What can I do about this problem? I need to give my autistic son a flu vaccine.

Does your county have a Public Health Office? They do it for free usually.

Is he in any support programs like adult day care? Staff or family there might have had experience with this problem.

“Young adults” in otherwise good health do not need the flu vaccine.

In order to administer innoculations or other medications to “adults” of any age, the adult needs to give “informed consent”, unless he or she is incapable, in which case another adult with the legal authority to do so may give that consent. Your pharmacist is not “a jerk” for this reason; he appears to be competent, professional and well-informed, at least on this topic.

The doctor whose assistance you will want to enlist next will have (should have) the same scruples.

If he spends a lot of time in adult day care I think the flu vaccine is probably a good idea. If he is exclusively at home and the family doesn’t work in health care then maybe opting out of the flu vaccine is a good consideration. Do talk to his doctor before opting out.

If you can get someone from his program to help, perhaps start at Duane Reade to try the flu mist. If that doesn’t work out, you can go to the pediatrician as a backup.

You can also call the county health office and ask them who in your county receives flu mist.

Perhaps people from the program he attends can be a reference for you. You can’t be the only person with this issue.

”“Young adults” in otherwise good health do not need the flu vaccine.”

Totally untrue.

@Rarebear I think @CWOTUS Is just summarizing it up as to say, “It may not be urgent” or “He does not need the vaccine…” Either way I guess that was just an introduction statement to try and strengthen the next bits of information he shoots out in paragraph two.

@pleiades I disagree. I’m assuming that the autistic gentleman spends some time in an adult day center (most autistic adults I know do). In that case it’s really important to get a flu vaccine.

Asthma runs in my family.
My son spends time in the community doing work and in the adult program.

asthma=flu shot, I’m afraid

I’m glad I’ve grown out of my asthma, though I used to have it pretty bad.

@McKorkelAlexis
My sister had Asthma as a child. I use get to Bronchitis. When I was Pregnant they said, that I had Congested Airways and some wheezing. People like us must have flu vaccines.

Carefully controlled studies have shown that vaccines do not cause autism. You should get him vaccinated.

@RocketGuy thats not what the question was about, actually. She’s okay getting him vaccinated, just having trouble.

His doctor’s office should have a nurse or someone that would be able to help with the actual administration, if you are worried about his reacting negatively to getting the shot. I’m sure they’re use to dealing with all sorts of behavior.