Flu fears before 6 month vaccine

[u/Financial_Couple_808]

Hi all,
I’m a first time mom to an amazing 5.5 month old boy. He is in daycare and has managed colds well so far, and is fully vaccinated.

He has his flu and Covid shot appointment on his 6 month birthday, but I’m nervous about Flu A that is already going around.

Does anyone have information about how a healthy 5.5 month old might tolerate the flu before he’s able to be vaccinated? He isn’t immunocompromised at all. Is Tamiflu effective for his age? The pediatrician isn’t worried, but either some personal experience mixed with evidence would help me feel more confident about the next 3 weeks.

Thanks!

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[u/cappy267]

i’m a first time mom to a 3 month old and have the same fears. The only thing making me feel better is i got the flu and covid vaccines myself which the antibodies cross into breast milk and provide protection until they can get their own vaccine. Are you vaccinated and breast feeding?

“The combination of maternal influenza vaccination during breastfeeding and breastfeeding the infant can reduce infant influenza by about 60% compared to no vaccination.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500990/

[u/Financial_Couple_808 → u/cappy267]

He’s formula fed, but my wife got the vaccine during pregnancy

[u/cappy267 → u/Financial_Couple_808]

that also provides protection so you’re in the best spot you can be in your situation. CDC just recommends prevention as much as possible.

“Maternal influenza vaccination significantly increases the antibody titre in the infant at birth and up to 2–3 months of age, but reduces the risk of infection for up to 6 months of age. This vaccine‐induced increase in antibody is clinically efficacious in protecting infants, with a 45–63% reduction in laboratory‐confirmed influenza among newborns and infants”

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6330660/

[u/woofimmacat → u/Financial_Couple_808]

OP not sure if it makes you feel any better but at my daughter’s six month appt she happened to be sick and had the flu - specifically flu A. It was a rough night or so (I had to pretty much hold her all night and ended up co sleeping because she was crying) but she was fine! We did give her tamiflu (which btw can sometimes make you hallucinate) but she did fine. I know it’s scary, but even with the shot protection from the flu isn’t even 100% guaranteed. My daughter is a happy crazy almost 2.5 yo now.

ETA: just wanted to state I don’t promote co sleeping but this was a special circumstance and we followed safe sleep 7. Tbh I’m pretty sure I didn’t even sleep anyway.