New advise on Pandemrix

[Pagen]

Hi All,
I've just phoned my practise sister to insist on having the first shot of Celvapan tommorow as previously booked (after much discussion and dragging of heels on their part) despite the fact that I cannot have the 2nd shot on the day they want me to as I am away to visit family up North the day before and have been unable to arrange to get the 2nd shot up North.
After a bit more research - thanks to all on here! I have told the sister that i am happy to wait a little longer to have the 2nd shot as I believe the effectiveness of the vaccine only diminishes slightly and that another week or two (after the advised 3 weeks) shouldn't make much difference. Much better than not having the 1st shot now at all and waiting until the New year to start the course or taking Pandemrix which they have been trying to force me to do since day one!
Anyway, now the practise sister informs me that there is new guidance from "The Royal college of midwives", hot off the press (and it must be as I can't find any mention of it) that says Thimerosal has been fully tested and they are happy that the results show it is perfectly safe for use in preganant women and children. She has promised to give me a copy of this tommorow so i will post it for you all if i don't think its a complete waste of time.
In the meantime has anyone else heard of this? and as an aside is anyone else getting so much trouble trying to get celvapan?
I'm still not going to relent and have Pandemrix even though the sister clearly thinks I'm just being difficult and purposly putting myself at risk...not looking forward to the shot now though as she will be administering it...Ouch.
I'll let you know how i get on
XX
Pagen

Nothing new has been revealed about thimerosal. The medical profession has always said there is no proof it has harmed children in any way. So has WHO. However the fact that is has been taken out of baby jabs says something IMO. As far as I know it is quite a small amount in the Pandemrix jab, akin to eating a tuna sandwich, Though apparently it may vary from batch to batch. HTH.

I've just got back from getting my Celvapan...what an anti-climax! LOL I expected either balloons and a band as i left the surgery or more likely the sister to use my arm as a dart board and to aim from a distance...
However she was very nice, tried one more time to persuade me to have the Pandemrix but I politely declined..several times and eventually got my shot..painless and quick.
I'm to call back when I get back from the north in the new Year and book in for the 2nd jab.
The sister did show me the "new" info on Pandemrix but it was just a print out of the NHS guidance from the end of novemebr that has already been posted on here and a letter from the midwifes college pretty much regurgitating it. I pointed out the bit that says quite clearly if a pregnant woman doesn't want Pandemrix she can be given Celvapan...but that fell on deaf ears.
Still, crisis over..I've had my jab! :O)

Hi Pagen,

Thanks for sharing this - do you have an electronic link to the document which says pretgnant women can have celvapan if they ask?

I am about to ask my surgery for this, just as soon as I get out of my 1st trimester and something like this would be so helpful.

Here is the document. The paragraph you're looking for is on page 3.

Print it off and take it to your surgery. I did and am allowed to have the Celvapan although I'm still waiting as have to be referred to another surgery since there is only one surgery in our town that has it.

www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/Dearcolleagueletters/DH_108844

Good luck

Pagen, we were told only children of primary age will need a second dose of celvapan. DD has just had her second nearly 4 weeks after the first; apparently it can't be given sooner than 3 weeks but longer isnt a big problem. i had my first and only about 7 weeks ago. you might want to check you really need a second.

Hi Olivo, I did ask the question but every time I "question" the official practise at my doctors with the sister I can feel her mental sigh.
I have read in a few places that a 2nd shot isn't necessary and that we are just waiting on results from a trial to proove that, but according to the NHS at present Celvapan is a 2 dose shot and they won't budge on that at the moment.
I'm just going to go along with it, better two than none at all!
Besides, its nearly Xmas and my present to my nurse is to stop nagging her every day about Celvapan LOL

I have just had the letter from the local health service about taking my 2 children (5 years & 7 months)to have the Pandemrix vaccine against swine flu, has anyone had this injection and what are ur thoughsplease, i am in two minds at the minute after reading side effects and the thoughts from the german health professions who are advising against it.

Thanks Stephrosh

For what it's worth, Stephrosh, my 17 month old had the jab a couple of weeks ago and was absolutely fine. No side effects, no red arm, no apparent ache, no fever. It is a hard decision but I didn't want to be kicking myself later on if she got it really badly.