to delay having covid vaccine?

[tiredisnottheword]

Background - I had covid in April and have detected antibodies (confirmed with test).
I have a 4 month old who is EBF.
I work for the NHS (patient facing role). I have always said I will get the vaccine before I return to work in June (before it became compulsory..which I don’t agree with, but that’s another thread). It just now means I will be getting it a couple of months earlier than planned.

My reasons for delaying are

1. I don’t want to feel ill from the side affects just now whilst I am already sleep deprived and looking after 2 children
2. I don’t want to risk any reduction in my milk supply. I want to wait until dd is well established and has begun weaning so that if it does happen, it is easier to manage.

So why does my MIL (I know..) make a point of bringing it up every time I see her, and making passive-aggressive comments about me not having it?

AIBU?

@AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair here here

I had 1st Jab when baby was 8 weeks PP, 2nd at 5months and booster just last week at 10months.
I felt rough after the first one, but, was still able to look after the baby.
No issues in supply.

But ultimately it’s up to you, you need to weigh up the risks for yourself and don’t worry what MIL or anyone else says

@tttigress

YANBU, also you may want to look into the new Novavax vaccine which will be out by the time you are ready.

Are you implying it would be better to wait for this one? It does sound really promising

My dp is on day 6 of quarantined in the living room. He has been very poorly and his cough is only just now starting.

He is an antivaxer. I asked him this morning if he wishes he had the vaccine - yes.

@Hothammock

Just to add that I've been double jabbed and like many people I've still contracted covid and been really ill as have other family members so I have no time for people who use the question of vaccination for virtue signalling or as an opportunity to judge others. Natural immunity is probably better anyway.

Yes, very true also!

@Milkshake54 thank you

I have a three month old and had my second dose last week. Regarding your reasons, I had zero side effects. I appreciate this isn't true for everyone but in my experience they are generally very minor and last only a day or so. I also saw zero drop in my milk supply.

It's worth noting my partner currently has covid. I've tested negative and so has baby so we are obviously very healthy. I'd worry about getting covid as that really would make us both very poorly and then life really would be difficult!

Your reasoning literally makes no sense when the risks from covid far outweigh the risks of the vaccine.

I’d have it. But if you are concerned about side effects, have it on a Friday afternoon, (assuming your other half works regular Monday - Friday) so they’re around if you are affected. Both doses sent me to bed for a couple of days with an awful headache and complete exhaustion - nothing horrendous but I wouldn’t have wanted to be looking after a baby if it was avoidable.

Separate to that though, while I agree with your MIL that you should have it, I’d be annoyed at her interfering in my health and would be telling her to pack it in with the comments about it.

OP just to add the only side effect I've had is the achy arm.

I'm not breastfeeding though so can't comment on that.

@Hothammock

Just to add that I've been double jabbed and like many people I've still contracted covid and been really ill as have other family members so I have no time for people who use the question of vaccination for virtue signalling or as an opportunity to judge others. Natural immunity is probably better anyway.

It's not.

Numerous studies have shown that vaccines provide greater protection than natural immunity following infection. At best it's pretty even.

www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/vaccine-induced-immunity.html#anchor_1635540449320

I always think vaccines are like voting.
Do what you wish as long as you make educated choices. Don't listen to social media. As long as you make an educated choice and its the best decision for you don't worry about what anyone else thinks. I have friends unjabbed. I don't think any less of them.

I'm double jabbed. I looked into it and made my decision. I still got covid and felt rough for two weeks. Maybe I'd have ended up I hospital without the jab, maybe not. Who knows.

We know someone who died in early 30s recently. Kept delaying getting the vaccine. Would the jab have made any difference, who knows.

I had this dilemma in the early days of the vaccination and breastfeeding, now I wouldn't even hesitate knowing how many breastfeeding mothers have safely had it.
I knew there was strong potential that I would still be breastfeeding before my return to clinical role so whether I delayed it or not the breastfeeding "concern" would still be there, therefore I might as well have it early and protect us both for that extra length of time. Needless to say I'm clinical with a 14m old still feeding (and about to go for my 3rd jab!)

I had both vaccine doses while breast feeding and it made no difference to my supply whatsoever. Just keep hydrated and you should be fine.

With regards to side effects, it is mainly just your bodies immune response. There are the rare side effects like myocarditis with the Pfizer which tends to effect more men or the blood clots with the AstraZeneca but you will be offered a vaccine that is most appropriate for your age group.

It’s important to be aware of side effects and to make an informed choice that you feel comfortable with. If you have had Covid already then you would be able to compare the symptoms you had from that with the cold like symptoms you might get for a day or two after the vaccine.

I just had a sore arm for a day but I do know one guy out of all the people who I know who got vaccinated (even the sceptics I know got vaccinated) who had a cold for two three days.

YANBU. I had covid before the vaccine was even in its early stages of development and was nowhere near as ill (I've had flu, and that was worse, for me) as a few people I know who got it after being vaccinated. Not saying the vaccine is a bad thing at all, I'm not against it, but I don't think there's anything wrong with delaying. I don't have a problem with people who choose not to get it either.
If I were you, I'd probably just tell MIL I'd been vaccinated so she'd give it a rest.

I’d do it to pass on antibodies to my baby. The ones from you having it whilst pregnant aren’t magic ones that last a lifetime, like most other antibodies. Having known someone who’s baby was very sick, I’d do anything could to prevent my children getting it and by that I’d have the vaccine as they could not.

@Workinghardeveryday

My dp is on day 6 of quarantined in the living room. He has been very poorly and his cough is only just now starting.

He is an antivaxer. I asked him this morning if he wishes he had the vaccine - yes.

I actually feel quite sorry for people like your husband. I’m guessing he was swayed by a lot of what he read on social media and essentially mislead. It can be very hard to change peoples minds once they think the ‘establishment’ or ‘experts’ are out to get them in some way. I think the people making the propaganda are to blame. I can’t guess at the motives of people like that but I have my suspicions that they are probably vaccinated themselves while telling their followers not to.

Hope your husband makes a full recovery

Oh, and unless you’ve tested recently, your April antibodies are on the way out just in time for this current surge.

You've not even had the first vaccination yet? It's been 7 months since you had Covid. When did you have a positive antibody test? It's not known how long natural immunity lasts so you have no idea of your current levels of protection.

I had Covid in January and was very grateful to have had both vaccinations to do what I can to avoid catching it again. The highest immunity comes from natural infection followed by double vaccination (source Zoe Covid symptom tracker studies before anyone asks).

I'm assuming you're on maternity leave because I really am quite shocked when I hear of medical professionals continuing to work unvaccinated.

Gat vaccinated and you can pass those antibodies on to your baby.

Seriously. Why are you delaying and not listening to the immunologists who have been working in this area of expertise for decades? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Sorry to come back again OP but I've had another thought. Babies have their first vaccines at 8 weeks so the immunities we pass on during pregnancy really don't last all that long.

I had the vaccine while breastfeeding my now 8-month old and had no issues with milk supply or any side effects. I cannot understand why you would delay, and risk getting covid (and possibly long covid), which would make caring for your LO infinitely harder. It’s obviously your decision, but it seems reckless. The last thing I’d want with a new baby is an illness, any illness (hence why I’ve also just had the flu vaccine) - it’s hard enough with the sleepless nights and the endless cluster feeding, so don’t needlessly add in catching covid to the mix

I dunno. I always think that when we have a dilemma, if it turns out to have been the wrong choice how much would you regret it. So I guess the question is if you caught Covid again, would you wish you could turn back the clock and make a different choice? If you're at peace with the decision to delay the vaccine until April, whatever the outcome of that might be, then go for it.

Personally I can't bear regretting not doing something. I would rather regret a decision to do something than not do it. Somehow that makes me feel that I was more a part of the outcome than a bystander, and I find it easier to accept the consequences of it. So I would get the vaccine so I was more in control of the situation than leaving it up to circumstance.

@ScabbyHorse

YANBU, it is up to you of course. It affects periods and stuff like that so can see it potentially affecting milk too.

Have you got a peer reviewed piece of scientific research to back up that claim? If not, please stop. You are scaremongering and it’s really dangerous

@Hothammock

Just to add that I've been double jabbed and like many people I've still contracted covid and been really ill as have other family members so I have no time for people who use the question of vaccination for virtue signalling or as an opportunity to judge others. Natural immunity is probably better anyway.

Re natural immunity being better - the research so far have suggest that it really isn't better than accuse immunity alone.

@UsernameUnavailable1 it doesn’t stop you catching and then potent spreading it but it does reduce the spread as it prevents you getting very sick/you have a lower level of infection. Fully vaccinated people who catch the virus are between 60-70% less likely to pass in on then someone who is unvaccinated depending on which variant they have.
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.newscientist.com/article/2294250-how-much-less-likely-are-you-to-spread-covid-19-if-youre-vaccinated/amp/