Flu Shot - West Hills, CA

Well, I don't have any real advice for you, but thought I'd jump on here and just give you a little boost. Don't beat yourself up too much for letting the doctor convince you it was ok; doctors, I have found, will use pretty much any tactic to get you to do what they think you should (including telling me my daughter could die by delaying a shot by two weeks!!!)... even when in your gut it feels wrong. Just get through this flu with your kiddo (it will go away on it's own in time, lots of water and lots of naps), and remember this event next time you go to the Dr and you can even use it as an excuse why you won't do something against your gut again. In the end it's your child, and even if you feel like your fighting a losing battle or feel humiliated, once you walk out of the Dr office doing the right thing you'll be glad! Being a mom puts us in some pretty awkward situations sometimes, doesn't it?

Jennifer, don't hate yourself. We are all trained to think of doctors as these gods who know all about what's best for our children. But they are human and they do make mistakes sometimes. It sounds like you didn't want to give your son the shot. Next time, listen to your gut. If you don't think the time is right for your little guy to get a vaccine because of a cold or whatever, you have the right to say no and that you'll bring him back when he's better. I've had to do that with my son often. And if the dr. makes a big stink about it, then it's time to find a new doctor. You're the one paying his salary, really, so if he's not giving you the kind of service you deserve, you move on and find another.

As for taking care of your baby boy, I know how days can seem endless when they're sick, but the fever is a normal reaction of the body trying to fight off any foreign substances like viruses and bacteria. You have to stay vigilant and make sure the fever doesn't go above 102.5 for longer than 45 minutes after either a lukewarm bath/cool moist towel wipedown. If it does, call the dr immediately about whether you should take your boy to be seen. But a fever of up to 101 is considered low-grade and just the body's way of fighting. Keep him hydrated with water, broth, pedialyte (or other electrolyte liquids) and keep him as comfortable as possible. Yes, it means putting your own duties/needs on hold for a few days, but that's what being a parent is all about, right? He'll get better with lots of love and care in no time.

Good luck!

Jennifer,

I just went through the flu shot with my 19 month old and my 9 month old. The 9 month old was only 7 months when she got the flu shot and 8 months when she got her booster flu. She had no problems at all. The 19 month old was 18 months old when she got the flu shot, she had a fever for a few days afterwards, but it went away on its own. We gave her Motrin and let her rest and cuddled her as much as she wanted. We also made sure she got plenty of fluids to be sure she did not get dehydrated. She then got the flu booster the following month and she woke up screaming for a week during the middle of the night. It was not just crying, but, screaming to where she got sick and it sounded like she was being beat. She would cry for 2-3 hours straight and could only get comfortable in my husband's arms. It was Sunday, 5 days straight of this, I told my husband that if she did it again that night, that I would call the ped on Monday morning. She did not do it and so I did not call. She is sleeping like her normal self now and straight through the night without any screaming.

Best of luck! Remember, with fevers, fluids are extremely important.

K. C.

Well, first there is nothing wrong with the flu shot. However, the doctor WAS wrong to advise you to get it DURING his cold. The fever is probably part of the cold because his body is fighting the virus. Allow his body to fight it, don't give him too much fever reducer because that will just make his cold and fever hang on longer. I would suggest warm/cool baths and liquids. Don't worry about the shot. However, the problem that I have was that he got the shot while sick. If you are sick you are NOT supposed to get the shot until you are well. SOOOOO, I would definitely contact the doctor. Because one, you don't know if this is an adverse reaction to the shot or if this is a normal fever due to the cold. Does that make sense. The doctor NEEDS to know about the fever because it would be considered an Adverse Event and now needs to be reported. I really wouldn't worry, but I would take him in and say stuff. This will create paper work on there end and make the doctor aware that he should not have advised it during an illness.

I still need to get my shot, but in November I did not because the nurse would not give it to me since I had a cold.

Also, my friend's nurse made a mistake last year and gave her daughter TWO flu shots (I believe one was intended for the other sibling but they were doing immunizations at the same time and the nurse got confused) and doctors and nurses are only human and do make mistakes. As parents we just have to do some research and really make sure that we can stop those mistakes before they happen.

My guess is that he is just running the course of the virus but you need to go in and let the doctor know for reportings sake and safety of your son.

I am so sorry your little man is sick!!! I know you feel horrible but you have learned a valuable lesson - NO SHOTS WHEN HE IS SICK IN ANY WAY!!!!! Even a sniffle - reschedule the appointment. If it is too hard to schedule an appointment then you need a new pediatrician. He will get over this, but you must remember this for his future vaccinations. I have asked my daughter's ped to spread out the shots so she does not have to get four or five shots at the same time. I really don't know what the right answer is, but I think doctors are too quick to give shots, and it is too much for their little immature immune systems to handle. I don't have a link, but I read an article about flu shots and I will never get one again, for me or my kids. He will be fine, just give him lots of fluids and use the shower to relieve his congestion. Hang in there, mom!

According to my ped the flu shot is a dead vaccine and will not cause them to get sick. Maybe your sons cold is just developing into something more on its own. I would take him back into the doctor before the weekend to see if something else is going on.
Also, as for being to young for the flu shot, my kids got their first shot at 6 months. It is actually more important for the very young and elderly to receive the shot as they are more vulnerable.
Good Luck, having a sick child is the worst!!!

If a child does NOT have a fever, at the time of the shot (or any shot), then, per our Doctor they "can" give the shot...and then it is up to the Parents.
Now, before any shot is administered, it is usually standard procedure to examine the child and take their temperature.

Did they do this?

My daughter, (although she was older), did get a flu shot once when she had a minor cold, and she was fine afterward.

Each Doctor is different... but, this is what I have experienced with my kids, and us as Adults with our Doctor. (so different Doctors saying the same thing (ie: if you have a fever, then NO shot).

Now, if you think your son's fever is because of the flu shot... call your doctor...even off hours, the office phone machine should have a pager number or a number for you to call the Pediatrician. I would call your Pediatrician... afterall, they ARE available after hours, and should call you back.

Watch his fever, take his temperature... if it gets over 101.5, then put him in a tepid bath, a cold towel on his forehead, and give him cold/iced water to drink. If the fever lingers, give him Tylenol... BUT ask your Doctor first, since I am not a Doctor.

Then, the next day, you should take him to the Doctor.
Watch for any worsening symptoms, or "new" symptoms... and keep track of it.

Read the info. sheet on the Flu shot, that they should have given you, when your son got his Flu shot. DID they give you this information sheet first?

It may or may not be because of the flu shot. As he was already "sick" with a cold at the time of the shot.

take care,
Susan

Hi Jennifer,
Let yourself off of the mama guilt hook. I don't think that your son has gotten sick from the flu shot. If he was sick with a cold, I am surprised that the office went ahead with the immunization. I am pretty sure that hen people come down ill right after getting a flu shot- it's because they already had the virus in their system.

Try not to worry - it's so hard to not kick yourself and blame yourself, but you have to tell yourself you listened to the advice of a professional who recommended this, so it WILL be ok, and he'll be just fine. His bug would probably have been worse without it. Personally, I have never chosen to do flu shots, ever, because this always seems to happen even though they say it won't. I've heard it so many times. But no matter, he will get through it and be fine.

my daughters dr said that the flu shot is a dead virus and that it wont make you sick. my daughter always gets sick after her shot within a 3 week period and come to find out it was just he asthma getting triggered by the weather change. but if you are concerned have him checked by his dr. good luck!

Poor baby! My daughter has had a fever after a flu shot but not becasue she got the flu or anything, just a reaction to the shots. You just have to remember that if you didn't get him the shot and he did catch the flu, it would have been alot worse. Hope he gets better soon!

I'm sorry he talked you into this! You have to be healthy to have a flu shot :(

I'm sorry to hear that your little guy had a bad reaction to the shot. If you haven't already, put cool compresses on his forehead, under his arms and on his neck to help bring down the fever. There are actually these gel packs called Be Kool that work the same as cool compresses but are a whole lot less messier and stay put until you take them off. I found them at Walgreens but you can probably find them in just about any store.

Motrin should be okay to use to bring down his fever (not Motrin Cold though!) but not Tylenol. I've read reports that the acetamenophen in Tylenol reduces the body's glutathione levels and glutathione is the amino acid that protects the cells from oxadative stress or toxins (in this case, the flu shot).

I'm just of the mind that the only time that a child should be get a shot is when they are 100% healthy -- not when they have a cold, are just catching a cold or have just gotten over a cold -- and, even then, no more than two shots should be given at a time. With our kids, there's no reason why we should rush the process. It's just better to be safe than sorry.

Wow! 16 months does sound young for a flu shot. As a first time Mom, I can understand that this is really upsetting for you. Keep a close eye on him and take his temperature often. Ask your doctor's office if you can give him Infant Tylenol to reduce the fever and give him a little comfort. AND since today is Friday, Just In Case, ask your doctor which urgent care center near you is recommended. Then call the urgent care center and confirm their weekend hours. You don't want to panic over the weekend if you feel like your son needs further medical attention. Please don't hate yourself. You made a choice for your son's health and safety. This is part of the territory. Trust yourself and your gut feelings.