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Child flu vaccinations

Amberet

Hi everyone,

My 5 year old son (he’s autistic with a PDA profile) was offered a nasal flu vaccination at school, which he refused. We’ve been given another appointment for me to take him to have it done (tomorrow morning!) but I know it’s going to be a massive struggle.

I’m very pro-vacccination and am really keen for him to have it. I’ll take him to the appointment and try to make it as easy on him as possible, but I’ve already spoken to the community vaccination team and the adjustments they can (or are willing to) offer him are minimal (a quiet room, but only if it happens to be available at his appointment time).

I’m wondering if anyone has any tips? I’m also wondering what the lesser evil is if he’s finding it too difficult - abandon the vaccine and prevent him experiencing a meltdown, or push on and protect him from flu? I’m autistic too and am having trouble quantifying what’s best. 

Thanks!

Parents

  • This is probably a silly question but is he afraid of injections? I always have been and still am the worst person in the entire universe with them and I’m nearly 26. 

    I suppose you could try getting this Elma cream as I believe that is meant to numb the area for the jab. I’m not sure if the drs supply the cream but if they did it might require a double application. I don’t think the cream is too expensive to buy though and you could apply the cream yourself. I don’t know how effective the cream is though and with your son being a younger age he might not like the sensation of numbing. 

    Another thing could be to maybe ask for a dr/nurse who is kind and understanding as that can make a difference I find. Also maybe bring some toys or get him to watch some videos or listen to music maybe. Only other option is as you say to not get the jab and take the risk. To be honest I don’t think I’ve ever had a flu jab before but I’m not sure. All I know if I’ve had the MMR, polio and another two combined with polio, meningitis and of course corona. 

    I just hope one day there will be other forms of vaccination! I mean I’ve heard of like a cube that you sucked on years ago but I don’t even know if they exist now! 

    Wishing you both the best x 

  • in reply to Elfilis

    Hi Elfilis, thank you for responding.

    He hasn’t had trouble with needles in the past, but luckily the flu vaccine he’ll be receiving this time is a nasal one so it’s just a quick squirt up the nose (which probably doesn’t feel very nice either to be honest!) He’s had one before, and didn’t particularly enjoy it, but didn’t find it too bad either.

    I think this is more him trying to avoid doing something he feels pressured to do, or something that’s outside his usual routine. He also refused his eye test at school. We’ll take his tablet so he can play on his games while having it, and will definitely ask for someone appropriate to give it to him. I had flu once myself about 15 years ago and it was terrible, so I don’t really want to risk him catching it. But equally don’t want to traumatise him either!

    It’s a good suggestion re buying our own emla cream - I’ll keep that in mind for his future needly ones :-)

Reply
  • in reply to Elfilis

    Hi Elfilis, thank you for responding.

    He hasn’t had trouble with needles in the past, but luckily the flu vaccine he’ll be receiving this time is a nasal one so it’s just a quick squirt up the nose (which probably doesn’t feel very nice either to be honest!) He’s had one before, and didn’t particularly enjoy it, but didn’t find it too bad either.

    I think this is more him trying to avoid doing something he feels pressured to do, or something that’s outside his usual routine. He also refused his eye test at school. We’ll take his tablet so he can play on his games while having it, and will definitely ask for someone appropriate to give it to him. I had flu once myself about 15 years ago and it was terrible, so I don’t really want to risk him catching it. But equally don’t want to traumatise him either!

    It’s a good suggestion re buying our own emla cream - I’ll keep that in mind for his future needly ones :-)

Children
  • in reply to Amberet

    Ah I reread your post and you mentioned nasal flu vaccine, sorry I missed that part. I’ve never had a spray up the nose before so I don’t know what it’s like but I can imagine it to be hard for a young child. 

    I definitely agree to bringing the tablet and maybe bring a cuddly toy as well to cuddle and stroke. I even do that when I’m in public but I have to put mine in my bag! Change in routine can be frustrating but it’s just this one off and once the spray is done everything can go back to normal maybe? 

    At least the school is offering these vaccinations and eye tests, in my primary school we didn’t get any of that and though I was able to get my vaccinations free at the drs, we had to pay for the eye tests and I fainted at my last appointment which was 11 years ago! 

    Sorry if I you have said this before but is your son having his spray in school? If so are you able to come in and comfort him? Only other option could be to maybe push the date back a bit more so your son could possibly get his mind around it, but that can be risky move. It’s definitely better to get the spray though as the flu is horrible. I actually had it back in April for the whole month and it was awful! 

    I hope everything works out for you guys and feel free to let us know how you got on! You take care!