Free Flu shot for under 5’s
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Forum Name: General Chat
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Topic: Free Flu shot for under 5’s
Posted By: jazzy
Subject: Free Flu shot for under 5’s
Date Posted: 17 April 2010 at 7:51am
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My Dr rang me to say DS3 was entitled to the Flu shot as children under 5 were free. I know they give them to pg women, & I have had one when I was pg as It was in the early weeks before I found out & had no problems from it.
Has anyone had their under 5 done? |
Replies:
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 17 April 2010 at 9:03am
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No, I asked our DR about them but they said they only do them for kids that get sick during winter or are heart or asthma kids . Neither of mine get overly sick during winter so we opted not to do them. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 17 April 2010 at 9:22am
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My Dr is really good so I think since it is free to all under 5's they were ringing all the patients to advise them. Nice to have the option.
My kids don't get sick much but hate stuffy noses, so will get DS3 done & will see how much for the other 2 also. eta- I think I will get one also, I always get sick at winter & don't have the option of curling up in bed all day so think I will give getting sick this winter a miss, lol. DH gets them free at work so that's good. |
Posted By: NikkiB
Date Posted: 17 April 2010 at 10:09am
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I got my DS2 done a few weeks away, he's a heart baby. They are giving it to him in two doses, 1 month apart. The first dose knocked him around a little bit, I'm hoping the second dose will be ok. ------------- A very lucky mummy to two gorgeous boys: RB 3/10/2008 JB 29/12/2009 |
Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 17 April 2010 at 10:21am
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I'm going to since Dan's a heart boy but will wait a few more weeks and get us both done at the same time. Joys. ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: Kazzle
Date Posted: 17 April 2010 at 11:42am
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They are offering them to the under 5s because of the swine flu. (or thats what i was told when i was at the doctors the other day)
Just remember you or your kids shouldnt have the flu jab if you are allergic to feathers or egg. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: ange221
Date Posted: 17 April 2010 at 2:36pm
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I had to pay for DS who's 3 and a half.
He had to have two shots a month apart and I paid $30 for the first one and $25 for the second one. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 17 April 2010 at 4:46pm
Why did you have to pay? The government has made it free to under 5's, so the Dr told me, not very fair if you had to pay for it. 
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ange221 wrote:Posted By: GuestGuest
Date Posted: 17 April 2010 at 5:42pm
Hey Jazzy!  
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Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 17 April 2010 at 6:20pm
Hay LR good to see ya x |
Posted By: Nikki
Date Posted: 17 April 2010 at 9:24pm
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Jake had it last year (heart baby and asthma, and started daycare the winter before and got really sick for a few months). He had it in two does a month apart also. He had no problems with it.
This year I checked at the local medical centre and they confirmed it would be free for him again, and the dr thought it was free for all under 5s but apparently Morgan will be $26 as she doesn't fit the criteria for getting it free (asthma, pregnant, elderly etc) so I called my normal dr and its $20 (or $23?) for her there too. ------------- DS (5yrs) and DD (3yrs) |
Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 18 April 2010 at 7:41am
| After reading all the comments I was wondering why some had to pay so I googled it & found it is not free to all under 5's, just the high risk ones....which is not us, so I guess I am lucky them. |
Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 18 April 2010 at 9:07pm
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Both Chloe and Ollie had theirs, they are asthma kids. ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 19 April 2010 at 8:26am
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I had to pay for my boys! BUT.....I when we get there second dose I am getting them done at the same time and they can share it. Kids only get half the vaccine so they throw the other half away...so if you are doing two at the same time the can use the other half...therefore half the cost! I wish I had known that for the first one.
Poor James had to have his with his 15 mo imms...so we have split them too. He has MMR, flu and Hib. And next month will have flu and previnar. He was GREAT!!! Only cried as they did the injection and that was it. I decided to get mine done as James got so many colds, ear and chest infections last year and he is at daycare this year. I would hate him to get swine flu on top of a chest infection. We also live 3 hours from a hospital so it would be a HUGE inconvenience going there if he did get sick. Tom gets croup when he gets a cold (he just doesnt get many colds) so again I thought it best to get him done. I got done too as I work with the public. It took me ages to come to the decision to do it but I just cant afford the time off work....if we all got sick I could be off for up to a month looking after everyone if we all got them one after another! My arm was sore the next day but neither kids showed ANY side effects |
Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 19 April 2010 at 9:30am
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Why is it offered as 2 shots? We got it last month and it was just one.
Ours wasn't free (well work paid for it) and other than a minor temperature that evening they were fine after it. |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 19 April 2010 at 9:42am
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The gremlins had the flu jab in two doses last winter, and from memory, the winter before too. Theirs was free as they have an immune deficiency. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 7:59am
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Tishy if it's the first time having a flu shot they're meant to get a booster shot a month later (that's what the docs told us last year anyway). Since Michaela had two last year she will only need one this year but Andrew will still need two, one month apart. Michaela needs her 4yo imms too, gosh I'm going to be a popular mummy with my 2 aren't I. -------------  
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Posted By: Nikki
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 8:33am
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I was told it was done in two goes as they are little so only do half the shot at a time for kids. You shouldn't have to pay for the second one though, as they should store the other half to use. Thats what my dr did anyway. ------------- DS (5yrs) and DD (3yrs) |
Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 9:47am
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We just got the seasonal flu vaccine which included the H1N1 and 2 other strains of flu.
Based on all I've just read on MOH it is just one shot whereas the H1N1 specific flu vaccine is 2 shots. Maybe that's the difference, I'm not sure. But I got my vaccine done at a different location to the girls and neither nurse mentioned 2 shots. 
ETA: Oh and this is our first time getting it as we return to NZ the end of May. brrrrrr 
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 9:51am
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Michaela didn't get the H1N1 last year as they hadn't developed the vaccine yet. We had to pay for both too -------------
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Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 9:57am
ho humm, anyone feel like ringing 0800 IMMUNE for me? 
How charming it would be to have to fork out at least EUR60 to get their second shot done here 
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 12:49pm
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Tishy I left them a message to call me back with an answer. I'll post here once I know -------------
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Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 4:22pm
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DS3 has his Flu shot today, no probs & no tears he had no idea what he was in for, bet it won't be so easy when he has his 4yr jabs.
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Posted By: livv
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 4:30pm
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oo just read this i didnt know kids could get it done. im waiting for my doctors to ring me back for my youngest child as he has bad breathing ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 5:08pm
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I asked about my other 2 & it will cost $23 each as they are over 5
DS3 is really grumpy, can not wait till bed time |
Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 5:42pm
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I checked with 0800 Immune and was told that all children need 2 shots this year, whether they've had them before or not. Apparently children don't absorb the vaccination as well as adults. I asked if the injection used is the same as the one used in the UK and whether the rules would apply there but she said she didn't know and that you'd be better off speaking to someone over there - sorry. I also found out since M is 4 now she gets the full dose of the flu shot so I can't share the costs, I'm going to have to fork out for 4 vaccines -------------
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Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 6:59pm
| Isla had one today. The Dr where my mum goes siad it was free for under 5's. When I rang to book in Isla at our Dr's they said we had to pay $25, but today they didnt charge us- she doesnt have any medical condition that she needs it for, but she goes to daycare so we thought it wold be a godo idea. We have to go back for another one in a month, but the nurse said if she had had one last year then she would only need one. |
Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 7:51pm
Thanks so much for ringing them Mrs Mojo! grr grr grr! 
I'll get DH to ring them again to harass them some more to get some more information. I'm mainly interested in them being immune for the few weeks that we return to NZ as along with a major time difference it'll be a major climate change for them too. |
Posted By: livv
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 8:17pm
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i got a hold of my doctors and they were going to charge me 25 dollars each jab but then lookedat charlies file and saw he was in hospital for bronculitus and ashma (sp) so he will be free ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 9:55pm
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they are free if your under 5 is considered high risk - which is quite broad really - but Im confused about 2 shots too - guess I will find out tomorrow!
Any other expecting Mums had it? did it make you feel yuk - I might take panadol before I go - god looking after a grumpy toddler after a jab when you feel yuk too is enough to say I dont want it so maybe I will just take panadol anyway Im a bit nervous------------- http://lilypie.com] 
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Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 21 April 2010 at 8:03am
| I had it last week, but Im not preg! I felt fine but had quite an achy arm for a few days. |
Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 21 April 2010 at 9:25am
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I have just rung the 0800 Immune line & yes all children under 9yrs will need 2 shots about 4 weeks apart. 9yrs & over only need 1. If your child does not qualify for the free ones you will have to pay for both of them.
The lady I spoke to is ringing my Dr to see if they are aware of the 2nd shots as they never told me & will get them to recall all under 9 that did not get the second shot....so glad I rung. I will get DS3 next one done with his 4yr jabs so he does not need to go 2 more times for back to back shots. Thanks ladies for the heads up on the 2 shot I would not of know
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 21 April 2010 at 12:42pm
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I had mine done last year when I was preg and had no issues. The only really painful thing was the bill at the end. -------------
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Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 21 April 2010 at 3:11pm
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Did you have to pay last year Mrsmojo?
I was at work and it was covered so it didnt hurt like that for me So we had it done and it was all fine, my wee precious cried her little heart out but I gave her an aeroplane sweet and it was all better She has crashed out on the couch now, even after her sleep so will just keep her comfy with nurofen and pamol if she needs it The doc was really encouraging about having it done while pregnant so that was good ------------- http://lilypie.com]
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 22 April 2010 at 8:40pm
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I paid for mine. My work normally pays for it to be done but the nurses that come into the office each year wouldn't do it because I was pregnant and they wanted me to be at my actual doctor near my medical files in case something went wrong. I could have claimed it back from HR but never did. I got the free one this year though, just need to pay for 2 kids now. -------------
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Posted By: Febgirl
Date Posted: 23 April 2010 at 3:17pm
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Does anyone know if the NZ flu shot for under 5s is the same as the Austalian one? As of this morning they have suspended it countrywide due to concerns about adverse reactions in children
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/23/2880763.htm I'm guessing each country would have a different batch though... ------------- Two little girls under 2! 
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Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 23 April 2010 at 3:58pm
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I would think its all the same to be honest, unless its a dodgy batch
I actually asked though, and the doc had said no dangerous side effects had yet to be advised in NZ - just itchy or inflamed skin around the injection site and fever and grumps like anormal shot ------------- http://lilypie.com]
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 23 April 2010 at 6:22pm
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There's always some case somewhere - maybe Australia got a bad batch, as there haven't been any reported incidents in NZ, and we are pretty on to it with stopping things like that.
But just remember anti-vac people will use that as ammo that jabs are killing us all
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Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 23 April 2010 at 6:31pm
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for sure Emz, they must have got a dodgy batch - there are like 23 kids in a month as opposed to our none - seems odd - I wondered if maybe they didnt split them up like ours did, but anyway hope they find out whats up
------------- http://lilypie.com]
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