Anyone else had the Swine Flue vaccine yet??

[Nats21]

I had it tuesday too and i'm exactly the same, apart from my arm being a bit sore I feel fine, i'd prefer to have the vaccination and protect me and my baby then risk catching swine flu, especially as they're expecting it to be back next month because of winter coming xx

 

[beaney]

I'm glad you're all discussing this on here. I'm so unsure what to do. Like Kacie, I'm also swaying from one decision to another. One minute I'm convinced by the pro-vaccine idea and decide it would be best, and the next minute I'm so scared about what the vaccine might do as there's no certain research into it.

CJ, you make so much sense and I can tell you know what you're talking about. Do you know if your information also covers the Pandemrix vaccine, which is what is recommended for pregnant women in the UK? It contains adjuvant and thiomersal, amongst other ingredients. I think something different is offered in Canada?

I just wish I could have a guarantee that the vaccine would not detrimentally affect the baby!

 

[Kacie]

And I know this question has been raised before, but again I don't feel like I've found an answer to it yet....

Is there any reason to wait until second trimester to get the vaccine or should I get it as soon as it is available to me?

I know that complications from SF are more likely in second and third tri, but I had also heard it is recommended to wait until second tri to have the vaccine.

Is this opinion valid??

thank you so much cj and others for your wisdom.. I'd be going crazy trying to figure this out on my own without BnB.

xx

 

[Junebug_CJ]

I'm glad you're all discussing this on here. I'm so unsure what to do. Like Kacie, I'm also swaying from one decision to another. One minute I'm convinced by the pro-vaccine idea and decide it would be best, and the next minute I'm so scared about what the vaccine might do as there's no certain research into it.

CJ, you make so much sense and I can tell you know what you're talking about. Do you know if your information also covers the Pandemrix vaccine, which is what is recommended for pregnant women in the UK? It contains adjuvant and thiomersal, amongst other ingredients. I think something different is offered in Canada?

I just wish I could have a guarantee that the vaccine would not detrimentally affect the baby!

That's the one I got. Thiomersal contains ethyl mercury, the type of mercury that is excreted from the body, and not methyl mercury, the type that gets trapped in the body and causes problems. So I got the same as what is being recommended in the UK, simply because I could not wait for the adjuvant-free one, which would only have been available 2 weeks later. I didn't want to wait that long, I was exposed to H1N1 daily...

CJ

 

[Junebug_CJ]

And I know this question has been raised before, but again I don't feel like I've found an answer to it yet....

Is there any reason to wait until second trimester to get the vaccine or should I get it as soon as it is available to me?

I know that complications from SF are more likely in second and third tri, but I had also heard it is recommended to wait until second tri to have the vaccine.

Is this opinion valid??

thank you so much cj and others for your wisdom.. I'd be going crazy trying to figure this out on my own without BnB.

xx

In Canada there is a concern that there is not enough H1N1 vaccine to go around. Hence, women in 2nd and 3rd trimester are prioritized (since their risk of complications is much higher than those in their first trimesters). But in some municipalities that have ordered enough, it is being opened up to women in their first trimester. I think the concern may be similar world-wide, as the demand from the public for the vaccine was overwhelmingly more than was previously estimated. I'm advising that those who wish to get it in their first trimester do it if they can, that way immunity will be full before the start of the second trimester. There is no reason to not receive it in the first trimester otherwise...
CJ

 

[Kacie]

And I know this question has been raised before, but again I don't feel like I've found an answer to it yet....

Is there any reason to wait until second trimester to get the vaccine or should I get it as soon as it is available to me?

I know that complications from SF are more likely in second and third tri, but I had also heard it is recommended to wait until second tri to have the vaccine.

Is this opinion valid??

thank you so much cj and others for your wisdom.. I'd be going crazy trying to figure this out on my own without BnB.

xx

In Canada there is a concern that there is not enough H1N1 vaccine to go around. Hence, women in 2nd and 3rd trimester are prioritized (since their risk of complications is much higher than those in their first trimesters). But in some municipalities that have ordered enough, it is being opened up to women in their first trimester. I think the concern may be similar world-wide, as the demand from the public for the vaccine was overwhelmingly more than was previously estimated. I'm advising that those who wish to get it in their first trimester do it if they can, that way immunity will be full before the start of the second trimester. There is no reason to not receive it in the first trimester otherwise...
CJ

Thank you CJ,

I'm not sure if it will be offered to me before I get to second tri.. only three weeks until I'm there and I've heard nothing of whether our surgery even has the vaccine in yet or not.

I guess I have to wait for my invitation and take the decision from there

I definitely like the thought of LO already being vaccinnated for the first 6 months of their life in this world. Like beany though, I would just love to have it guaranteed that nothing will hurt LO... but i guess that's true of everything we do as mothers!

 

[snailien]

Hold on a minute Meldmac! I was not directing this at you, nor am I trying to scare people. I am putting something out there for people to consider, alternative to what the media tells us.

I do not want to put my baby at risk either, and I personally am doing that by not having the vaccine and I believe the risk of catching the virus is slim and having complications, even slimmer. If you look at the statistics, that is a fact.

I am not debating the fact that there are risks either way.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "....but we must remember that most pregnant women who catch the disease are likely to make an uncomplicated recovery."
https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8175241.stm

My Dr and midwife have both said they would not have it themselves and although they had the vaccine they would not be pushing people to have it.

Not true: I am a doctor (a medical geneticist who specialises in prenatal care and teratogenic effects of drugs, amongst other things). I have seen 2 pregnant women die with my own eyes, and 3 more are in the intensive care. It's totally in your right to not get the vaccine, but please stop spreading misinformation: you are doing no one a service.

1 in 10 pregnant women who get it (based on our Canadian statistics) will end up in the ICU: I do NOT consider this "slim" risks.

There are no real risks associated with vaccinations in pregnancy (the same ingredients other than the specific viral strain, including the adjuvant, have been used for YEARS in seasonal flu vaccine which is routinely administered to pregnant women), and I'm sick and tired of fear-mongering and anti-vaccine advocates trying to convince people otherwise.

Sorry, I'm really upset right now, it may be my hormones talking, but I've seen people die of preventable diseases constantly for the last 10 years (measles, rubella, polio, etc...) because their parents chose not to have them vaccinated. The risk of death with H1N1 in pregnant women is REAL. Your Dr. and midwife are the exception to the rule: by far, the vast majority of health care professionals are able to see this and recognize that one cannot compare this real risk of death to a theoretical risk of vaccines that has been discounted over and over again.

And one more thing: with our years of experience with vaccination in pregnancy, there has not been ANY associations with increased risk of congenital defects, so PLEASE stop making assumptions that vaccines are like thalidomide. The thalidomide tragedy led to much stricter testing being required for drugs and pesticides before they can be licensed: THIS INCLUDES ALL THE INGREDIENTS USED IN VACCINATIONS, which are the same as the ones being used in the H1N1 vaccine.

As I said, if you are anti-vaccination, by all means, it is within your rights to be. But please stop spreading misinformation that may lead to tragedies in other peoples lives.

Sorry for my rant everyone, I'm am honestly TERRIFIED by the deaths and horrible illnesses wrecking havoc amongst the pregnant women who contract H1N1 and really hold this close to my heart right now...

CJ

I do not want to continue arguing about this, but I don't know what you are saying "is not true". I don't think you can tell me what MY experiences are. My Dr and midwife ARE NOT an exception to the rule. And here in the UK I think you will find there are a large number of people not taking up the vaccine for worries such as my own.

I have not said anything untrue. It is a matter of opinion. People can listen or ignore, that's fine. But my opion is just as valid as yours!

BTW, do you the statistic of pregnant women who get swine flu? I know 10% of those that do have intensive care treatment but I would very much like to know the proportion of people getting the virus?

 

[Tabbyfourpaws]

I was due to have the normal seasonal flu jab (because of bad Asthma) and found out I was pregnant so I rang the doctor and they let me speak to one. He told me to cancel my jab and told me that it's not a good idea to have anything stuck into my arm until the first trimester is over. So of course that has put me right off until after 12 weeks. The information pregnant women get is SO conflicting and it's no wonder nobody knows what to do!

Might wait until after the first scan and get both sorted then. Hmmmmm

 

[ricschick]

but also if you do have the vaccine that means once baby is born the baby will be covered until they reach 6months when they can have it themselves thats what my doc told me x

 

[ricschick]

i think i will be getting it once it is available in my surgery as i have 3 children and i cant be ill as they need me plus it will pretect the baby uptp 6months old too!!!!

 

[snailien]

Interesting acrticle on swine flu in UK:

https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8159488.stm

 

[Moongirl]

Interesting acrticle on swine flu in UK:

https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8159488.stm

Hi Snailien,

Thanks for that, but (just to alert people) i think the stats in it are pretty out of date (july 09). There's some updated (from this tuesday) advice on the NHS Choices website at https://www.nhs.uk/AlertsEmergencies/Pages/Pandemicflualert.aspx which is useful, but doesn't give very specific data on the pregnancy issue.

i'm still undecided!!

 

[Noah'sMummy]

I'm having the vaccine tonight. I already have a 4 year old and cannot risk leaving him without a mummy!

 

[kermie219]

no no I will not be getting it, it's not only immediate side affects I am worried about it's developmental problems that nobody will know about for another 10 years when these babies are growing! I seem to remember a drug called Thalidomide given out in the 60's, they said that was safe too! Uuum no thank you.

 

[Dixielane]

I'm leaning towards not getting it here in the US. I work in a small office that is good about sick employees staying home, and thats the only people I really see daily.

I am too worried about side effects years down the road, autism, especially. For that reason, I may not even get the regular flu vax. If I did get one or the other, I'd get the regular flu vax before swine flu.

I just don't trust vaccinating while pregnant....

 

[Noah'sMummy]

no no I will not be getting it, it's not only immediate side affects I am worried about it's developmental problems that nobody will know about for another 10 years when these babies are growing! I seem to remember a drug called Thalidomide given out in the 60's, they said that was safe too! Uuum no thank you.[/QUOT

In all fairness that was in the 60's and what with all the modern technology etc nowadays I don't think that is an option at all. Plus the H1N1 vaccine is as safe as the seasonal flu vaccine which is given to pregnant women without any problems.

 

[snailien]

Interesting acrticle on swine flu in UK:

https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8159488.stm

Hi Snailien,

Thanks for that, but (just to alert people) i think the stats in it are pretty out of date (july 09). There's some updated (from this tuesday) advice on the NHS Choices website at https://www.nhs.uk/AlertsEmergencies/Pages/Pandemicflualert.aspx which is useful, but doesn't give very specific data on the pregnancy issue.

i'm still undecided!!

There is some useful data on general swine flu stats here:
https://www.guardian.co.uk/world/datablog/2009/sep/18/uk-swine-flu-cases-data

I know it's not specific to pregnancy but puts it in perspective.

 

[chocolate]

Is anybody in a situation similar to myself?

My partner doesn't want me to get the vaccination but I am leaning towards getting it, but of course worried about any long term damage to the baby.

My partner says no because it hasn't been tested in pregnancy etc. and he also says he couldnt cope with a child that was born with problems - he isnt great with helping out with our healthy son now - so cant imagine what he would be like with an unhealthy one!
This is going to sound awful lol but he has also indirectly said that he and our son would have to cope if I were to die from swine flu (charming!) but our relationship would break down if we had a baby that had major developmental problems and he doesn't want to increase this risk.

It scares me so much to think about what would happen to my son (who is very much a Mummies boy) if I were to die, and I would do anything to try to protect him - so if that means getting a jab that would increase my chances of miscarriage then unfortunatly I would have to do it. My son who is here now, comes first untill this baby is born.



Anyway - what I would like to know is:

how do we research this? What information do we read and believe?

what are the theoretical side effects to the baby?

if you had it done in the first trimester would the 20 week scan pick up any problems from the vaccination?

What are the reasons for having it done after the first trimester? Is it because miscarriage is less, or is it because the major organs are formed so there is less chance of these being effected?

This whole mercury thing - do I need to ask the doctor/nurse about this - do any of the vaccinations in the UK contain the mercury that stays in the body and causes problems?


If anyone can point me in the direction of info for the above answers Id be grateful

 

[meldmac]

Is anybody in a situation similar to myself?

My partner doesn't want me to get the vaccination but I am leaning towards getting it, but of course worried about any long term damage to the baby.

My partner says no because it hasn't been tested in pregnancy etc. and he also says he couldnt cope with a child that was born with problems - he isnt great with helping out with our healthy son now - so cant imagine what he would be like with an unhealthy one!
This is going to sound awful lol but he has also indirectly said that he and our son would have to cope if I were to die from swine flu (charming!) but our relationship would break down if we had a baby that had major developmental problems and he doesn't want to increase this risk.

It scares me so much to think about what would happen to my son (who is very much a Mummies boy) if I were to die, and I would do anything to try to protect him - so if that means getting a jab that would increase my chances of miscarriage then unfortunatly I would have to do it. My son who is here now, comes first untill this baby is born.



Anyway - what I would like to know is:

how do we research this? What information do we read and believe?

what are the theoretical side effects to the baby?

if you had it done in the first trimester would the 20 week scan pick up any problems from the vaccination?

What are the reasons for having it done after the first trimester? Is it because miscarriage is less, or is it because the major organs are formed so there is less chance of these being effected?

This whole mercury thing - do I need to ask the doctor/nurse about this - do any of the vaccinations in the UK contain the mercury that stays in the body and causes problems?


If anyone can point me in the direction of info for the above answers Id be grateful

It has been tested in pregnancy. The only difference being with this vaccine and the regular flu vaccine is that it's a different strain. They make the h1n1 vaccine the same as the regular flu shot. Also, adjavants have been used for years in vaccines for pregnant women.

 

[handymandy]

I had the vaccine about three weeks ago. My doctor highly recommended it.