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 am 37 weeks pregnant and booked in for an elective in 2 weeks time. My hospital is recommending that I have the vaccine as a number of women have been admitted in the last week, some of whom are v poorly. I am so worried about the possible effects on my baby and would welcome advice as to this.

@santamaxx

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

@TondelayoSchwarzkopf

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?

Last year when swine 'flu emerged, it was clear that the under-fives were indeed a risk group. For that reason, we recommended that they should be vaccinated. However, we also saw that many of them got infected and will now be immune against H1N1 (swine 'flu). At the moment, we are sticking with our usual seasonal flu policy, that doesn't include routine vaccination for under-fives, although this is something that we're looking at for the future.

santamax, If your children were vaccinated last year, there's a good chance that they will still get some protection from the vaccination. At this stage, it's impossible to know but time will tell!

there was a lot of talk about second and third waves. in reality it wasn't that bad an infection rate. are we expecting to see worse this winter and in your opinion is this a serious illness for a healthy child?

@Weasy

I am 37 weeks pregnant and booked in for an elective in 2 weeks time. My hospital is recommending that I have the vaccine as a number of women have been admitted in the last week, some of whom are v poorly. I am so worried about the possible effects on my baby and would welcome advice as to this.

Please do go ahead and have the vaccine. We know from last year and already this year that pregnant women are indeed at risk. We can be confident about the benefits, both for you and for your baby, especially if the baby is going to be born during the 'flu season. Studies do show that babies of vaccinated mothers are protected from 'flu, which has to be worthwhile.

don't think it's just for preg related questions lenin - but that that is a new recommendation that some maybe (clearly are by the posts) concerned about.

@logiebear

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?

This is an inactivated vaccine, which means that the viruses were killed at an early stage of the manufacturing and the only bit in the vaccine is the bit that actually that actually gives you protection. The vaccine can't infect your baby and millions and millions of doses of inactivated vaccines are given routinely to pregnant women.

@Coffeeandchocolate

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)?

Because they don't make a good immune response.

Can I just ask if the flu jab is safe to have in the first trimester of pregnancy? I'm booked for to have mine, but would just like to check please.

@LifeOfKate

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 :)

'Flu is more risky in late pregnancy, but even in early pregnancy it's better to be protected.

@pistachio

when is the flu season generally expected to start and end? I'm guessing October to March or thereabouts? Will pregnant women still be offered a flu jab in the spring or is it no longer seen as such a risk in the spring/summer months?

'Flu season started about three to four weeks ago, and usually lasts around seven weeks.

@tellnoonesantaisnotreal

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

Yes, and if my answer is too late, it's still worth having just after the baby is born.

Hello
My concern is that the vaccine could cause problems for the baby later in childhood, we've all read the reports in the papers about links between MMR and Autism - how safe is the jab for my baby? Have there been plenty of studies done on women who had the jab and their babies later on?
Thank you

@PussinJimmyChoos

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?

I'm really concerned if health professionals are refusing the jab themselves as they feel it's been rushed through without proper testing. This is completely wrong. The vaccine is the standard 'flu vaccine that is offered every year. It contains three strains of 'flu virus, just as it does every year. There is huge experience of the vaccine, and it has gone through exactly the same testing as happens for seasonal vaccine every year.

You ask about long-term side effects, such as mercury linked to Autism. There is no link between mercury and Autism, and there isn't mercury in seasonal 'flu vaccine. (Nine of the ten 2010/11 'flu vaccines have no thiomersal (mercury); one called fluvirin has traces of thiomersal that are leftover from the manufacturing process.) Your GP will be able to discuss what vaccine is in stock.

if flu season started 3-4 wks ago and usually lasts 7 weeks, that leaves about 3-4 weeks of the season to go. if it takes 5-10 days for immunity from the vacine to kick in then aren't those of us who have not yet had the jab going through all this just to end up being protected for just the last week or so?
sorry if have misunderstood!

@PussinJimmyChoos

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

We just don't know why swine 'flu has turned out to be more dangerous for pregnant women than seasonal 'flu usually is. But, even seasonal 'flu can be bad news for pregnant women and that's why we've added pregnant women to the list for seasonal 'flu vaccination for the future.

there are no links to MMR? mercury and Autism!!! The bloke that made that cock and bull story up and sensatinalised it was struck off!!!

I am 17 weeks pregnant and concerned about getting the jab as I am worried it hasn't been tested enough, how do we know it won't affect the babies development?

I have been doing a bit of research and I know last years jabs contained thiomersal and an adjuvant which can be dangerous to the babies development but I've not been able to find out if the new combined seasonal flu jab with swine flu contains thiomersal and adjuvants? My doctors are using Imuvac or Sanofi so I would be interested in those in particular.

@Jux

(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.)

If you have MS, then I'm sure that your doctor will know if you should be vaccinated. We do recommend that carers of people in risk groups should also be vaccinated and it may well be that your DH would come into that category.

@wolfhound

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.

Being healthy doesn't stop you catching 'flu and 'flu is not good news for pregnant women or indeed their babies. Yes, most pregnant women have a minor illness and unaffected babies, but that isn't true for all and we can't predict which pregnant woman is going to get a severe dose of 'flu. The balance of benefit and risk is strongly in favour of being vaccinated.

Sorry, not sure I can ask a second question, but just in case. Does the virus itself cross the placenta or are babies most affected by the effects of (swine) flu, such as fever, reduced pulmonary capacity, etc? Many thanks

@notaroundmuch

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?

The vaccine that you're being offered now is not identical to the one last year. That one only protected against H1N1, and was specially made for the pandemic. This year's vaccine will protect against H1N1 (swine 'flu), H3N2 and B strains. It is manufactured in exactly the same way as seasonal 'flu vaccine is made every year.

Seasonal 'flu vaccine has been given to hundreds of thousands of pregnant women routinely without problem.

@festive

if flu season started 3-4 wks ago and usually lasts 7 weeks, that leaves about 3-4 weeks of the season to go. if it takes 5-10 days for immunity from the vacine to kick in then aren't those of us who have not yet had the jab going through all this just to end up being protected for just the last week or so?
sorry if have misunderstood!

I can't guarantee that 'flu will be over in a few more weeks and yes, it is worthwhile getting yourself and your baby protected.

@Coffeeandchocolate

Sorry, not sure I can ask a second question, but just in case. Does the virus itself cross the placenta or are babies most affected by the effects of (swine) flu, such as fever, reduced pulmonary capacity, etc? Many thanks

No problem with the second question (I'll send the bill).

The 'flu virus can infect you and your baby before it's born, or after it's born. There is no live virus in the vaccine so the vaccine can't infect your baby. However, it can protect your baby.