Whooping cough vaccine before 20 weeks

[Poppysy27]

While i went for my flu jab I was also given the whooping cough Vaccine at 13 weeks pregnant by a nurse at my surgery by mistake. I initially thought it was too early to be having this and I questioned this, but she insisted that as long as I had my first scan I'm fine to have it.
I received a phone call from the nurse and my midwife a week later to say that I had been given the whooping cough vaccine by mistake. I have now been recommended to have the jab again before 32 weeks. I'm not sure what to do about this. Has anyone been in the same situation?

[babynelly2010]

Not sure but check nhs website it says the vaccine should be given after anatomy scan at 20 weeks not the first scan. I think it wears out that is why it is given later in pregnancy. I would talk to someone make sure there is no harm for having it early but they probably want you to retake it so your baby gets the benefit of it.

[lynseyc83]

It's not a live vaccine so wound have done you any harm but, the nurse should have checked how many weeks you were before giving.
We didn't used to give the vaccine till over 28 weeks, it has just been lowered to 29 weeks but I don't believe it would be effective for your baby so early on.
I would definitely have another about 34 weeks

[lynseyc83]

Lowered to 20 weeks it's was meant to read

[Poppysy27]

Hi ladies, thanks for your responses. I very much appreciate your advice. Not many people like to comment on this situation as it doesn't seem to be a common one! . I can't get my head around why the nurse insisted I should have the injection after my first scan. (Even though I showed concern about it and questioned it at the time) Apparently she had one of the days! but that shouldn't be an excuse and puts a lot of pressure on me.

As long as the doctors and midwifes are confident that a second vaccine wouldn't do any harm then I would most probably have the vaccine again as late as I possibly can. I think maybe if I don't have another vaccine then I would be constantly worried about the baby getting whooping cough.

If anyone else has been through this or anyone can offer advice. Please let me know as I am having a lot of sleepless nights over this.

[mistermagpie]

I'm in Scotland and the advice here is now to have it from 16 weeks, so that's what I did. I was pregnant in 2014 and the advice was to have it from 28 weeks, so there has been a definite change in the last couple of years.

[Poppysy27]

This makes me wonder whether I do need it again as if it has reduced to 16 weeks does this mean the vaccine does last all the way through pregnancy until the baby is 2 months old. Especially from having the vaccine at 13 weeks pregnant?

[Melmam]

I was advised to get the vaccine after 28 weeks but im in Ireland so not sure if its the same where you are.

[GreenGoblin0]

I'm south east England. here they don't give it until 28 weeks

[Notyetthere]

I'm in Southeast and the most recent advice is anytime from 16weeks. I had mine at 20weeks.

[Notyetthere]

The nurse did however double check at the time as I was the earliest she had ever administered it to.

[arbrighton]

Advice is from 20weeks in NHS leaflet I was given. In NW

I had mine yesterday at 21weeks. Nurse did check how far along i was and which vaccination i was there for

[Sidge]

Poor you, you must be very confused.

Pertussis vaccination in pregnancy was given from 28 weeks when it started in 2012; however since 1.4.16 it was advised that we give it between 16 and 32 weeks; it could be given beyond 32 weeks but is most effective between 16 and 32 weeks. Common practice is to offer it after the anomaly scan, usually at around 20 weeks so practices can vary their call (there's no hard and fast protocol but general guidance, as areas will offer their anomaly scans at different times) but generally speaking a woman would be called at around 20 weeks.

I can't find any guidance as to what to do if given before 16 weeks but I would guess we would follow the same guidance as any other vaccine error and offer it at the time it would be due, so in this case between 16 and 32 weeks. I'd personally be inclined to have it later rather than sooner!

I can't imagine it will cause any harm as it's an inactivated vaccine, but it probably won't offer a huge amount of benefit either.

GreenGoblin regardless of where you are in England they should be offering it from 20 weeks as advised by the NHS England/JVCI recommendations. You could ask for it earlier but there's no harm in waiting until 28 weeks unless there is a risk of prematurity.

[NinaMarieP]

My midwife advised me to make an appointment to have mine "any time now" and that was at my 16 week appointment. I'm going to wait until after my 20 week scan though, as that's the NHS advice. Not sure why she's suggesting something different.

[arbrighton]

Nina, perhaps she knows practices are busy or to remind you before she next sees you in eight weeks.

Although i could have had same day appt for nurse if I hadn't been off to the dentist. Nurse seems to be far more available

[NinaMarieP]

She seemed to be suggesting I make an appointment AND have the immunisation any time now though, not just make an appointment now for some time after 20 weeks. Maybe that's not what she meant but it certainly sounded like it, as she didn't mention the 20 week part.

[ILoveCheeseMoreThanYou]

I know this probably isn't helpful but my midwife told me because I am having a summer bf baby I didn't need the wc vaccine.

[MissMooMoo]

I would have it again personally.
I tried to make an appt for mine after my 20 week scan,surgery said not until after 28 weeks. Have booked it in now and will have it at 29+6.
I am in the SE of England.

[Sidge]

ILoveCheese your midwife is an idiot.

If you feel up to it I would challenge her, or report her to the Head of Midwifery. That's dangerous advice.

NinaMarie you can have the vaccine any time after 16 weeks, that's what the midwife is advising you. It's just common practice to have it after the 20 week scan but not all areas offer the anomaly scan at 20 weeks, some do it at 16 weeks hence the variation in areas.

MissMooMoo your surgery is giving outdated advice. Please challenge them and print this off and take it with you if needed - [https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/563562/WhoopingCough_A5_booklet.pdf NHS pregnancy and whooping cough booklet]]. Tell them to read page 7 carefully

[Sidge]

Sorry ballsed up the link. Try again.

NHS pregnancy and whooping cough booklet.

[scaevola]

It's probably better done later, as long as you don't leave it too late.

The jab stimulates your body to produce antibodies (which peak in the couple of weeks after the jab, then decline again). They are shared with your baby across the placenta, and it just seems logical that the more there the better.

I'm assuming (because I've not read up on it) that there is now research showing that a useful level of antibodies is still circulating in the immunised adult for at least 26 weeks (to cover from 16 weeks gestation to 42 weeks to be on the safe side)

[NinaMarieP]

Thanks for the replies and the link.

So basically you CAN have it from 16 weeks but it's best after 20 so that's what I will stick with I think. I'm almost 18 weeks now anyway so I'm unlikely to easily get an appointment much before that now.

[Poppysy27]

His everyone thanks for your responses on this thread. The guideline say you can have the vaccine anytime from 16 weeks. Whats worry me is having the nurse give the vaccine to me before 16 weeks by mistake. So going back to the originally question do you all think it is safe to have the whooping cough vaccine twice in the same pregnancy? would it harm to the baby or myself at all?not sure if I should have it again before 35 weeks?

[Poppysy27]

Sorry I've just seen some of you said that you would have the vaccine again. My mind is swaying towards just following the advice of my doctor and having it again as late as I can possibly have it. Even though they said they have never come across this case before.As long as it doesn't cause any harm like a local reaction or anything. Or effect the baby negatively. I would usually complain and take things further but apparently the NHS all have each others backs with mistakes made so not sure how easy it would to complain against the nurse who insisted that I should have it at 13 weeks.

[NinaMarieP]

Sorry for derailing slightly. I can't imagine there would be any issues from having it early - other than it running out before the baby is born. I also can't see there being any problem with "too much" immunity from the vaccination. Waiting until 30 weeks or so seems a sensible idea though.

I'd definitely not be happy to have had it by mistake, though. If that nurse is doing that by accident what else is she likely to accidentally do? I would definitely make some sort of complaint. Even if they don't do anything about it you know you've done what you could.

[Sidge]

I don't know about 'having each others backs with mistakes', all errors should be reported and investigated. Certainly there should be a critical incident event raised and an adverse event recorded.

All vaccine errors should be recorded and investigated by the practice manager and senior GP, and the nurse held accountable for her error. It may identify a need for more training. I would speak to the practice manager.