My son has a total freak out about shots. I know they all do but I'm not worried about the other kids...they have a mamma!! I told him we'd get the shot together so he could see mommy get the shot too. He's really upset about this. Out of no where he'll cry and say he doesn't want a shot. I haven't even made the appointment with his ped yet!! It occurred to me that the flu mist is an option. I know the effectiveness and side effects can be different for the mist or shot. Has anyone tried the mist? Does it work as well and did your kids run fever or feel icky after the mist. My son has always done really well after shots with no fever or other side effects. I don't need any comments about vaccines in general and how they are the worst thing ever. I've done quite a lot of research and we have our own schedule and a ped who respects our wishes and never pushes me to do anything I don't feel comfortable with. I've read pros and cons of the mist vs shot but would like to hear from actual moms who've had real experience with this instead of the stuff I read on the internet.
Both of my boys have had the mist last year and this year. I also got it last year, but I DESPISE snorting anything up my nose and prefer the shot! My boys haven't gotten the flu or gotten sick from the mist. There have been no side effects. I asked my oldest this year if he preferred a shot or snorting the mist up his nose, and I think he may be back in the shot line with me next year!
Last year both of my boys were very excited to get the mist!! NO SHOTS they exclaimed! They both got a bit feverish after the shot and kinda took a day easy. They were 4 and 7.
This year we went to the dr's to get shots or mist. I asked them both which one they wanted and they BOTH said they wanted the shot! I couldn't believe it. They said they didn't like how the mist felt when it went up their noses and that they would rather have the quick shot. Yes, my 5 year old cried a bit, but he got some mama snuggles and was fine after that.
Neither one of my kids got sick after the shot.
L.
My daughter has gotten the mist twice. She said it made her nose feel funny when she was doing it, but otherwise no problems at all (not that that's really a "problem.") Just so you know, if your son has any underlying medical conditions they won't give him the mist (my son has asthma, so it's out for him). It is the weakened live virus, so there is an incredibly slight possibility that he could contract the flu, unlike with the shot, which is a dead virus so there is no way to get the flu from it, that's really the only difference.
Good luck with your decision!
We had the mist for my 4 and 2 year old this year. It was painless, which was good, but they both had green noses for a week after. My 2 year old had a 1 day low grade fever. Had it not occurred on Thanksgiving weekend, it would have been less of an issue. In the future, I'll consider just getting them shots and skip the noses/fevers that we ended up with.
My oldest will probably get a shot - even though he won't like it.
We got the mist this year for the first time , even my 2 yr old was able to breathe it up her nose. No side effects at all. I thought it would have a smell or tickle at least but nothing , so easy and we were in and out of the Dr office so quick , I think it also helped that we scheduled our appointment during flu shot clinic only.
Talk with your Ped. For some kids the mist is a good option, and for others it is not. It is a live virus that is inhaled, so kids with any type of breathing issue, past RSV illness, or many autoimmune problems should not get it, but if your child is healthy with a strong and active immune system, the mist should be fine.
My son is three and got the flu mist at his check up on 11/29. He had no side-effects at all, no fever, fatigue, feeling "icky", nothing. He also has always done well with vaccines, never had side-effects before, but this was his first experience with the flu mist, so I wasn't sure how it would go. He was happy with it, just 2 quick squirts up his nose and he was fine, and pleased that he didn't have to get a shot.
My 3 year sounds exactly like your son. We opted for the mis as well, and my son still FREAKED OUT! I think he was so worked up and I'm pretty sure he thought he was getting a shot up his nose. For us it wasn't as ideal as it sounded...
My youngest son freaks out to shots as well. He has received the mist for the past 3 years. The nurse and doctor said it was more effective than the shot. He had no side effects form the mist.
Check w/ your ped b/c mine had a limited amount and we have been lucky to get the mist each year.
We love the mist. Plus, no sore arm.
My did the mist for our daughter the last two years (we're no longer doing flu shots, beginning this year). It was easy as pie. She did have the slightest of cold symptoms afterward for about two days. Nothing especially noteworthy. If we were going to continue w/ the flu shots, I would have stuck w/ the mist.
My 15 year old has gotten the mist for several years now. There was a shortage of flu vaccine a few years back and he didn't fall into one of the categories that "qualified" for the shot that year, so he got the mist. Once he knew there was an option other than the shot, there was no going back! He's never run fever or had any flu like symptoms afterwards - no complaints at all! And, there is some research to suggest that the protection from the mist lasts longer than the shot.
You don't say how old he is. I know my pedi has an age limit (but I don't know if it's a set in stone rule or just my pedi's preference).
How old is your son? My son is 2.5 and this flu shot was so quick he didn't even notice it. I talked to him while the nurse put it in his leg, and he only noticed the sticker (band-aid) and wanted to see it again. Since I don't know how old he is, it is hard to know how to approach him on this. Sorry, I don't have any experience on the shot vs. mist.
My older two kids had the mist about a month ago and didn't have any side effects at all.
BOTH my kids..... get the mist.
My daughter has gotten the mist since Kindergarten.... she is now in 3rd Grade.
My Son has gotten it since last year.
They are fine, they hate shots, they have NEVER gotten any side effects from it.
They both got theirs already for this year's flu.
The mist... is said to be more effective... and has no thimerosol in it.
If I could take the mist myself, I would. But I have Asthma... and it is not recommended for people who have Asthma.
Also.... with my kids having had the mist.... NO ONE else in my family... has 'gotten' the Flu, from them. Which some people says... happens. That is not true.
good luck,
Susan
My husband, my son (age 5), and myself all got the mist. My 2 year old got the shot because he has a heart defect and cannot get the mist. None of us had any adverse side effects from the mist. Our doctor likes for the child to be older than 2 to receive the mist. If your son has to get the shot, maybe he can get it in his thigh..I think that hurts a little less.
My older child (6 1/2) has gotten the mist a couple of times. No side effects. The one year questioned the mist was when my second daughter was newborn and couldn't get vacinnated - for a few hours after the mist, they say you could potentially spread the virus (by sneezing it out of the nose basically). I ddin't want to risk the newborn being sneezed on and getting the flu. However, teh nurse just advised me to keep them apart for a couple of hours and it would be fine.
