcuded in the flu shot then the flu shot won't work.
If your child encounters a flu strain that is not in the shot they received, they'll get sick as if they didn't have the shot. Having the shot doesn't make anyone sicker.
People who say "oh I got the flu shot once and I got so sick that year. I haven't had it since and I never get sick" are using false causality. The flu shot they got that one year must not have covered the strain they encountered. And the years they didn't get the shot, they simply didn't encounter the flu virus.
The science is very straight-forward on flu shots.
PneumoVax (vaccine for Strep. Pneumo.) is to vaccinate against a type of bacteria. Although pseudo is the most common bacteria associated with CF, Strep. Pneumo is the most common cause of infection in "normal" people, including sinusitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
So let's say you, as a parent, get bronchitis one winter. Chances are its caused by a virus, or perhaps a bacteria. The most likely bacteria it will be caused by is Strep. Pneumo. Your kid will be protected against catching that bacteria from you if they receive a PnemoVax.
Hope that clarifies. Let me know if you have any more questions.
Bottomline is that your kid should get both.
We were told that not only should our son get a flu shot, but anybody who spends time around him -- caregivers, parents, grandparents, cousins... So not only does he get a shot, but we do too. Last year though we had a heck of a time finding a shot for him, let alone us. Apparently the local clinic doesn't consider Cystic Fibrosis a high risk category, there were other patients who needed it more. Forunately we had an appointment in Minneapolis and got a shot for him. I managed to get one at the local clinic, my inlaws at a flu blitz for high risk adults (seniors) and my husband couldn't find one anywhere, not even the inhaled. Liza
blindhearted
New member
I have always gotten the Flu Vac and was told that it would be a good idea for people who live with me to get it as well. I have had the flu shot before and still got the flu (actually got it then to weeks later had a relaps), so it doesnt stop you from getting it. They might have been two different types, but I was told if I didnt have the shot it would have been far worse on me than what it actually was. Either way I ended up in the hospital twice. As far as the pneumonia vaccine, I have never gotten that and I havent been sick with just pneumonia (*knock on wood*) before. I had what they thought was a touch of it due to a sinus infection that went into my lungs and I didnt do any deep breathing, just shallow. Due to my history with the flu shot, my doctors felt that if I took the PneumoVac it may actually increase my risk of getting pneumonia. So I am not allowed to take it (I was told this by 4 doctors through the yrs).
My Avery got the flu shot in October and then turned around and caught the flu in March. THe doc said the flu strain must have mutated and the shot she got did not protect her from the new strain. Thankfully the flu came and went with no complications!!!!
Both of my kids get the flu shot every year and it has never made them sick. My husband and I need to make sure and get one as well from now on.
Lynsey-
Mom to Avery 2yrs. w/CF and Rhett CF carrier
Both of my kids get the flu shot every year and it has never made them sick. My husband and I need to make sure and get one as well from now on.
Lynsey-
Mom to Avery 2yrs. w/CF and Rhett CF carrier
HollyCatheryn
New member
I highly recommend the book Vaccines by Neil Z. Miller. Has thorough information on all the recommended childhood shots, RSV, flu, smallpox, and anthrax.
Everything contained in there is thoroughly footnoted, so you can look up the original source for any info you are interested in.
Just found this book last fall. But it is a new fav.
I haven't had flu shots in years, never gotten the pneumonia shot - even though the clinics always push for them both. Our daughter (who does not have CF) is partially vaccinated. We went through and researched each vaccine, her risk of catching the illness it is meant to prevent, and any risks associated with the vaccine. We then came up with a list of vaccines that we wanted her to have.
Another great book is Take Charge of Your Child's Health by George Wootan. It has a section on vaccines as well. That was the first one we came across and we found it very helpful. We use that book all the time for all sorts of stuff from nose-bleeds to rashes.
Everything contained in there is thoroughly footnoted, so you can look up the original source for any info you are interested in.
Just found this book last fall. But it is a new fav.
I haven't had flu shots in years, never gotten the pneumonia shot - even though the clinics always push for them both. Our daughter (who does not have CF) is partially vaccinated. We went through and researched each vaccine, her risk of catching the illness it is meant to prevent, and any risks associated with the vaccine. We then came up with a list of vaccines that we wanted her to have.
Another great book is Take Charge of Your Child's Health by George Wootan. It has a section on vaccines as well. That was the first one we came across and we found it very helpful. We use that book all the time for all sorts of stuff from nose-bleeds to rashes.
wanderlost
New member
I do not get flu shots (I'm the one with CF) nor does anyone in my family. I am also a school teacher and my son is in kindergarten and daycare, so I am exposed to a ton of bugs everyday. I have had the flu only one time in my whole life, when I was 14 and that was back when my mom still made me get flu shots. The Cf clinic pushes for them, and my sons and husband are eligible to get them because of me, but I have found that the less toxins I am putting in my body the better. Also, as HollyCatherine said, educated yourself on vaccines.
We choose not to vaccinate and I also recommend the book Holly mentioned above. The efficacy of vaccination is shaky at best in my opinion. We choose to trust nutrition and supplements to help keep immune systems strong. We wash our hands alot, especially during resp season. We also keep on hand UMCKA and Oscillococcinum flu remedy when any signs of a flu/respiratory stuff start up (fever, chills, sore throat, cough) to help reduce severity and length of viruses. So far this strategy works well.
thefrogprincess
New member
Get the flu shot! Have everyone in the house get it too! About 2 1/2 years ago the strain of hte flu that was going around mutated and the shot was only partially effective so you didn't ger AS sick. I had the shot that year and got the flu anyway. I would have died if I hadn't had the shot. As it was I came pretty close. I was gasping for air just walking to the bathroom. The mucus in my lungs felt more like cement it was so hard to move no matter how much pulmozyme and hypertonic saline I breathed. I made my boyfriend to chest PT as much as I could stand it, as many as seven times a day because I couldn't breathe hard enough for my flutter to be useful (I don't use a vest). I was coughing up mass amounts of blood. It was scary! Please please please take your doctor's advice about these shots!!!!
Even before our son was born with CF, I'd started getting flu shots at work -- the health department would come in every year for a small fee. Started doing this after one of our coworkers got the flu, ended up with a secondary infection and ended up in the hospital for several months.
What I personally noticed when I got the flu shot is that I no longer go my annual October & February head colds. I used to get a nasty cold with an upper respiratory infection in the fall and a head full of snot late winter/early spring without fail. A couple of my coworkers have remarked also that they don't get colds or sick as often either. Colds, like the flu are caused by a virus so figure it must be helping.
We all get flu shots, none of us have suffered any ill effects. I work with a bunch of people who always come to work sick, never wash their hands and are always digging in the community food, my son goes to daycare, so it's what we feel comfortable with. It's a personal choice. Liza
What I personally noticed when I got the flu shot is that I no longer go my annual October & February head colds. I used to get a nasty cold with an upper respiratory infection in the fall and a head full of snot late winter/early spring without fail. A couple of my coworkers have remarked also that they don't get colds or sick as often either. Colds, like the flu are caused by a virus so figure it must be helping.
We all get flu shots, none of us have suffered any ill effects. I work with a bunch of people who always come to work sick, never wash their hands and are always digging in the community food, my son goes to daycare, so it's what we feel comfortable with. It's a personal choice. Liza