Would you get the whooping cough vaccine twice in the same pregnancy?

[Poppysy27]

The whooping cough vaccine was given to me at 13 weeks pregnant by mistake by a nurse in my practice. A week later she called to say that she had given the vaccine to me by mistake and that I would need a second vaccine after 20 weeks. Would any of you get a second whopping cough vaccine done in the same pregnancy or not bother with a second dose? I'm struggling to make a decision..

[Orangebird69]

I'm not sure the vaccine will last long enough to give your baby protection when he/she arrives. Speak to your gp/midwife, but I would have it again as late as I could in the pregnancy. It's not a live vaccine. Pertussis is on the rise and I wouldn't want to risk the babies health before they have their own vaccinations.

[shewolfmum]

It isn't just pertussis in the vaccine so you would subject your baby to two doses of diptheria tetanus and adjuvants also.

[LoveDeathPrizes]

I think the more recent study found that it was far more effective for baby after twenty weeks so personally, I probably would.

[Lweji]

What do you mean by mistake?
Did you need the vaccine and she didn't realise you were pregnant?
Was she meant to vaccinate to with something else?
Why would you need another vaccine 20 weeks later?

[Lweji]

Ahhh. Too early, so a second dose at 20 weeks.
Sorry. I don't think I would.

[LoveDeathPrizes]

I think the guidance only recently changed. A couple of years ago it was different. Was she operating on the basis of out-dated information?

[Semaphorically]

I wouldn't have it again.

The RCOG guidelines related to the whooping cough injection (here) are based on this study which shows that 13 weeks is ok, and better than third trimester vaccination.

[Poppysy27]

I went for my flu jab at 13 weeks. The nurse asked me if I had my scan yet and I told her that I only had the 12 week scan.
She said that I can have the whooping cough vaccine at the same time as having the flu jab to save me coming back again to the surgery. I questioned this a few times during the appointment with her and she said it was fine to have the whooping cough jab as I had my 13 week scan. So I gave in and trusted what she told me (as you do with medical professions).
She called me a week later to say that she had made a mistake and she should have given me the whooping cough vaccine after my 20 week scan. Apparently she spoke to the vaccine specialists at the hospital and they advised that i have the vaccine again after 20 weeks.
Im Kicking myself as I questioned this with her in the first place and i ended up going with what she said as I thought she knew what she was talking about. This is not a nurse who was training either. She has been working as a nurse for years, so I'm struggling to understand how the nurse could get her information wrong.

[Poppiesway1]

I work in a hospital that gives it straight after the anomaly scan is completed.
We had a lady very recently who was also accidentally given it at 13weeks. She wasn't given it again at the anomaly scan

[peaceloveandbiscuits]

Yes I would. It's to protect your baby when it's born and too young to be vaccinated. Whooping cough is prevalent and babies do die from it.

[Poppysy27]

@poppiesway1 That seems sensible to give it to women straight after the anomaly scan. Will the lady who had the vaccine at 13 weeks have the vaccine again at a later stage of her pregnancy? What have they advised her at your hospital?

[Poppiesway1]

Poppysy27
I'm not sure if she will be offered it later. I'll ask the midwifes. I just know she didn't get ace to go back through after her anomaly scan.
It's worked really well having it straight after their anomaly scan. They may have to wait an extra 10mins in department but it's all over and done with in one hit then.

[Poppysy27]

I think everywhere should offer the vaccine after the anomaly scan, that way it's consistent and women are not given the vaccine in the wrong week. Saves appointment times as well.

[Poppysy27]

@katiegg I have been searching for someone who has actually had the vaccine twice in the same pregnancy, as no one has seem to have come across a similar situation (not even my doctors or midwives). So thank you for your response! Did having the vaccine twice in the same pregnancy have any effects on your baby or yourself?

[NatashaLouiseTaylor82]

How did you get on?

I two have had the whooping cough twice by mistake.

I went in to hospital in Febuary @ 20wks and was given my whooping cough vaccination and a MATB1 certificate and today I went in and was given it again by mistake.

I also question is it safe to have the vaccination twice.

The midwife promised me it was fine.
But nagging doubt worries us mothers to be because all we want is a health pregnancy when we are looking sooooo forward in meeting our bran new little one.

This is my very first child, which adds to my concern. I am now 27wks pregnant.

[NatashaLouiseTaylor82]

So the next day I contacted my midwife and my Gp.

Both of them have said: There is nothing to worry about if you are given the whooping cough vaccine twice.... the vaccine given is an inactive virus and won't harm you or your baby.

That being said: an investigation has been put in place to follow up on pressure in my hospital so this doesn't happen again.

And thought you all may like to know, just in case this happens to you one day. 

[fluffyjumper]

You cant overdose on vaccinations. Just always ensure the vaccination is not live ie mmr or shingles. Boostrix is the common used one in UK for whooping cough.

[cptartapp]

Boostrix can be given from 16 weeks now, the guidance was changed. Agree, you cannot over vaccinate. As a practice nurse myself I would probably have it again if it were me. You might well get a very sore arm though.