 [ Symptoms ] how can i convince a reluctant child to get a flu shot [ Disease ] why [not] flumist it is an equally effective some studies say more effective flu vaccine that can be sprayed in the nose no needles when i do have to negotiate with a reluctant child about a shot i do a few things 1 i give them choices they can have one shot assuming they only need one or two 2 i can give them a booster instead of a shot it is the same thing but the word booster sounds less painful  3 they can get it in their arm or leg where it does not hurt very much or their eye of course we do not do eye shots so this becomes an easy choice 4 i tell them this i am not supposed to do this but if you do not tell anyone i will use the little tiny baby needle the one we use for infants instead of the big person needle how about that  5 and finally if this little booster hurts you tell the nurse right away and she will take it out immediately  of course she is going to do that anyway  the games we play