Flu shot and school

[mamaturtle]

Every school year for the past couple of years, I have signed DS up for the flu mist at school.

Two years ago, they stopped giving the flu mist and were not able to give DS the flu shot at school. He did not receive it because DS did not cooperate. I had to take DS into the pediatrician's office to get it.

Last year, they ran out of flu shots and I had to take DS into the pediatrician's office.

Two years ago and now, the nurse called me to tell me they can't restrain DS to give them the shot and that I would have to come in while the nurse gives the shot as a precaution. She just called me today to tell me the date and reminded me again.

I am just mad. When she reminded me again, I told her I could not come in and DS would be fine if you distract him with an Ipad or something to give him his flu shot. She just laughed. I should of asked her straight out if she is just calling me because DS has ASD.

Is it just me overreacting? Or do you all struggle with your DC with SN getting a flu shot? Is there something I am not seeing?

[miranda]

Huh. I've never heard of a school offering a flu shot. At our school the PTA has a flu shot booth at the fall carnival but the parents have to bring the kid and it's administered by a (non-school) nurse. I assume this is to absolve liability. I suppose a child who is resisting a shot is at risk for the needle breaking off or something. And restraining a child at school is very heavily regulated, at least in my state.

Honestly I couldn't imagine having a school nurse trying to administer shots to an entire school. Even NT kids have some very real aversions to shots.

PS: I miss the mist!!!!!!

[mamaturtle]

In our school district, the school passes out forms for the parents to fill out for the nurse to issue flu shots at school. It is easier for me to do it this way.

Those are my exact thoughts miranda, about the NT kids.

I don't like shots or my blood being drawn either but I try my utmost to be distracted.

[auntie]

Wow. Flu shots at school- how convenient would that be? LOLZ- DS never got flu shots in school until college.

The school can't restrain a child for the convenience of getting a flu shot in school (or anything else). Does he still need some sort of "strategy" for shots? If he's OK without, I would tell the nurse he's matured and can have the shot like any other kid. If he's not OK, I would schedule him at the pedi to avoid people (the nurse and other kids) making assumptions about him based on one stigmatizing incident around getting a shot. As miranda, points out, lots of folks hate needles.

DS never really had an aversion to shorts or blood draws- he actually watches. Ick.That reminds me, I need to get him to go in for a shot. His workplace is a nest of contagions.

PS: I miss the mist, too. Especially the sticker that says "I picked my nose" they handed out at the community pandemic drills. Fun times.

[mamaturtle]

auntie, geez about the sticker.

DS would think it would have been okay to pick his nose if he saw that sticker. And here I am trying to keep him from doing that.

[auntie]

Oct 10, 2017 14:33:54 GMT -5 mamaturtle said:

auntie , geez about the sticker.

DS would think it would have been okay to pick his nose if he saw that sticker. And here I am trying to keep him from doing that.

DS was in high school by then and thought it was funny. He did have fading nose-picking as an IEP goal in 2nd. 

[mightymaude]

I would never expect the school to be able to give either of my kids a flu shot, or to supply distractions for them, but maybe I am more shocked that it is possible to get them at school?

Shots require an appointment somewhere and then a 15+ minute span of time in a reclining chair b/c DS first fights and then faints.

DD requires restraint.

Neither could get the mist because of insane gag reflexes, and DD can't coordinate her body enough to breathe in like that anyway.

[macchiatto]

I am also jealous of the possibility of getting flu shots at school! And yes, I definitely also miss the mist!!
But yeah ... my boys are both a mess with those. The NT twin actually pitches a fit about them more than my child with special needs (which surprised us since he does have anxiety, SPD, etc.).

[lemonberry]

Some of the parishes here give out flu shots at school. I don't think mine does, but I don't trust the schools to do it either. DS's cousin (ASD dx) broke two needles from flu shots off in his leg and I can just picture that happening with DS if DH or I weren't there.

My nursing school passed out a lot of the shots to kids at local school (lots of practice for giving shots). And the school nurses that we followed were super anti anything that might be a liability.

[NandaB]

I don't know if you are having other issues with the school, but to me this doesn't sound like "they have something against my kid because he has a disability" I'm pretty sure there are laws about school employees restraining children. It sounds like they were trying to offer you an alternative instead of just saying "we can't do it". If you can't go to school guess you just go to the pedi like the rest of us.

[kkfeb04]

You are overreacting, sorry. I can't get past the school giving out flu shots. Just get the shot at the pedi. I have two asd kids and I take them to get their shot at the same time by myself. H works weird hours and since their pedi is 45 min away and near their pedi rehab center, I typically schedule the shots near the time of their therapies since we are there at least twice a week.

I ply with gummies. The shots are given at the same time in the same room and I just keep giving gummies. They are fine after two minutes.