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‘Tis the (respiratory) Season!

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We’re so grateful to Michigan mom Dominique for partnering with us to share her family’s story.

It’s December! ‘Tis the season for family, food, holiday shopping, and respiratory illness. While this is typically a time for happiness and thankfulness, it is also a time of the year that us parents need to be extra mindful of the health of our little ones, who rely on us to do our part to keep them healthy and safe.

Flu season started in September, and that is typically the beginning of many months of nasty respiratory illnesses floating around, Influenza being one of the scariest. As a Pediatric Nurse, I see so many effects of children catching these viruses. I do my part every year and make sure my family receives the flu shot, but I have seen a lot of hesitancy from parents who make the decision to not vaccinate, and I think education is a vital part of my job in the hospital when it comes to educating parents on vaccines, Influenza specifically.

I think most people have heard of the “vaccines cause autism” argument and how it was disproved many years ago and refuted by the person who made the claim. The flu vaccine itself, however, has it’s own misconceptions and myths that need to be squashed, so we can keep our kids and elderly people safe.

1- I have previously gotten the flu after the flu vaccine. This myth is a common one because there are some mild side effects to the flu vaccine including low-grade fever, headache, and muscle aches. However, let me say this loud and clear: Gastrointestinal (stomach bugs/diarrhea) side effects, fever and muscle aches are NOT the flu. The flu shot protects against Influenza, which is a respiratory virus.

2-I would rather just get the Flu and let my body fight it. Contracting Influenza can be highly dangerous. While children and elderly populations are the most susceptible to the effects of Influenza, the risk of not getting the flu shot is high for all populations. If you are a healthy 20 year old person and you get the flu, your body may very well fight off the virus quickly, but if you pass on Influenza to a 75 year old person, you are putting their life at risk. The flu vaccine is safe and effective and helps protect those vulnerable populations.

3-I still get a respiratory sickness with the flu vaccine. The problem here is that when respiratory illness season coincides with flu vaccine season, people may be catching other respiratory “bugs”, and the common cold going around, but the flu shot is protecting against Influenza specifically, which can be deadly. As a Pediatric Nurse, I see it all. RSV, Bronchiolitis, Influenza. Seeing these respiratory viruses and their effects on a small childs’ body never gets easier.

When a small child gets Influenza, they are at risk for complications other than trouble breathing. Risks such as pneumonia, dehydration, worsening asthma, ear infections, and in the worst I’ve seen- encephalopathy, where there is brain function deterioration and the child can lose motor function, speech, have seizures, have altered mental status, and in saddest situations- death.

Even though providing care to children is my job, it’s still so hard for me to see a 12 month old baby struggling to breathe with high-flow oxygen providing much of their breathing support. A baby who has to have a nasogastric tube providing feedings because they are breathing too fast to eat by mouth safely. A baby who is fatigued and exhausted and can barely cry because their little body is working so hard.

This is why I vaccinate. I can’t imagine seeing my little girl struggling to breathe, and luckily right now in the midst of respiratory illness season, my little one has avoided getting sick. She received her flu shot this season, and will receive it next year as well.

All parents should be asking questions and having conversations with their child’s doctor! If you have questions about the flu vaccine, or vaccines in general, please find credible sources to get answers to your questions!

iVaccinate is an amazing resource and provides information and tools based on real medical science and research to help Michigan parents protect their kids.

I’ve partnered with I Vaccinate to share my story and this content is sponsored by I Vaccinate. I choose this partnership because I truly believe in providing this vital information about vaccinating!

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I Vaccinate provides information and tools based on real medical science and research to help Michigan parents protect their kids. Support is provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Franny Strong Foundation.

You’ve got questions. That’s a good thing.

As parents, determining how best to protect our children can be overwhelming and confusing. We’re here to help.

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