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Swine Flu Vaccine to have or not to have!!

10 replies

lovemygirly · 16/12/2010 08:58

I'm 11 pregnant with our second child and have been off wok since Tuesdayf with cough, cold and sinus problems although not flu. With the recommendations now being made that all pregnant women should be vaccined against sesional flu and swine flu I was wondering what other mums to be were doing?? I've tried to research on the web but am getting very mixed messages- some saying that they miscarried early on following the vaccine being administered, some saying they had didn't give it a second thought and had it with no issues whilst some are saying 'no way' would they even consider having it......aaarrgggg....what are your thoughts on this (just waiting for my GP to call me back on this one but I'm sure he'll be saying it's perfectly safe!!)

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sarah293 · 16/12/2010 09:03

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ANTagony · 16/12/2010 09:05

I've had three early stage miscarriages (no swine flu vaccines) and now I'm 34wks pregnant. I had an Asthma attack out of the blue at about 27wks and have subsequently had the vaccine. It didn't hurt and unusually for me I had no adverse reaction.

It is a personal decision but one thing you don't appear to read a lot about is the effect of not having vaccines (this goes for other well known vaccines as well). The reason for the vaccine is swine flue whilst pregnant is really nasty - don't loose sight of this whilst reading the we think their could possibly be links with theories.

lovemygirly · 16/12/2010 10:03

I understand that it has to be a personal choice only I can't decide one way of the other. I'm still waiting to speak with my GP and might consider delaying having the vaccine until I'm a few weeks further on - I have my first scan last week and have too in the past miscarried twice so would not want to go through that again.

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dikkertjedap · 16/12/2010 11:17

I think that if you want the vaccine, you should do it as soon as possible, cases of swine flu have started to increase very rapidly now all over the UK (not Europe surprisingly). Also, once you have the vaccine you are not protected immediately, it takes I think 2-3 weeks ...

I would like to get it asap but GP wants me to get rid of my cold first

lovemygirly · 16/12/2010 11:44

My GP has just confirmed that he would only give me the vaccine once I'm well again - as now prescribed me a course of anti-biotics for a chest infection. I go for my first scan next week so I'll have some time to have another think about it.

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TheOldestCat · 16/12/2010 11:52

It's such a tricky one as it's hard to weigh up the risks and potential benefits as there are so many wildly differing opinions.

When I was pregnant this time last year, I looked at my risk factors. I was pregnant, had a preschooler in childcare, I commuted to work using train/tube, worked in an office, am asthmatic - all things that made me quite likely to catch flu and put me in the higher risk category if I did.

I asked for advice - one GP said not to do it, another said I definitely should (even though he hates prescribing anything more than paracetamol to PG women). A friend works in immunology / virology (as an academic, not for a company) and she and her boss urged me to get vaccinated.

The risks seemed to be - the 'unknown' factor of any adverse effects on the unborn baby. Scary stuff, I know.

It was a hard decision, but I went for it in the end - didn't get flu and DS was born with no obvious effects. A friend in a similar situation (although not asthmatic) decided not to get vaccinated - she didn't get flu and the baby was fine too.

But of course these are anecdotes. We need some proper science!

Good luck with your decision. As ANTagony says, you have to consider the risks of not vaccinating as well as the risks to having it.

shefliesthrutheair · 17/12/2010 13:57

Although it is a personal choice, the risks of swine flu vastly outweigh the risks of the vaccine.

I took the jab last year as not only did I not want to take the flu risk for myself and my unborn child, I also felt there was the possibility that I could pass it on to someone who subsequently died.

JasonatSky · 17/12/2010 14:55

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bubbleymummy · 17/12/2010 17:56

Sheflies - how do you know that? I know the fatality figures for swine flu but I don't think anyone knows yet what the official statistics are for side effects/serious reactions from the swine flu vaccine are. For me, it's a case of 'better the devil you know'...

GiddyPickle · 18/12/2010 10:59

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