Boots advise not giving toddler vaccine if mother is pregnant

[lovebeingmuma]

I am 7 months pregnant and my daughter is 18 months old. I would like to get her vaccinated as I’ve never had the CP. boots say it is dangerous as it’s a live vaccine but my doctor says it’s fine. Any thoughts?

Have you had CP? If so, there’s no risk to you. I wonder if your doc knows that which is why they’re saying no risk.

But if you’ve not had CP there is a risk to you, or more precisely to your baby.

I’ve never had CP hence why I’d like my toddler to get the vaccine but I wonder if this will be a risk to me if she gets it?

Who did you speak to in Boots the chemist? A shop assistant or the pharmacist?

The Boots guidance is that someone who has had the vaccine should avoid pregnant people for six weeks.

I think you need to speak to a midwife or doctor rather than take advice from us randoms!

I’ve read on here before that Boots won’t do it but other pharmacies will. If you still want to go ahead with the vaccine, I would call some different ones to check.

I did speak to my GP and they said it was fine? So I’ve had two differing opinions…

Ask your midwife, or get a second opinion from another GP.

Boots will have a standard list of criteria they follow when vaccinating. Your GP is taking your individual risk factors into account - presumably you’re more at risk of problems if your toddler catches chicken pox and passes it to you than you are from the vaccine. And since the risk of your toddler picking up chicken pox at nursery or in similar situations is pretty high, your GP probably says he should the vaccine because that’s the least risky path for all 3 of you.

I’d take the advice of the GP over any one else including a pharmacist or midwife. They are the experts.

But also if it helps DD had an MMRV (V = varicella aka chickenpox) when I was pregnant. I have had CP but no one asked or mentioned it was a potential concern if I hadn’t. When I lived in the US it’s on the standard schedule and in many states including ours kids have to have it at age 1 and age 4 to go to daycare or school so I imagine loads of moms must be pregnant at the time and I’ve never once heard of it being a problem.

There is a very small risk that your toddler could develop a post vaccination CP rash which theoretically could transmit CP.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66faaaf2a31f45a9c765eeb1/Green-book-Chapter-34-Varicella_25_9_24.pdf

Doesn't specifically say contacts of pregnant women shouldn't have the vaccine but mentions (in the context of health care workers) that there is a risk of a rash after having the vaccine
"Healthcare workers should be told at the time of vaccination that they may experience a local rash around the site of injection or a more generalised rash in the month after vaccination. In either case, they should report to their occupational health department for assessment before commencing work.

If the rash is generalised and consistent with a vaccine-associated rash (papular or vesicular), the healthcare worker should avoid patient contact until all the lesions have crusted. Healthcare workers with localised vaccine rashes that can be covered with a bandage and/or clothing should be allowed to continue working unless in contact with immunocompromised or pregnant patients. In the latter situation, an individual risk assessment should be made."

Pregnant people?

Your GP says it’s a risk to you and your unborn baby so I wouldn’t have it now;

That's what the Boots site said, yes, six weeks if pregnant.

Pregnant women

Yes, pregnant women.