With the cooler weather also comes more frequent illness. I do not know about everyone else, but it seems that our toddler only gets sick when her Daddy is on his hitch, leaving me, myself, and I as the only option to help her get better. A sick kiddo is one particular area where I struggle as a working OFW. All year long I bank every possible vacation, sick, and personal day I can so that I can use them in the winter months should our daughter get sick, but it never fails there are always more sick days than there are paid days off. Because I do work, I am always researching how to keep my family healthy which led me to my recent interest in researching vaccinations, particularly the Influenza Vaccination.
There are always two sides to every story, and quite honestly I am literally torn when it comes to the flu vaccination. You hear horror stories about the horrific, life altering, even deadly side effects caused from the injection and then on the other hand you get an ear full about being socially responsible and doing the right thing “aka get yourself a dam vaccination so you do not get me or someone in my family sick” however, both sides have a rather convincing argument.
The one and only year I got the flu shot, I was sick with flu like symptoms at least one week out of every month during the winter. My husband gets the flu shot every year because his oilfield company requires it and he never gets sick, ever! Though the flu is rarely as serious in adults it can be extremely dangerous for children. Taking into consideration the flu shot makes me extremely sick, and does an incredible job at keeping my husband healthy, leads me to the looming question: Do we give our toddler the flu shot or not? Will it keep her healthy or make her sick?
Take a look at these 10 flu shot pros and cons to help you make the best decision for your oilfield family, toddlers included!
Flu shot pros:
The flu vaccine can’t give you the flu, FACT! The vaccine is made from a seriously weakened form of the flu virus, which cannot give you influenza.
This year’s shot has three times the protection! This year’s vaccine has more than the H1N1 virus strain; it also has two other strains that were identified as possible contaminants for us here in the Northern hemisphere. With the shot you will not be fighting one strain of the flu but actually fighting against three!
There is a less painful option for the same vaccination! There’s a nasal spray flu vaccine that’s just as effective as the injection. The nasal spray vaccine is even approved for healthy people between the ages of 2 and 49.
It’s FREE for the working oilfield mamas! Many companies offer free flu shots. In the United States, 79 percent of employers with consumer-driven health plans offer free flu shots!
Save your time off! Vaccinations help in preventing illness that use up those valuable and limited sick and personal days at work.
Flu shot cons:
You could be allergic! If you are allergic to eggs, then the flu shot is not a good option for you. The flu vaccine is actually cultivated inside of chicken eggs!
There is no guarantee, period. Like with a number of at home remedies, prescription, or over the counter medications there is never 100% guarantee! The flu shot will only help prevent against the three most common wide spread strains!
Once you get the vaccination, it takes about two weeks for the vaccine to really kick in. It’s a better idea to get a jump start of the flu season and get your vaccination prior to the illness even surfacing!
Mercury warning! A seasonal flu shot has small amounts of mercury added as a preservative. Mercury has been linked to certain brain and nerve disorders especially in children.
You may feel icky at first. Some people develop symptoms ranging from soreness and swelling at the area of injection to low-grade fever and achiness. Not to worry, these symptoms generally clear up within a day or two.
Do you get a vaccination yourself, or your children? I love to here ya’lls good and bad feedback!
Join the Real Oilfield Wives Community!