FLU SHOTS--Pros & Cons needed, I have a 3yr old with asthma...all experiences wanted?

All it takes for my son to go into an attack is the sniffles. His action plan requires a nebulizer treatment with Albuterol Sulfate as needed ( recomended---every 4-5 hrs) however , it is usually so severe that it requires a treatment every hour. When it is worse than that, he is prescribed 6ml of Prednisolone twice a day for five days.
I've heard that the flu shot containes Mercury and can cause serious side effects...any true to this? Any pro/cons for the flu shot at this age & what form of flu will it cover? Should I take him for one or not? ( My doctor is not much help with this decision, because she wants it...my mother is a registered nurse and advises against it...PLEASE HELP!)

I have a 3yr old myself. We did it last year at 2yrs and he seemed to get sick right after. This year I said no and he is ok. It could be a coincidence but we are not going to do it again.

Flu shots "are" recommended for children with asthma.

I'll be back with a website for you.

OK Here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17519911

This other article suggests that the flu shot does not trigger asthma.
Here: http://www.indiana.edu/~ocmhp/120701/tex...

Here is an article on the Benefits and Risks of the shot!
Go: http://ezinearticles.com/?Benefits-and-R...

Personally I never had my kids get the shot because we ate highly nutritious foods and took supplements to protect us against the elements. I don't think I ever had a flu shot in my life but what worked for me may not be for everyone. I hope the articles help you to decide. There were more articles so if you want them let me know.

there is no guarantee that the flu shot prevents or lessens or is even the same strain as the one that will hit; it is a best guess ; if there is any allergy to eggs , then the shot shouldn't be taken; unfortunately as a parent , we have to do the best that we can; I have 4 children , all grown and never had them get the flu shot; you can sick just from the shot; good hygiene , hands washing etc ; not sure if he goes to daycare which is another issue for exposure; a shot doesn't guarantee not getting sick.

Flu vaccination will help people with chronic lung diseases like asthma since viral infections are known triggers for attacks. It is also true that it may contain mercury in the form of thimerosal which some has implicated in the rising numbers of autism. Talk with your pediatrician if there are any brand in the market that does not contain mercury.

I really don't about this question. I believe in flu shot and receive them once a year.You lose less sick time at work. I never have had the flu and if I had I wasn't aware of it.I really don't know what to tell you. Maybe you can get other opp ions from other doctors.You need to makesome kind of plan as soon you can, as the flu season is going to be here. Take care and good luck with your little one.

I quote from 鈥?Feb 23, 2006 (CIDRAP News) 鈥?A federal advisory committee recommended yesterday that children aged 2 through 4 and their household contacts and caregivers get annual influenza shots, a move that increases the number of people included in official flu-immunization recommendations by more than 16 million.鈥?br>
Which contains the following paragraph -

鈥淭he ACIP continues to "strongly" recommend vaccination of children who have chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, kidney disease, or weakened immunity, the CDC said.鈥?br>
As a mother you must be guided by what you feel is correct. Drugs are available for Asthma. No one is able to forecast what result there will be from an individual receiving any medication for the first time. You might enquire from the location where the treatment will be given as to their readiness for a reaction from an asthmatic child following the injection or nasal spray anti flu vaccine.
With regard to your question about mercury, Thimerosal is a very effective preservative that has been used since the 1930s to prevent contamination in some multi-dose vials of vaccines (preservatives are not required for vaccines in single dose vials). Thimerosal contains approximately 49% ethylmercury. There is no convincing evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines, except for minor reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site. However, in July 1999 the Public Health Service (PHS) agencies, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and vaccine manufacturers agreed that thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated in vaccines as a precautionary measure.
To answer your question referring to the form of flu that the vaccine covers, there are two types of vaccines that protect against the flu. The "flu shot" is an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use among people 6 months of age or older, including healthy people and those with chronic medical conditions. A different kind of vaccine, called the nasal-spray flu vaccine (sometimes referred to as LAIV for Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine or FluMist), was approved in 2003. The nasal-spray flu vaccine contains attenuated (weakened) live viruses, and is administered by nasal sprayer. It is approved for use only among healthy people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant. Each of the two types of vaccine contains three influenza viruses, which are chosen based on information about recently circulating strains. Each of the three vaccine strains in both vaccines 鈥?one A (H3N2) virus, one A (H1N1) virus, and one B virus 鈥?are representative of the influenza vaccine strains recommended for that year. Viruses for both vaccines are grown in eggs.


I add the link to the whole page that I mentioned at the beginning -

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/
cidrap/content/influenza/
general/news/
feb2306flushots.html

Hope this helps
matador 89