Are you making your family get the flu shot and/or Tdap?

Question

My doctor recommended that all family coming into close contact with the baby soon after it’s born should get both the flu shot as well as the tdap shot for whooping cough. My family is against vaccines and refuses to get them. Should I not let them hold my baby or is it not that big of a deal?

Answer

Yes, absolutely. The flu shot isn't a big deal, the whole family gets it except my sister missed hers so I'm asking her to get it just because the flu is so rough on little babies! The Tdap I am adamant about - my parents, sisters, one cousin, and my mother in law all have firm plans to visit within the first two months, and my father in law and brother in law live with us. Whooping cough is terrifying and is making a comeback thanks to antivaxxers - I want my little guy to have all the protection possible until he can get his own vaccines.

Answer

I have never even heard of requesting your family to get shots. That’s so strange to me to require someone else to do something to their body. But my husband is military so he is forcefully always up to date on shots.

Answer

We are going to recommend to them that they get the shot, but not witholding baby from them if they dont.
If they have a cough or sneeze or cold of any kind we will ask them to wait until they are healthy to interact, but if they appear otherwise healthy we wont make a fuss about it.

Answer

Flu season is pretty well over by end of April. I’m due the 28th so it seems like it would be unlikely for people to have the flu in May after baby comes. Flu shot in September/ October is more important because that’s actually start of flu season and baby won’t be old enough to get the shot yet.

Answer

I’m pretty firm that anyone who will be around baby is to be vaccinated. His well being is more important than any reason to not get it (unless there’s a medical reason they cannot).

Answer

I’ve had the stomach flu in May before and it was awful so don’t think that just because the season is over.... nobody will get sick. It also hit me like a ton of bricks all of a sudden and was the strain that was contagious for 3 days prior to any symptoms hitting you. 
I’ve also had whooping cough before when I was younger... it also has a contagious period prior to symptoms starting.
Just because your family may seem healthy doesn’t mean they aren’t carrying something without symptoms yet that can easily be transferred to your baby. 
Luckily half my family got the shots when my niece was born and my other side has no issue. If they did though, we would tell them they cannot hold the baby until they get the shot or the baby does.

Answer

flu season is pretty much over, so no on flu but major yes on tdap & mmr. especially with all the freaking measles outbreaks around the country & babies can’t get the mmr vaccine until 12-15 months. this is WHY people need to vaccinate their children & stay up to date on their stuff. to stop this crap from coming back. 😑

Answer

I am not. My dr said its more important that i get it for babys sake. But if they don't get it i wont lose sleep over it

Answer

I got the jabs but certainly didn’t expect anyone else to. I think if the family are sensible ie don’t visit when they have a cold and wash their hands before holding baby you are covering all reasonable bases

Answer

I only made my husband get it, but I wont withold my chils if the relative isn't sick.

Are you making your family get the flu shot and/or Tdap?

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