Expert: Dr. Frederick Blount - 10/8/2004

Question
Why is it that doctors won't give a flu shot to children with a runny nose? Is it because the flu shot won't work as well on them if they are already sick? My daughter (2 yrs old) is scheduled for her flu shot today (she is high risk because of our newborn baby in the house). This morning she woke up with a runny nose and I am wondering if they will even give her the shot. With the shortage, I'd like to GET IT DONE rather than wait. What do you think?

Answer
 Doctors don't give the shot to sick kids because they feel bad enough already and they don't want to add to the discomfort. Those that don't give because of a runny know that if the child has any kind of reaction to the shot the parents will get upset and say that it should not have been given. If it were my patient and I knew that the parent was not the kind to sue, I would give the injection.