Thread: flu shots and children

My wife and I are battling it out over this topic. Our kids are 5 and 3.

My position: Flu shots are not necessary and may in fact be dangerous. Even if flu vaccinations are effective against some strains, there is no certainty that the shot will prevent whatever strain the kids may come in contact with. The risks of neurological damage from mercury and not knowing whatever else may is in that stuff isn't worth it. I've never had the flu shot and I'm fine.

Her position: Flu shots give her piece of mind that we are doing what we can to prevent them getting the flu. Flu shots are so widespread and are recommended by the pediatrician, so how bad can they be? How bad would we feel if they got the flu and it could have been prevented?

I'm trying to see it both ways, and internet research is tricky. The first few pages of a google search are decidedly pro-flu shot (mostly from the cdc and mainstream media), and most of the anti-flu shot results come from more holistic sites, with websites that are certainly lower budget and less credible looking.

Any opinions on this topic?

flu shots in healthy folks prevent morbidity ( illness from disease) rather than mortality ( death from the disease). It is more of an economic issue to large companies in this country. The economic costs due to flu morbidity run in the billions due to lost time at work, paid sick leave, incapacitated workers, etc which is why large companies offer "free flu vaccines" so they don't lose a lot of money on that end. True mortality benefits are seen in the elderly in nursing homes and true benefits are seen in those with heart disease. FLu shots clearly prevent heart attacks in these folks. Emory makes all us doctors and employees get it. My daughter gets it only because the times she didn't she missed 2 weeks of school each time ( that only happened twice). I know I bring it home even though I never get it due to my constant proximity in ICUs, emergency rooms etc. Children with cystic fibrosis, sickle cell, asthma, type I diabetes, congenital heart disorders, liver disease and congenital kidney disorders I believe are much more susceptible to death from the flu than healthy counterparts and there are mortality benefits. I will tell you, every year the flu is a major killer in my hospital and for the most part these folks never got their vaccines. People who get vaccines can still end up in the hospital but I can count on one hand how many I pronounced dead due to the flu ( usually from ARDS with 70% mortality) in my fifteen years who got their vaccines and I've lost track of those that died who did not get the flu shot. ( I had to keep track of it when I was chief of infectious disease). I get it because if I am sick for two weeks my partners would kill me and I don't want to spread flu to my patients since I tend to work even when I am at death's door.

In the NEJM the Japanese program in which mandatory immunization of children 5 to 15 years of age has prevented 37000 to 47000 deaths annually from all causes and 10000 to 12000 deaths annually from pneumonia and/or influenza, almost all in the elderly, due to herd immunity....