Flu Jab

[Jodders]

I'm pregnant with my third baba and this time I have been offered the flu vaccine. I declined it yesterday but I can change my mind at any point.
I didn't have it with my others as it wasn't offered and they have birthdays in the same month that this baby is due.
I don't believe I have ever had the flu in my life. When I said to the GP that I wasn't sure about getting it she didn't raise any objection and said that there's so many variants of the influenza virus that it's not guaranteed to protect anyway.
Of course though I am worried that I will contract the flu and then the possible outcomes from this.
Was also told it wouldn't protect baby after he was born.
Can I have some opinions please? Please don't bash me as I said I haven't made up my mind and I'm simply asking for some advice.

[Ineverpromisedyouarosegarden]

This is just my thoughts on this but they may be some things to consider.

It is several years since we had a major epidemic/ pandemic it is quite likely we would have one soon.

There is much more travel especially within europe now so it could spread much faster.

We don't really have any effective treatment.

The very young/ old will be most vulnerable.

The flu jab is safe in pregnancy.

There is a good chance you will give birth in a hospital where people with flu are being treated.

The number of people who die of flu is under recorded as most deaths are recorded as the complication they got from eg. pneumonia.

If you catch flu, your baby will most likely catch it too.

[Smartleatherbag]

I always get it. I had flu once, we all got it including youngest who was 6mths. It was absolutely horrendous, and terrifying. I understand why it kills.

[Squtternutbosch]

I had it at 38 weeks pregnant. It's not a live virus so it won't cause any harm. It will provide protection for the baby for a short time after birth, when it is at its most vulnerable- and for that reason it is, to my mind, absolutely worth it.

Couldn't see any good reason not to have it, tbh

[raviolidreaming]

Couldn't see any good reason not to have it, tbh

Same.

[peaceloveandbiscuits]

Just because you've never had flu before doesn't make you any less susceptible. There's always a first time!

[Trifleorbust]

I got ill two or three days after my flu jab 😂

[Becciilouisex3]

The flu vaccine isn't a live virus so anyone who tells you they were ill afterwards, it will be a coincidence. They don't actually inject you with any of the live virus.

I had my flu jab 6 days before my little one was born purely because the midwife sold it to me with "if you were to contract flu, it would be very difficult and stressful to look after your baby and feel poorly" which is true! I don't generally get flu very often either but when you're running on fewer hours of sleep every night and looking after baby, a flu would knock you for 6 were you to contract it.

Plus it's free and lasts for a year so I thought why not?! It's a personal choice and whether or not you believe it is right for you or not!

[Trifleorbust]

Fair enough. I did ask the nurse if I would react and she said I might do, but it probably is a coincidence.

[Heirhelp]

Remember you immune system is less effective when pregnant.

[IckleWicklePumperNickle]

I had a neurological syndrome that was possibly linked to the flu jab. I declined it very readily.

[Jodders]

From Marcella Piper Terry (she's a scientist) "How does the flu shot make you sick?
Imagine you are at war. Your immune system is the total sum of your available troops. When you get the flu shot, your troops are sent scrambling in multiple directions after three different viruses, which may or may not be actually causing disease this year in your area of the world. Subtract those troops from your total army. ~~They're busy.
Out of what's left, some troops are sent off to fight the toxins - formaldehyde and mercury, because the flu shot triggers the toxin arm of your immune system, too. ~~Subtract those troops from your total army. They're busy.
Now... let's say while your viral troops and your toxin troops are out chasing down false flags, something else comes along that is a REAL threat, and your immune system needs to respond. Something like a bacterial infection... tonsillitis, bronchitis, strep, bacterial meningitis... You really need your troops but they aren't there because they're too busy chasing after three "hypothetical" threats of flu virus and two very real threats of toxic assault.
What happens? You get sick. You tell your doctor, "The flu shot gave me the flu" and your doctor says, "That can't happen because the flu shot is a killed virus." The flu shot (killed virus) can't give you the SAME flu virus and technically, it can't give you the flu.
What it CAN and DOES do is send your available immune resources - your troops - off in all directions chasing after false threats, leaving you more vulnerable to the real threats - like bacterial infections... and other viral infections."

[peaceloveandbiscuits]

Rubbish.

[MumofChuckie]

I'm nearly 33 weeks pregnant and I just spent 4 days in hospital with flu. Offered the jab at any GP surgery but appointment no scheduled for a while. I've never had flu either.

No offence, but just get the jab. It's nothing compared to what me and my baby just been through.

[Jodders]

I know so many people who have had it but I just have this guy feeling not to have it and when I spoke to my own GP about my concerns she said it might not even protect me as the there are so many strains of the influenza virus. I am still reading up as I'm 25 weeks so time to decide

[WhiskyTangoFoxtrot]

I suppose it comes down to whether you see influenza as a 'false' threat.

As you've never had it, it's probably very easy to undersestimate how very ill it makes you, and how much more likely it is to kill you I'm pregnancy (when you are somewhat immunocompromised).

As they do not even attempt to cover the everyone in UK, it makes no real difference to the population whether you have it or not. And it's your call on the level of risk you want to take for you.

[NotAnotherUserName1234]

I had full on swine flu when I was pregnant, but the vaccine is so ineffective it wouldn't have made a difference.

[RaeSkywalker]

I've had flu twice. I couldn't move, couldn't care for myself. No way could I get up and care for a newborn.

The best way I've heard the way flu makes you feel described is- there's a million pounds on the other side of your bedroom. All you have to do is touch it and it's yours. And you can't be bothered to get up.

I'm 36 weeks and have had the jab. I think it does protect your newborn for a short period after birth too. I didn't even consider not having it to be honest. DH is paying to have it done as well, having seen how helpless being unwell made me.

[NotAnotherUserName1234]

There has also been mums of babies damaged by vaccines post on mumsnet.

[NotAnotherUserName1234]

In fact if you have a look on the gov website it will tell you how to claim in the event of vaccine damage.

[Creatureofthenight]

Marcella Piper Terry is not what I'd call an unbiased source.

[Bumptittybump]

Jodders that info is a load of crap. Regardless, I do think the flu vaccine is different to others, like polio, which are important to help irradiate these diseases and protect the overall population. The flu vaccine is targeted at the most vulnerable to help protect them. It's up to you, but I don't really get your logic for declining. Just because something wasn't available previously doesn't mean it's unnecessary.

[BeBopTalulah]

I'm pregnant and I've had it, but I get it anyway due to high occupational risk/protection of vulnerable people. Sometimes I get a small red lump around the injection site and occasionally I feel a little 'off' for 24 hours. Just shows my immune system is responding to it effectively.

There are enough people currently accepting the vaccine to offer a good level of protection for the majority. The evidence of effectiveness in pre-school children this year was also very encouraging (Public Health England 2015/16). You are being offered safe, effective and free protection from a strain of flu.

There will ALWAYS be those who have an issue with vaccination, because nowadays very few of us have ever witnessed a pandemic, or people dying of preventable disease en mass.