Live webchat about the swine flu vaccination with director of immunisation Prof David Salisbury, Tues 21 Dec, noon - 1pm

[GeraldineMumsnet]

Hello,

We're pleased that Professor David Salisbury is coming back on Mumsnet to take questions about pregnant women having the swine flu immunisation. His first visit to MN was in October 2009.

The reason for his return visit is that levels of seasonal flu are currently rising around the UK and one of the strains making life misery for people who get it is H1N1, aka 'swine' flu.

Prof Salisbury is director of immunisation at the Department of Health, which is currently recommending that all pregnant women have the seasonal flu jab, which protects against three strains of flu, including H1N1.

If you have any questions about the swine flu jab, please come and put them to Prof Salisbury on Tues 21 Dec, noon to 1pm. Because of the short notice for the chat, he won't be preparing any answers in advance, but he'll try to get through as many as possible tomorrow.

Thank you.

I've booked my jab for this thursday. I'm not pregnant, but my partner and I are planning on trying for a baby in the next couple of months.

My doctors surgery said normally you would have to be pregnant to be eligible for the vaccine, but they will allow me to have it as I have (very mild) asthma.

My question is, when so many women are reluctant to have any form of medication during pregnancy, does the NHS refuse to protect them in advance for a planned pregnancy?

I realise that the NHS is very stretched, and not all couples will manage to conceive quickly. But it does seem a bit mean to make women wait and then encourage them to have a vaccine they need at a time when they are reluctant to do so, causing them unnecessary worry about possible as yet unknown effects of the vaccine on the foetus.

Oh, and welcome to Mumsnet!!

(Forgetting my manners....)

This isn't about the jab in pregnancy but about the policy last year to give all under-5s the vaccination. Why has the policy changed this year?

My DS had the vaccination (Pandemrix ??? IIRC) and had no problems. I am glad he has had it but just wondered what the reasons were behind the change?

I'm currently 7 weeks pregnant and really concerned about having the jab.

I've heard examples of health professionals advising pregnant woman to wait until after 12 weeks before they have the jab. Is this something you recommend, and if not what reassurance can you give me that its completely safe for woman (and their babies) in the early stages of pregnancy?

How much research has been done into the long term side effects of the vaccine, both on the mother and the baby, in particular the new H1N1 vaccine?

Why isn't the (swine) flu vaccine given to babies under 6 months old, but it is considered safe for pregnant women (and hence unborn babies)?

Ooo, only 6 posts in and already somebody has asked my question (logiebear) :o I am also in the very early stages of pregnancy and wondering whether to have the jab (winter will be over by the time I'm in the latter half of the pregnancy). I had the jab last year in late November as I was in the late stages of pregnancy with my son, so it's not the jab itself I'm concerned about really, just the effects so early in pregnancy. I know the effects of flu on women in late pregnancy, are the effects similarly dangerous to women in early pregnancy? Thank you :)

I will be 39 weeks pregnant on Tuesday 21st December - should I get the vaccination ASAP?
Thanks in advance.

Is it true that a lot of health care professionals are actually refusing the jab as they feel it has been rushed through without proper testing?

I am 26 weeks pg and have been offered the jab, but am in two minds as to whether to take it. I appreciate that no drug can be fully tested in pregnant women but am very concerned about long term side effects - mercury linked to Autism etc

Also, if a pregnant woman is otherwise healthy, why should swine flu be so dangerous when compared to standard flu?

(Not about pregnancy so don't answer if you don't have time.)

I am a bit embarrassed that I get the flu vacc, though I'm in a vulnerable group (ms). My mum used to have it too when she lived with us, but only because she thought it helped to protect me from flu (she was 84 when she died last year, and protested that she never got flu - I must say I don't remember her ever having it!). My dh also insists he should have it as he is the only driver. In fact, I only have it because he does, and if I didn't he wouldn't be able to. Is this taking advantage, or is it OK, in your opinion? (My conscience is troubling me.)

I'm 28 weeks pregnant and haven't had yet as worried about any long term side effects of the vaccine. How can we know that it is safe for the unborn child if we have only been vaccinating pregnant women recently?

Hello and welcome.
Last year my children both received the H1N1 vaccination - will they still be receiving any protection from this?
Many thanks.

I am 11 weeks pregnant and uncertain whether to have the flu/swine flu jab. It's my 3rd pregnancy and my policy has always been to take no medication, no coffee, no alcohol etc. etc. I know that there can be very dangerous effects of swine flu in pregnant women. However, I'd like to know how common those dangerous effects are - i.e. if I catch swine flu while pregnant, am I almost certain to have those terrible effects, or are they still quite unlikely? Do most pregnant women who catch swine flu have a minor case of the illness with babies unaffected? Thanks for your time.

testing, testing 123 (MNHQ)

I had swine flu jab last year. Is it a lifetime/ one off jab or does it yearly like the seasonal flu jab?

I went to my local GP in north London back in November to ask for the vaccine, as I'd heard that pregnant women were being encouraged to do this. They informed me that it was not available and that I should go to Boots to get it and pay for it myself. No problem to do that, really, but I had seen articles all over the press suggesting that I was supposed to get it?

Is the H1N1 vaccine identical to the one last year or has it been developed/changed in any way for this season, including being further tested on pregnant women in the interim?

I have an appt booked in tomorrow for the jab but still uncertain about having it. I have friends who had it last year without any side effects to them or the babies once born, but my main concern is the same as a couple of people have mentioned above, ie. any issues about long-term effects... which I presume no-one at this stage can guarantee will not emerge?

Hello
I'm 17 weeks pregnant and very worried about having the jab. Have heard of possible links to miscarriage and was wondering what information you have about this?
I would also like to know about possible side effects and safety of the vaccine, mainly in relation to the development of the baby. Eg is it worth waiting a few more weeks so the baby is more developed before having the vaccine?
Am also worried about whats in the vaccine eg thiomersel / mercury. Of the brands available can you please tell us which do not contain these and which are prefereable for pregnant women?
many thanks for your time

Welcome to Mumsnet, I'm watching with interest as I'm currently 16 weeks pg with my first. I'm keen to avoid as much medication as I can, but DH is as keen for me to have the jab. I'm an otherwise healthy person, and haven't had flu of any type in years, don't have other children at school who are likely to bring coughs and sneezes home, so would really value the opinion of a professional!

Professor Salisbury is here. Welcome to him and to everyone who has posted questions.

We'll be starting in a moment.

Hi to all, I'm really pleased to be back and hope this will be a helpful session. I looked at the thread so far, and was really struck by the difference in everybody's attitudes and indeed, your questions.

@CuppaTeaJanice

I've booked my jab for this thursday. I'm not pregnant, but my partner and I are planning on trying for a baby in the next couple of months.

My doctors surgery said normally you would have to be pregnant to be eligible for the vaccine, but they will allow me to have it as I have (very mild) asthma.

My question is, when so many women are reluctant to have any form of medication during pregnancy, does the NHS refuse to protect them in advance for a planned pregnancy?

I realise that the NHS is very stretched, and not all couples will manage to conceive quickly. But it does seem a bit mean to make women wait and then encourage them to have a vaccine they need at a time when they are reluctant to do so, causing them unnecessary worry about possible as yet unknown effects of the vaccine on the foetus.

This year's recommendations are for people who are already pregnant, and don't include people planning a pregnancy and it's up to your doctor to decide whether your asthma puts you into a risk group. If so, do go ahead and have the vaccine.

You ask about unknown effects of the vaccine on the foetus. The seasonal 'flu vaccine that we are recommending for pregnant women is an inactivated vaccine, and hundreds of thousands of doses have been given to pregnant women without any adverse effects on the foetus.

I'm 20 weeks pregnant and had a flu jab today. I did say I was pregnant, but they gave me the same jab as everyone else. Is this right?