<![CDATA[Flu Vaccine - for the big exam?]]>Hi fellow parents…My friend recommended that I should get my daughter (taking PSLE this year) jabbed to prevent her from falling sick during PSLE. I am quite reluctant to do it as I came across negative reports about it in the web. So far she was only jabbed once in K1 (i think it was the SARs year) and none after that. I had the jab too at the same time and I fell quite ill some months later so I did not really have a good feeling about it. What’s your take about it? Can share your experience?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/2349/flu-vaccine-for-the-big-examRSS for NodeMon, 20 Apr 2026 12:04:07 GMTSun, 15 Mar 2009 16:02:53 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Flu Vaccine - for the big exam? on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 03:57:44 GMT]]>Hi Guys,

Many of my friends are suggesting that it is better to take the flu vaccine, not only for those who travel overseas but even for those appearing for PSLE and other major board exams to be on the safer side. What do you all suggest? Has anyone tried this? :?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/345873https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/345873Wed, 26 Jan 2011 03:57:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Flu Vaccine - for the big exam? on Thu, 07 May 2009 03:07:49 GMT]]>sashimi, thanks for your reply.

One more question, what is natural honey ?

We are going to H1N1 infected areas in the coming school holidays, so thought better quickly boost immune system…

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/27638https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/27638Thu, 07 May 2009 03:07:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Flu Vaccine - for the big exam? on Wed, 06 May 2009 07:40:44 GMT]]>Yup, in the swallowable pearl form (Scotts). One a day, which is minimal actually.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/27506https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/27506Wed, 06 May 2009 07:40:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Flu Vaccine - for the big exam? on Wed, 06 May 2009 06:43:37 GMT]]>

sashimi:


My advice is: get enough sleep, drink lots of plain water, avoid cold drinks, and take a daily dose of DHA/cod liver oil + natural honey. This worked for me. It reduced my DD's original rate of illness (once every other month, once lasting 10 weeks) to almost negligible.
Sashimi, so you let your daughter take Cod liver Oil ?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/27497https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/27497Wed, 06 May 2009 06:43:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Flu Vaccine - for the big exam? on Tue, 05 May 2009 13:33:01 GMT]]>

MLR:
... Which is why the flu jab is good only for 6mths or so, cos every 6 mths WHO will release stats on which is the most common strains circulating. Then the pharma companies will mfr according to WHo's stats, but the jab will not be able to cover all strains, just the most common at various period...

Good info, MLR. My flu shots seem to last me a year though - I always know when it expires because it will be followed by a nasty cold 😞

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/27399https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/27399Tue, 05 May 2009 13:33:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Flu Vaccine - for the big exam? on Tue, 05 May 2009 13:30:53 GMT]]>To the best of my knowledge, the flu jab is NOT for the common flu that we get here in the tropics. Influenza is actually a common infection that is caused by a family of viruses that is constantly mutating, which result in different strains. Which is why the flu jab is good only for 6mths or so, cos every 6 mths WHO will release stats on which is the most common strains circulating. Then the pharma companies will mfr according to WHo’s stats, but the jab will not be able to cover all strains, just the most common at various period.


It is recommended to jab if you are travelling or working as air crews, tour guides, hotel staff, etc. cos you are in contact with tourists who may be exposed when travelling to S’pore. Of course if you suffering from chronic illness that compromise your immune system, infants, senior citizens, then you are also in the high risks group due to your weaker immune system, then you may want to take the jab. As known it is not the flu that kills, its complications like pneumonia, meningitis (theres 2 forms: viral and bacterial, bacterial being the more severe form) that can be fatal.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/27398https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/27398Tue, 05 May 2009 13:30:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Flu Vaccine - for the big exam? on Tue, 05 May 2009 10:05:32 GMT]]>Just a reminder for parents. Before bringing your kids for a jab, please make sure they are absolutely healthy. If they have a mild cold, cough etc, it would be prudent to postpone the trip till they are fully recovered.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/27379https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/27379Tue, 05 May 2009 10:05:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Flu Vaccine - for the big exam? on Tue, 05 May 2009 10:00:01 GMT]]>

ZacK:

.. for the mandatory injections, I would choose the \"de-bundled\" simplified form, which currently to my understanding is 3 in 1. You will hardly find any manufacturers that produce jabs for single illness.
Actually, the only mandatory (by law) jabs in Singapore are for [1] diphtheria, and [2] measles. As for single jabs, have lah, there are single jabs available - the only thing is it's difficult for doctors to order them from the pharmaceutical firms if there is insufficient demand.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/27378https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/27378Tue, 05 May 2009 10:00:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Flu Vaccine - for the big exam? on Tue, 05 May 2009 09:00:41 GMT]]>

phankao:
got jabs to prevent diarrhoea ah??? din know

Think its for Rotavirus, that causes commonly know as stomach flu, but more serious and can cause complications for younger children and senior citizens.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/27373https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/27373Tue, 05 May 2009 09:00:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Flu Vaccine - for the big exam? on Tue, 05 May 2009 08:43:50 GMT]]>

ZacK:
My personal take which I told the pedia... I'm not for injecting too much or unnecessarily... With my new born other than the usual jabs (which come in 5 in 1 and also 6 in 1 injections) we were also informed of jabs against diarrhea, influenza etc...

.
got jabs to prevent diarrhoea ah??? din know

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/27369https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/27369Tue, 05 May 2009 08:43:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Flu Vaccine - for the big exam? on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:41:00 GMT]]>Thanks for sharing your thoughts. There’s much debate going on about the pros and cons of the flu shot and I wanted to hear about your experiences with it. I did not have a good experience with it but my dd seems ok with it when she had it in K1. Since then, she has daily doses of fish oil and cactus juice (alternate days) and i think this helps just like what sashimi is advocating. From what I gather some people seem to benefit while others not. I guess it very much depends on your own "body" reaction !

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/20216https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/20216Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:41:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Flu Vaccine - for the big exam? on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:18:57 GMT]]>Personally, I swear by the flu shot. For as long as it lasts, I’m normally impervious to all kinds of flu bugs. I know the moment it "wears off" after a year when I start catching colds again.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/20210https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/20210Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:18:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Flu Vaccine - for the big exam? on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:15:16 GMT]]>My personal take which I told the pedia… I’m not for injecting too much or unnecessarily… With my new born other than the usual jabs (which come in 5 in 1 and also 6 in 1 injections) we were also informed of jabs against diarrhea, influenza etc…


My rule of thumb is:
1. if the illness will not be life threatening or debilitating, then I will choose not to take the injection but let the body defend itself.
2. for the mandatory injections, I would choose the "de-bundled" simplified form, which currently to my understanding is 3 in 1. You will hardly find any manufacturers that produce jabs for single illness.

Just my personal preference.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/20137https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/20137Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:15:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Flu Vaccine - for the big exam? on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:03:24 GMT]]>You said you fell quite ill after having that jab. That should answer your question.


New strains of influenza viruses appear and replace older strains. When a new strain of human influenza virus emerges, antibody protection that may have developed after vaccination with an older strain may not provide protection against the new strain.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/20102https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/20102Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:03:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Flu Vaccine - for the big exam? on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 08:14:40 GMT]]>My personal take:


If you don’t feel good about it, don’t do it. Don’t feel pressured or compelled to get a jab just because others are doing it and all the GPs plaster posters on their clinic glass walls implying that you will suffer if you don’t.

Personally, I don’t believe in any one-size-fits-all kind of health-related recommendations. I think flu jabs work for some people (for any number of reasons from it actually works to psychological effects), and won’t work for others. It never made a difference with my DD (we tried it once).

On the other hand, abandoning cough syrups, cold syrups and paying $38 for every trip to the GP to get a subscription I can write myself - and focusing on common sense health tips + some experimentation with supplements - made all the difference for my family.

My advice is: get enough sleep, drink lots of plain water, avoid cold drinks, and take a daily dose of DHA/cod liver oil + natural honey. This worked for me. It reduced my DD’s original rate of illness (once every other month, once lasting 10 weeks) to almost negligible.

Although I know it’s difficult to ask everyone to get enough sleep (a laughable idea in today’s workaholic world), and everyone knows fried food and soft drinks are bad - I realize the one thing I can recommend is the DHA+honey. Maybe it will work for you, maybe it won’t - but consider it and give it a try. Vitamin C, btw, is totally overrated and useless, imho.

Actually in the first place, are you concerned because your daughter falls ill often? If so, one initial step is to examine her habits/lifestyle - eg. does she sleep in aircon every night? Does she drink cold drinks every day? Does she get very little rest even when sick? Is it stress from school?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/20100https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/20100Mon, 16 Mar 2009 08:14:40 GMT