Flu vaccine & swine flu

[sossypops]

I got a letter from my GP surgery today saying I need to have a flu vaccine in a month's time. It's the usual flu one plus vaccination against H1N1 which is swine flu. I asked my GP and he said it was because I am pregnant and that it was safe. The NHS website also said that they are vaccinating all pregnant women against swine flu this winter.

I still have a nagging doubt that it's safe though! Is anyone else having this?

 

[nicky]

I would like to know this too! Haven't been sent an appointment yet but I'm sure I will soon.

 

[littleL]

I wouldn't have thought it was compulsory, is it?
Personally, I wouldn't do it. Too much controversy surrounding that vaccine for my liking.

 

[lynne192]

you don't need to get it and its not safe, they are trying to have it recalled and many people are suing the company that made it it was not tested and no trails where done, they still don't know the effects of the jab never mind on unborn baby, my son was advised not to get it as it could cause him more problems. he had swine flu had it for 24hours and was fine!

i have only done my first year in medicine but i would never advise anyone to get this when they are pregnant, swine flu is not a huge risk at the moment but its your own choice.

 

[Srrme]

I personally would not get it.

 

[DivaSatanica]

I would never get it, pregnant or not. I was paralyzed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome when I was 22. They, most of the time, fail to tell people that condition can be a side effect of the flu shot. Mine didn't come from the flu shot, but I won't take the chance for me or my kids.

 

[hb1]

Am interested in this too - I am asthmatic and always get the flu jab as when I have had flu it really takes me down - I need steroids to get over it.

Is the normal flu jab really not safe in pregnancy?

hx

 

[goddess25]

If you need to have the normal seasonal flu shot in pregnancy there are ones that you can take that are safer.... you can ask for the thymeresol free injections it basically has less chemicals.

Not sure about the swine flu shot this year i am not concerned about it... i caved last year and got it for me and Euan as I was so worried about the media scare mongering.. and the worldwide pandemic.. last year pregnant women were in the high risk group but I am not sure what I will do this year. I don't think I will get it. However sometimes at work its almost mandatory for the normal flu shot anyway.... I know terrible they have a policy in lots of the hospitals if you get the flu and you have chosen not to be vaccinated then you will not be paid.

 

[mamaofthree]

I had it last year just after i had my baby as am asthmatic, however i dont know whether knowing what i did about it made me paranoid, but it made me kinda tingly all over, and feel very strange for 24hrs. I had it combined with the seasonal flu jab (one in each arm) My two older children have also had it as are asthmatic, but i havent vaccinated the baby as felt he was two young at the time (barely 6mnths)That was nearly a year ago, and havent had any reaction moresevere than a sore arm, and feeling a bit wierd!!!!!

I didnt realise swine flu was still an issue, and havent recieved anything?! I am pregnant now and doubt i would get the shot agin as worry about the effect on thhe baby. Any one know what the actual stats on swine flu are these days???

x x x x x

 

[JaniceT]

There was a huge debate of this in 1st Tri forum. Most vaccines aren't advisable when you're pregnant because it's not tested by any Big Pharma on pregnant ladies. Too risky.

Finland has banned the H1N1 shot a few weeks ago (you can Google this). H1N1 has also mutated into so many strains that the vaccines in existence, many times just don't work.

 

[x.krystle.x]

I was offered this and decided not to after reading that it isnt safe.. Swine flu i doubt will be no more worse than last time round and seeing i was on holiday in Mexico beginning of the year when it was still around im not too worried about it being over here the chances of it being bad are very slim i think!

 

[boyzmum]

Hi,
Ive not been offered them but even if i was i would decline, im full of flu at the moment as it is & feel the injections are a needless extra.
Id rather put up with the flu than take the risk of the injection as like others have said they dont get tested on pregnant women.

sarah

 

[sossypops]

Thanks for the advice. I've decided not to get it. I would rather be safe than sorry. I actually had swine flu last year and it was really mild so I doubt I will get it again.

It's appalling that they don't test these things properly and then just tell you it's safe!

 

[lynne192]

the reason it was issued before being properly tested was due to the scare they believed so many people were going to die, there was of course deaths which is such a sad thing, but the jab itself has caused soooo much suffering and can cause death, so usally things like this need to go through trials etc but with swine flu they never had time.

 

[wubba]

I'm a health professional so will get whatever vaccines are on offer to me through occupational health - providing they are mercury free..... I had the normal flu vaccine when I was pregnant with DS. Flu can cause pneumonia in pregnancy - especially in the second and third trimesters....

 

[mamaofthree]

I'm a health professional so will get whatever vaccines are on offer to me through occupational health - providing they are mercury free..... I had the normal flu vaccine when I was pregnant with DS. Flu can cause pneumonia in pregnancy - especially in the second and third trimesters....

Tbh, this is how i felt...take whatever is on offer. My mum and dad are radiographers, and i was in speech therapy prior to babies thus coming into contact with alot of people. No vaccine is completely safe, and there is constantly cotraversy regarding them HOWEVER i think you have to be very careful ladies posting that something isn't safe. It was rushed out, but also it WAS trialed. It has evolved since the problems of the 7o's with guillen barre syndrome in the usa!! There are still links with it, but you also have to consider that a bad bout of the flu or indeed any virus can also cause gbs, and many other serious complications. In my case i have bad asthma, and even a cold turns into a chest infection, so pneumonia in this instance is likely despite having a pretty tough immune system due to all the bugs the lo's bring home.

Pregnancy is an immuno compromised state so add this to any existing or underlaying health problems and you potentially have a very serious illness.

Just do your research, talk to health care professionals and make an educated choice that's right for you. DO NOT base your decision on scare mongering on the net. I had side effects but nothing serious. At the moment i will bide my time to see what the winter brings...my surgery have no plans to start vaccinating any time sn.

x x x

 

[bekki_d18]

I dont know if i would have it. I had it last year as I work in elderly psychiatry so had it to try and stop patients from contracting it.

Our hospital used the vaccination that did not carry any live viruses but I was ill for a week following the jab and then got flu three times which I never get! The thing is if you contract the illness whilst pregnant it can be so harmful. I have not got a letter and it is something I would discuss with my private doctor that i work for because i know i will get the truth out of him. It is up to you hun and i think this is a decision that is personal and nobody can really advise you on it. There has not been the huge epidemic, and they diagnosed me with swine flu last year and all i had was a throat infection but would not see me as i had it and just gave me tamiflu which i refused to take.

 

[Natsku]

I'm a health professional so will get whatever vaccines are on offer to me through occupational health - providing they are mercury free..... I had the normal flu vaccine when I was pregnant with DS. Flu can cause pneumonia in pregnancy - especially in the second and third trimesters....

Tbh, this is how i felt...take whatever is on offer. My mum and dad are radiographers, and i was in speech therapy prior to babies thus coming into contact with alot of people. No vaccine is completely safe, and there is constantly cotraversy regarding them HOWEVER i think you have to be very careful ladies posting that something isn't safe. It was rushed out, but also it WAS trialed. It has evolved since the problems of the 7o's with guillen barre syndrome in the usa!! There are still links with it, but you also have to consider that a bad bout of the flu or indeed any virus can also cause gbs, and many other serious complications. In my case i have bad asthma, and even a cold turns into a chest infection, so pneumonia in this instance is likely despite having a pretty tough immune system due to all the bugs the lo's bring home.

Pregnancy is an immuno compromised state so add this to any existing or underlaying health problems and you potentially have a very serious illness.

Just do your research, talk to health care professionals and make an educated choice that's right for you. DO NOT base your decision on scare mongering on the net. I had side effects but nothing serious. At the moment i will bide my time to see what the winter brings...my surgery have no plans to start vaccinating any time sn.

x x x

The health authorities here in Finland have suspended the swine flu vaccinations so if they don't think its safe then I think thats a pretty good reason not to have it

 

[sugarwag]

I haven't had a letter or anything but I just don't know what to do about this...I am a school teacher and we all know classrooms are breeding grounds for bugs/ germs etc... I managed to avoid swine flu last year and only a couple of people at my school got it. It didn't fully make the rounds...

I don't want to risk bubs either way...

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[wicked2005]

my doc told me not to have flu jab not recomended