Are flu shots safe for young children?

So what's a parent to do?
Fervent believers in the autism-thimerosal link remain, however. Dr. Stephanie Cave, a family physician in Baton Rouge, La., and author of "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children’s Vaccinations," holds fast to the claim. She says the U.S. government wouldn’t have ordered the removal of thimerosal from other vaccines if it didn’t pose a potential problem.

Autism is mercury and aluminum toxicity,” says Cave, who adds that she successfully treats children with autism spectrum disorder in her practice by prescribing medicine to rid their bodies of these heavy metals. Yet, Cave concedes that a child must have a genetic predisposition to autism for thimerosal to pose a risk. She also isn’t categorically opposed to the flu shot.

“I don’t have a problem with the flu vaccination, but I do have a problem with thimerosal,” she says. Cave advises parents to get only thimerosal-free flu shots for their children. Some pediatricians offer them to patients, although given how difficult it is to find even a regular flu shot this season, they could be tough to locate. Local health departments may have information on where to find thimerosal-free vaccines.

In addition, Cave claims that the risk influenza poses to children has been overblown. “We’ve overplayed the risk. People think deaths (of children) due to flu are in the thousands and they’re not,” says Cave, who tells parents to keep children out of crowds and encourage frequent hand washing as an alternative deterrent during flu season.

But, according to Mason, when you consider not only the flu but also flu-related complications, such as secondary bacterial infections like ear infections, sinus infections and pneumonia, it's difficult to overplay the risk. Many of these complications are common and can come on fast and furious in young children. In fact, kids are just as likely as the elderly to be hospitalized due to the flu, Mason notes. He urges parents to vaccinate their children against the illness. Period.

“One hundred fifty children died last year of flu-related complications. That’s real,” says Mason. “The autism issue is at very best hypothetical. We should be much more concerned about real risks versus hypothetical or, in my opinion, nonexistent risks.”

Victoria Clayton is a freelance writer based in California and co-author of the new book "Fearless Pregnancy: Wisdom and Reassurance from a Doctor, a Midwife and a Mom," published by Fair Winds Press.

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