Kids Flu Vaccine

Hi everyone…had my small person booked in for the flu vaccine as I knew (or thought I knew) flu jabs were okay but checked on the off chance with the chemo nurses today & sounds like it’s definitely not okay? I understand the concept is that as it’s a live vaccine she wouldn’t be able to be around me. But trying to understand how long this is an issue for as to whether or not we can somehow get away with this? I will ring doctors in the morning (altho by all accounts they are a bit useless). Has anyone else been thro this with kids or got any advice?

@sunshineandunicorns Oh this is worrying as my grandaughter is due to have hers soon. I’m booked in for mine and the Oncologist said I should definitely have it and that it was safe as it wasn’t a live virus. Maybe the children’s one is different. Definitely need to do some research on this! Thanks for mentioning this.

Yes, I’m told the spray up the nose one is a live virus so depending on her age I’m guessing she’ll be having that. I’ll let you know what I’m told by the docs tomorrow

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Hi there. This all suddenly came to a head because i discovered that my grandaughter was due to have to the nasal vaccine today.

What they said - phoned the chemo nurses, plus discussion with GP and practice nurse - they weren’t licenced to give her the injection unless it was one of her parents who was having chemo. It should be ok provided I don’t handle anything that comes out of her - eg runny nose, wiping bottom, dribble etc… I can be in the same roomwith her. So she’s had the nasal spray and I will just stay hands off for a couple of weeks.

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I had my chemo 2yrs ago now and my son was due to have his annual flu vaccine whilst I was having chemo.
When I explained the situation to my sons’ school, they made the school nurse aware and she agreed for my son to be given the flu vaccine by injection (not the nasal) - they were very accommodating and understanding.
Wishing you well throughout your ongoing treatments. 🩷🫶🏼

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Oh I hadn’t even thought of this. I’ve already signed my kids up for it but im 2 cycles in to my chemo. I will check up on whether they should have it or not.

@bluesatsuma I hadn’t thought of it either until this thread started. When my daughter took my grandaughter, who we look after 1 day a week, for her nasal spray, she was told that they couldn’t give it by injection unless it was a parent having chemotherapy. The rules may be different elsewhere of course but I’m sure that if you discuss it beforehand with them it could be arranged for your children to have the injection. Whether they’ll thank you for that is another matter…:see_no_evil:

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@bluesatsuma sorry if I’ve worried you, mine is 3 by the way…I’ve had discussions with my GP about it since & they say if you can avoid wiping bums or them coughing in your mouth you should be okay so if your kids older might be fine…

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Thanks @sunshineandunicorns, but I’m glad to know about this so thank you. I’ve read somewhere too that if I have my flu jab before kids get their nasal sprays, it should be fine. Will call gp snd ask when my flu jab can be.

My kids are 9, 11 and 15 so I can keep my distance easier than if they were small.

Xxx

@sunshineandunicorns thats exactly what I was told, so when our grandaughter comes, aged 2.5years, Grandpa id doing noses, potty etc :grin: