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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

We are first to get the Swine Flu injection- How do you feel

52 replies

mummytopebs · 26/08/2009 21:25

I learnt today that pregnant women are the 1st to get the swine flu injection, therefore we must be considered the most at risk. Was just wondering if people are going to get the injection?

OP posts:

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makingafamily · 26/08/2009 21:32

I'm 15 weeks pregnant and a large part of my job is in schools and i'm also asthmatic so in theory i should have it but still not sure

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SpawnChorus · 26/08/2009 21:32

I would take up the offer if it got to me in time, but I'm 38 weeks pg so I guess it won't! Does anyone know when your immune system returns to normal after the birth?

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blonde36er · 26/08/2009 21:46

From the NHS website:

?People aged between six months and 65 years who usually get the seasonal flu jab.
?Pregnant women, subject to licensing. The European Medicines Agency, who license the vaccine, will indicate whether it can be given to all pregnant women or whether it should only be offered at certain stages of pregnancy.
?People who live with those whose immune systems are compromised, such as cancer patients or people with HIV/AIDS.
?People aged 65 and over who usually get the seasonal flu jab.

I'm not sure if I'll take the vaccine. If I can't have more than two cups of tea a day or an odd paracetamol if I'm feeling rough, I'm not sure that I feel 100% happy to take a vaccine that's only been around a short time. I work in a school too, and to be honest there's so many different things that go round that it would be impossible to be protected against everything. Besides, as the NHS website itself says, most pregnant women who catch swine flu will only suffer mild symptoms. It's definitely something I'd have to think about a bit more...

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MrsHappy · 26/08/2009 21:47

I probably won't be (assuming that it is out before my baby is). I wouldn't normally vaccinate against flu in pregnancy and I still really don't understand why all the hype about SF. It could be the apocalypse, but I kind of doubt it...

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mummytopebs · 26/08/2009 21:52

I work with the nhs and they got e-mails today to say that pregnant women are been given it first because of complications. They are expecting it to mutate october/november time and are expecting it to get worse. I was agains it but after reading the e-mail i think i will get it

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freudianslips · 26/08/2009 21:57

I'm torn. I'm generally quite pro-vax but DH (a doctor) does not want to get the vaccine nor for me to get it (12 weeks pregnant). Considering he's normally really hard-line on the issue it's got me worried. I'm going to make him speak to lots of his colleagues to see whether this is a consensus or not before I make up my mind.

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tostaky · 27/08/2009 05:17

My gp said its beat not to take anything... i think i wont.

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tostaky · 27/08/2009 05:18

My gp said it is best not to take anything... i think i wont.

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mmrsceptic · 27/08/2009 06:02

I'm not pregnant but if I were I wouldn't have it. A survey of GPs said they were worried about testing and about half said they wouldn't have it, but the numbers in the study were small.

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Rindercella · 27/08/2009 06:32

I am 10 weeks pg and I most probably will not be having the vaccine. HCPs will have to be very, very convincing to persuade me to inject anything into my body while pregnant. I cannot see how this vaccine can be effectively tested before this winter. What about the long-term effects on the unborn child? Nah, I am fit and healthy and would prefer to face swine flu than do anything which could harm my baby.

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Rindercella · 27/08/2009 06:32

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Rindercella · 27/08/2009 06:33

whoops..

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AngelaCarleen · 27/08/2009 06:57

I'm not having it, I spoke to my aunt (who's a midwife) and consultants at the hospital where I work and none of them are having it. I just don't feel it's been tested well enough, and I keep thinking 'thalidomide'. I'll take necessary precautions, maintain good hand hygeine etc... but I'm not having the jab.

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Scubes · 27/08/2009 07:22

Good topic.

I'm 7 weeks pregnant and don't think there is enough research. So one of the reasons they want to give it is because a pregnant lady's immune system is depressed, so then you've really got to fight that vaccine.

They also don't know which trimester to give it in - doesn't fill me with much confidence.

I already suffer from an autoimmune disorder so not convinced my body is in best state to fight off the vaccine.

I also work in schools and homes so could pick up anything anywhere. I think the NCT website has some advice on the vaccine. Someone really needs to convince us it's in our best interests and that of our baby. Can't see that happening for a while.

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purepurple · 27/08/2009 07:25

I am not preganant and i am not having the vaccine.
If I was pregnant, then there is no way on this earth I would even consider it.

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SpawnChorus · 27/08/2009 09:22

Surely it's no different from the seasonal flu vaccine (which is adapted every year to match the new strains of "normal" flu)? I really don't think you can make comparisons to thalidomide.

The reason the vaccine is being prioritised for pregnant women is that this strain of flu seems to be unusually dangerous for the mother.

I believe that the "normal" seasonal flu vaccine when given in pregnancy is thought to offer a degree of immunity to the baby after the birth. At the very least, a vaccinated mother would be much less likely to pass the virus on to her newborn/young baby.

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mmrsceptic · 27/08/2009 09:26

There could be a difference.

The swine flu vaccine has been developed with an adjuvant.
The GSK vaccine was being developed with AS03 (squalene).

Adjuvants are not well tested on pregnant women. In the US requests have been made for special approval for vaccines with adjuvants to be given to pregnant women.

Adjuvants make the dose "go further" ie they boost the body's immune response.

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mrswee · 27/08/2009 09:28

SpawnChorus - Though I agree, it most probably does not compare in anyway to thalidomide.
The thing is that they don't normally recommend giving the seasonal flu vaccine to pregnant women either, that in itself puts me off really.

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Kingsroadie · 27/08/2009 09:53

Someone did mention to me "thalidomide" the other day, which did make me think about it a bit more. However, wasn't thalidomide given for morning sickness in 1st trimester - ie when all major limbs/organs etc were forming? I think I would be more wary of having it were I in my 1st trimester but as I am 26 weeks now I will be well into my 3rd trimester so not as concerned. The only thing is obviously that no one pregnant will have had the vaccine yet, and therefore if there are any side-effects/complications we won't have any idea what they are?

TBH I was pretty chilled out about having it etc and also it would protect me whilst tired and run down after the baby arrives in the depths of winter (I have the flu jab normally as I am asthmatic - but it is now almost non-existent and only I use inhalers occasionally when skiing or if I have a chest infection). But reading comments from other I wondr if I am being a little naive? I also know friends who have had swine flu and it's been like normal flu which I usually still get in the winter anyway. Although this talk of a "mutation" clearly puts another spin on it but part of me wonders if it's just scaremongering (I may live to regret this! )

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SpawnChorus · 27/08/2009 10:21

Hmm, yes I know what you mean re: the adjuvant. But surely the drugs companies and govts are all too aware of previous vaccine scandals, and would only be recommending the vaccine to pg women if they really thought the benefits outweighed the risks?

I realise I may be being naive!

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SpawnChorus · 27/08/2009 10:22

mrswee - I think they do recommend pg women have the seasonal flu vaccine in America (and prob other countries). Not sure why they don't in the UK. Possibly due to costs?

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HelenofSparta · 27/08/2009 10:27

Hello
Am 24 weeks pregnant at the moment and am usually v pro doctors/conventional medicine/vaccinations etc etc, but I will not be having the swine flu jab.
It has not been tested properly on pregnant women, hence them not knowing which trimester to give in......

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mmrsceptic · 27/08/2009 11:13

you are a lovely trusting person spawn

but there are no flu vaccines with adjuvants currently licensed in the US

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arolf · 27/08/2009 11:20

I had my first appointments in this pregnancy whilst in the States, and was essentially forced into having the seasonal flu vaccine (I didn't want it without being given the chance to read up on it first; the doctor told me I was 'killing' my baby if I didn't have it then and there. So I had it (whilst in floods of tears), then got presented with a $40 bill for the fricking thing. And got flu the following week. baby appears to be fine so far...).

I think the concern with swine flu is that it is much worse in pg women than seasonal flu is - in fact, it seems to be affecting healthy young to middle aged people disproportionatly compared to 'normal' flu. So for those reasons (worse symtpoms plus different demographic from seasonal flu), vaccines will be recommended. Oh, and looking at epidemiology of viral outbreaks, apparently it is entirely normal for the first wave to be mild, then for it to die down, then a second wave to come round and be far far worse, wiping out many more than the first. then a third, milder wave sometime later.

That said, I don't think I'd be happy being in the first 'intake' of swine flu vaccinees.

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raggie · 27/08/2009 19:46

Agree there doesn't seem to have been enough research and it seems to have been really rushed out.

I work in a primary school in London and we had SF sweep through at the end of summer term - whilst colleagues who had it said it was miserable and debilitating (at worst) it only lasted a week and then they were fine.

I've heard that worst problem (for the baby) is the raised temperature that accompanies the other symptoms. Assume if we (as pregnant ladies) were unlucky enough to contract it, we'd be high-priority straight to hospital and/or monitored very closely to prevent further problems which is reassuring enough for me. (I think!)