Anyone else had the Swine Flue vaccine yet??

[meldmac]

What I find ironic about the whole debate is that women state the reason they don't want to get the vaccine is they don't know the effects of the vaccine on the baby (which if there is any are hypothetical because none have been proven). Yet they don't seem at all worried about the REAL danger of actually getting the h1n1, which is widely known now. I'd be more worried about getting the flu and having a high fever that might cause problems or being hospitalized because of complications from the flu than what "might" happen by getting a vaccine that has been used for years without problems. (again only difference is the strain of virus being used).

 

[Missy86]

I went today but didnt get it.

I had a good chat with the nurse who in fairness dont seem to have that much information she knew as much as I did and I decided to go for my 12 week scan on tues to make sure everythig is ok and I am booked in again to have it on Thursday

 

[poppykat]

Well after saying the other day I wasn't going to have the swine flu vaccine I changed my mind and had it done this morning.

Decided it was more important my baby has a healthy mummy and I couldn't live with myself if I did anything that put me and/or the babys health at risk. I just have to trust that the vaccine is safe.

Good luck to everyone else having to make this very difficult decision. x

 

[poppykat]

What I find ironic about the whole debate is that women state the reason they don't want to get the vaccine is they don't know the effects of the vaccine on the baby (which if there is any are hypothetical because none have been proven). Yet they don't seem at all worried about the REAL danger of actually getting the h1n1, which is widely known now. I'd be more worried about getting the flu and having a high fever that might cause problems or being hospitalized because of complications from the flu than what "might" happen by getting a vaccine that has been used for years without problems. (again only difference is the strain of virus being used).

That is exactly why I had it done in the end. I think the benefits outweigh the risks.

 

[Moongirl]

What I find ironic about the whole debate is that women state the reason they don't want to get the vaccine is they don't know the effects of the vaccine on the baby (which if there is any are hypothetical because none have been proven). Yet they don't seem at all worried about the REAL danger of actually getting the h1n1, which is widely known now. I'd be more worried about getting the flu and having a high fever that might cause problems or being hospitalized because of complications from the flu than what "might" happen by getting a vaccine that has been used for years without problems. (again only difference is the strain of virus being used).

That is exactly why I had it done in the end. I think the benefits outweigh the risks.

I had a good chat with my midwife, and then my hubby and i think i've come to the same conclusion. i just can't risk catching it, and we just don't know how badly it could spread over the next couple of months. Think i'm gonna bite the bullet and get the vaccine.

Good luck all in making your decisions
xx

 

[SadMummy]

Two important points:
1) Thiomersal contains ETHYL mercury (rapidly degraded and excreted from the body, NOT stored) vs METHYL mercury, which is the "bad" mercury and the type that the body cannot expell. NO CONCERNS ABOUT ETHYL MERCURY in vaccines...

2) H1N1 is a different flu in that it is killing otherwise healthy people, and pregnant women are at the highest risk of death. 10% of pregnant women (that's 1/10) who contract H1N1 will end up in the INTENSIVE CARE UNIT and not many make it out alive. We've already lost 2 pregnant women in my hospital. Second trimester and 3rd trimester are at highest risk so to protect yourself you need to get the vaccine in the FIRST trimester. This is very different from the regular seasonal flu, of which people who have chronic diseases and the elderly at at highest risk. This is a completely different beast.

That being said: I got my adjuvant vaccine when I was 9 weeks and 3 days. My arm hurt for days and I still have the bruise, but now I am H1N1 immune, yay... But still helping in taking care of pregnant women in the ICU (PS: all my pregnant colleagues in the health care field did not hesitate to get the vaccine, all pretty much terrified of H1N1 after what we've witnessed!).

CJ

Can I just add that by having the vaccine does not make you immune. It is only 70-80% effective. There are no guarantees that this will save you from the dreaded virus.

 

[meldmac]

Two important points:
1) Thiomersal contains ETHYL mercury (rapidly degraded and excreted from the body, NOT stored) vs METHYL mercury, which is the "bad" mercury and the type that the body cannot expell. NO CONCERNS ABOUT ETHYL MERCURY in vaccines...

2) H1N1 is a different flu in that it is killing otherwise healthy people, and pregnant women are at the highest risk of death. 10% of pregnant women (that's 1/10) who contract H1N1 will end up in the INTENSIVE CARE UNIT and not many make it out alive. We've already lost 2 pregnant women in my hospital. Second trimester and 3rd trimester are at highest risk so to protect yourself you need to get the vaccine in the FIRST trimester. This is very different from the regular seasonal flu, of which people who have chronic diseases and the elderly at at highest risk. This is a completely different beast.

That being said: I got my adjuvant vaccine when I was 9 weeks and 3 days. My arm hurt for days and I still have the bruise, but now I am H1N1 immune, yay... But still helping in taking care of pregnant women in the ICU (PS: all my pregnant colleagues in the health care field did not hesitate to get the vaccine, all pretty much terrified of H1N1 after what we've witnessed!).

CJ

Can I just add that by having the vaccine does not make you immune. It is only 70-80% effective. There are no guarantees that this will save you from the dreaded virus.

I'd rather have 70-80% immunity to the virus than none at all.

 

[First-wee-P]

I had my booking in appointment today and was offered the vaccine. I initially was hesitant, but after talking to two mid-wives and my partner I went for it. I am glad that I didn't read too much before hand as there is so much conflicting opinions out there. I am now trawling the net and if I had out it off I would be torturing myself about what to do. It is done now anyway, and I don't want to spend the next 6 months worrying about it. I feel better knowing that if I do contract swine flu, I am going to be protected. If I am not well, what use is that to my baby and partner either? I work as a Primary 1 (Year 2) teacher and we have already had 2 cases of suspected swine flu in school this month. I would be worrying everytime I heard it mentioned!!

A very personal decision though.....

 

[born2bamum]

I think after reading this that im gonna go have it. Thanks.

Laura x

 

[Junebug_CJ]

Two important points:
1) Thiomersal contains ETHYL mercury (rapidly degraded and excreted from the body, NOT stored) vs METHYL mercury, which is the "bad" mercury and the type that the body cannot expell. NO CONCERNS ABOUT ETHYL MERCURY in vaccines...

2) H1N1 is a different flu in that it is killing otherwise healthy people, and pregnant women are at the highest risk of death. 10% of pregnant women (that's 1/10) who contract H1N1 will end up in the INTENSIVE CARE UNIT and not many make it out alive. We've already lost 2 pregnant women in my hospital. Second trimester and 3rd trimester are at highest risk so to protect yourself you need to get the vaccine in the FIRST trimester. This is very different from the regular seasonal flu, of which people who have chronic diseases and the elderly at at highest risk. This is a completely different beast.

That being said: I got my adjuvant vaccine when I was 9 weeks and 3 days. My arm hurt for days and I still have the bruise, but now I am H1N1 immune, yay... But still helping in taking care of pregnant women in the ICU (PS: all my pregnant colleagues in the health care field did not hesitate to get the vaccine, all pretty much terrified of H1N1 after what we've witnessed!).

CJ

Can I just add that by having the vaccine does not make you immune. It is only 70-80% effective. There are no guarantees that this will save you from the dreaded virus.

Actually, I think that the H1N1 vaccine will confer more than 70-80% immunity. 70-80% immunity is what the regular seasonal flu vaccine confers. Since the H1N1 vaccine was made, the virus did not undergo much change (i.e. did not evolve as much as anticipated), so they're estimating the vaccine will confer more immunity than previously thought. Regardless, even if it is not 100% effective, those who are vaccinated will for the most part be protected and have much lower chances of dying if they get H1N1. You can still get symptoms despite being vaccinated, but they'll be much attenuated in comparison with non-vaccinated individuals. It's the same principle as the seasonal flu: I catch it every year thanks to my pediatric population, but because I get the vaccine I just miss work a couple of days instead of 2 weeks!

CJ

 

[bohobaby]

Hey! I am 11 weeks + 1 and have two boys already, one of whom has had the vaccine. He has had a temperature, sickness and loose bowels but appears to be improving now thankfully, he had the vaccine as he has been really poorly in his short 4 years and his immunity has been low. I was due to have it too but the nurse administering the vaccine couldn't answer my questions or allay my fears so I declined the vaccine until I could find the answers I needed. I am still unsure? I have spoken to a midwife who suggested maybe waiting a little longer but emphasised she could not advise. There is now an outbreak at the school where my company is based and I am worried and confused.