To not want the Flu Vaccine ?

[GaaaaarlicBread]

Just wanting some advise , don’t hate me for this .
5 weeks pregnant , not referred to midwife yet but calling tomorrow to self refer .
First pregnancy.
I never ever had the flu vaccine ,I work at the hospital and they do offer them free for staff but I never had it and never had the flu . I got the vaccine for the first time in December last year as we were getting married this year and I was joking saying it would be typical for me to get the flu this year before our wedding.
I got the flu twice despite getting the jab! First time was two weeks before our wedding . Next time was shortly after our wedding and it resulted in hospitalisation and I was very unwell. I was off work for 6 months due to the affects it had on my body.
I’m now scared to get the vaccine because of how Unwell I was. It affected me that badly I had hundreds of seizures , endless vomit , couldn’t move. I told the hospital I had got the vaccine but they said I was unfortunate to have caught the flu anyway . I’m fine now obviously but it was an awful time.

Please advise me on what you’d do because I’m so torn as I know you should get it if you’re pregnant but I am really scared.

I think it's likely that they recovered from the flu more quickly because they don't have your pre existing medical conditions which clearly caused significant complications for you.

On the face of it your best chance of avoiding being that poorly again is to avoid catching the flu. You are most likely to avoid catching the flu if you have the vaccination.

I'm not surprised you're anxious given how unwell you were (pregnancy hormones make me really anxious too so that probably won't be helping!)

Chat this through with the gp and see what they say. Logically it seems getting the vaccination is likely to be the best course of action for you but I don't think anyone would blame you for wanting to chat it all through given how poorly you were. Congrats on the pregnancy, I hope it's entirely uneventful!

My first pregnancy I got it the jab, I got ill days after. Second pregnancy I refused it, I went for my whopping cough jab and spoke to the nurse who also agreed about the flu jab and said it made her Ill and a bunch of other people Ill thay she's seen.

Approximately 10% of deaths in pregnancy can be attributed to the flu. I'll take feeling a little bit off for a few days as my body mounts an immune response following the vaccine.

The flu vaccine cannot and does not give you flu.

My DH works in A&E says the flu doing the rounds this year is meant to be have more serious symptoms and be more contagious. Certainly seems like it from the amount of children off in the last 2 weeks at my children's school. I caught it off DD but DH didn't (he'd had vaccine).

Might be something to bear in mind when weighing up your decision.

Friend of DD took antibacterial gel into school and was applying it to her hands throughout the day and stayed healthy despite flu and D&V going round.

That 10% number comes from the report in 2014 that 1 in 11 deaths of pregnant women were due to the flu from 2009-2012 and included the swine flu pandemic. The total number was 36.

Worked in an office of 14.
I was the only one who didn't get the flu jab, I was the only one who didn't get the flu that year.
I don't get the flu vaccine, I'm highly educated and have weighed up the pros and cons and have come to my own decision. Some people weigh up the pros and cons and decide to get vaccinated because they feel that is what is best for them. You have to decide what is best for you and your baby. So I'd recommend getting advice from your GP and then making your decision.
I'm in Australia and there had been several flu related deaths this flu season, however all of the people (considered healthy with no underlying health conditions) who passed away had been vaccinated against the flu this season....make of that what you will.