Oct 04 2008
Flu Shots
We took the kids for flu shots this morning. I tend to not comment much on the vaccine/anti-vaccine debate within the autism community because it’s no longer an issue for me. Vaccines did not make my son autistic. Period. So we vaccinate our kids and they get flu shots every year, as do we. Not that it should really matter since it’s been shown that mercury does not cause autism, but our pediatrician only uses mercury free vaccines in case anyone decides to question my parental judgement.
Anyway, this morning’s shots were particularly funny. MM went first, and I have to say she is one of the strongest kids - and I mean her character as well as physically - that I have ever come across. She had to get blood drawn yesterday and then get poked again first thing this morning. She didn’t even flinch. She said, “ouch.” That was it. No crying, no drama. I told her she rocks, because she really does.
Then it was Gus’s turn. Now, he’s been pleading not to get the shot since last night. When his turn came around, he told the nurse, “Can’t we wait until flu season?”
“It is flu season.”
“Wait, I have to go. I forgot something.” The funniest thing to come out of his mouth was, “I have to go! I have a job! I’m very busy!”
Even amid all the wrestling we had to do to keep him in the room, that one cracked me up.
As he gets older, he’s obviously getting stronger, but that gets lost on me until I actually have to keep a grip on his wriggling little form. Wow, that kid is skinny as a french cut string bean, but he is strong! And of course, the struggling at that point had more to do with not wanting to be restrained and less to do with the shot. As a matter of fact, he didn’t even flinch when he finally got the shot, almost didn’t even notice. And then, completely deadpan, “I was very brave.”
Yes you were, dude. You certainly were.
Remember to get your flu shot, and check back tomorrow to find out about Gus’s first soccer game!
I was interested in reading this post because I am worried about that flu shot. My pediatrician recommended it and I just hope she uses the mercury free type as well. I know vaccines don’t cause autism, but at the same time I wish there were some sort of test to determine if a child’s immune system could handle the shot or if they need a delayed schedule. That said, we’ve gotten all of our other vaccines on schedule so I don’t know why the flu shot bothers me. Maybe because I stopped getting it myself years ago after feeling side effects they said I wouldn’t feel, like a mild case of the flu. But I suppose with a little one of my own now, I’ll have to get one too! Here’s hoping neither of us feels sick afterwards.
I hate the side effects too, but I have found over the last couple of years getting the flu shot that even if the kids do get some level of the flu virus, it’s way less intense than when they didn’t get the shots. Having seen both of them with the full blown flu, I’d just as soon spare them. You can always request a mercury free flu shot from your pediatrician.