Getting Vaccines with a Cough/cold?

Updated on October 23, 2013
M.W. asks from Flushing, NY
12 answers

My daughter is due for vaccines tomorrow but she has developed a minor cough/cold. I called the doctor's office but no one could give me a straight answer as to whether or not my daughter can get her vaccines with a cold. So just to be on the safe side, I postponed my daughter's appointment for 2 weeks from now. Did I do the right thing? Or could my daughter have gotten her vaccines tomorrow? I just thought it was better to ere on the side of caution.

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So What Happened?

So here's what happened: I ended up making an appointment for 2 weeks from now as a back up as well as kept today's appointment. I went in and had the doctor check her before administering any vaccines. He said the it was best to wait and come back when she is better. So now I have my back up appointment scheduled and will be coming back in 2 weeks. Better safe than sorry!

Featured Answers

D.B.

answers from Boston on

I'd be concerned that you didn't get a straight answer. Seems odd to me.

I think it's okay that you postponed. Maybe it wasn't necessary, but they wouldn't tell you, and so you made a sensible choice. No harm in delaying for 2 weeks.

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F.B.

answers from New York on

My ped explained that the reason you might want to delay in giving a vaccine if a child already has a cold/ virus is that the current illness might mask/ muddle/ or complicate any reaction that the child has to a vaccine.

That said, mine is ok with vaccinating an otherwise healthy child who has a cold/ cough/ the sniffles, but isn't running fever.

Best to you and yorus,
F. B.

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P.N.

answers from Denver on

Can't imagine why anyone would further tax a child's immune system with a vaccine while the child is trying to fight something else off. You did the right thing, Momma.

1 mom found this helpful

N.G.

answers from Dallas on

Vaccines are an introduction of something "new" to the immune system, so it stands to reason that the immune system gets overwhelmed. We had a chiropractor tell us that once. I don't take everything she says as absolute, but it makes sense. I usually don't get my kids vaccinated unless they are healthy (not sick).

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M.P.

answers from Raleigh on

I was always told as long as there is no fever present, then it's ok get vaccinated.

1 mom found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

Either way is fine.
We went ahead with vaccinations as long as there was no fever in progress.
If there was a fever then we'd wait a few weeks.

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C.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I have two girls a 18 and 9 year old, honestly I would of done the same thing, as long as she eventually gets the vaccines no harm done. Why torture her with a sore arm/leg depends on how old she is, when she already doesn't feel good. Plus she could develop some side effects from the vaccines that mimic the flu and you want to be able to decipher whats what. Good call!!!

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M.B.

answers from New York on

I would have brought her in and let the Pediatrician decide.
But you know your child best. A vaccine a couple of weeks late is not the end of the world.

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P.K.

answers from New York on

You did right thing.

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J.C.

answers from New York on

I got a flu shot 5 years ago and I had a cold. The nurse said it was fine to get the shot. My cold got worse and I was sick in bed for a week. I'm totally pro vaccine but I would wait until she is feeling better.

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B..

answers from Dallas on

Not a big deal. If it were her first of a kind vaccination, I'd recommend waiting but at 4 or 5 its no big deal either way.

A.L.

answers from Montgomery on

I don't know why the Docs office couldn't give you a legitimate answer that would head me to another Doc for sure...but back to your question, I would not have a child vaccinated, get a flu shot, etc, when/if they had a fever and/or cough, A vaccination/flu shot introduces a portion of the disease into the system in order to protect the body from a harsher sickness later on, that is why there is a group of parents who do not believe in having their children immunized, that is the far side of the spectrum but that is the reasoning behind the belief...hope your little one is better soon! :)

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