The flu virus shot and asthma???

I understand that the flu shot only protects the particular strain of flu that it is designed for. if i caught a different strain of flu other than what i have been vaccinated for will my flu shot work!i ask this because i am debating on getting my 5 yr old who has asthma the shot this year. she has very mild asthma triggered by a cold in which she has never had the flu or a very serious cold as of yet and i just wanted to give it a rest this year to skip another dose of mercury that's included in the flu shot?im very concern about my decision. Thank you for any insight.

Anyone with asthma should definitely get a flu shot. They usually protect against the 3 worse strains that year.

The flu shot has such a minute amount of mercury in it that it doesn't pose a problem. You can also request a thimerosal free shot with no mercury, but since it is a preservative, they are in limited supply.

Your child has a much greater chance of a fatality from the flu than from years and years of such a small amount a mercury as we get in flu shots.

go to www.cdc.org for the most up-to-date information on vaccines.

i would get her the shot. my son has asthma and the doctor recommended the shot.

I would get it for her, especially if she is around other children a lot.

There is a vaccine out with no mercury. It has been out for a couple years. I worked in pediatrics and we had it in 2004. Our pediatricians sent letters to parents of kids with asthma advising them to come in and get the flu vaccine.

Talk to a doctor--I understand that there is a nonmercury flu vac.
Peace.

It is true that the flu vaccine only protects against a certain strand of the flu... BUT.. If you get the vaccine you are less likely to get other types of the flu as well. Also if you do get them they will last less time.

I was a 2nd grade teacher last year and we got a strand of the flu in our class that was not protected by the virus. The children who had gotten flu shots did not get sick and the ones that didn't get a shot had the flu.

The vaccine also protects against colds. I would suggest that you get it. The shot is not dangerous. Otherwise they would not offer it for children.

Check out WEBMD, they had some good information last year.