There are debates about all types of vaccinations for children. Should my child get this vaccine, are there side effects for that vaccine? All of these questions go through almost every parents minds at one time or another.
The vaccine on most parents mind at the moment is the flu shot. Does my child really need it? Are they at risk? Do the pros out-weigh the cons?
To help you determine if your child would benefit from a flu shot, here are the recommendations from the Center of Disease Control (CDC).
- Children between 6 months and 19 years
- Children with chronic medical condition, such as asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, HIV/AIDS or kidney disease
The flu shot is given to protect against influenza, a respitory disease which causes about 36,000 deaths in the United States each year.
Opponents of the flu shot have a number of oppositions, including the question as to whether the vaccine is safe or what the long-term reprecussions could be. The largest concern is the use of thimerosal, a form of mercury that is used in as a preservative. Researchers have stated there may be a link between the use of thimerosal and autistic spectrum disorder.
In the late 1990s, the American Academy of Pediatrics and U.S. Public Health came to an agreement that vaccines for children should be thimerosal-free. By 2003 all vaccines were free of thimerosal, except the flu vaccine. Although many people believe that the use of thimerosal is harmful, the FDA states that the use of thimerosal is not harmful and was removed from the other vaccines as a precaution and is safe for use. The Institute of Medicine has released a report, “Immunization and Safety Report:Vaccines and Autism” which states that the link between the two are theoretical only.
The question still stands, is the flu shot safe for my child? The answer may be different for each parent, and it up to the parent to decide to get the vaccine or not, after doing research and making an educated decision.
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