Page 3 | Live webchat about the swine flu vaccination with director of immunisation Prof David Salisbury, Tues 21 Dec, noon - 1pm

GeraldineMumsnet · 2010-12-20T16:45:45+00:00

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 [[http://www.mumsnet.com/onlinechats/david-salisbury 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.

DrDavidSalisbury · 21/12/2010 12:38

@festive

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

In response to your earlier question about timing and miscarriages: there's no evidence that 'flu vaccination increases the risk of miscarriages and please, don't wait until the baby is more developed, as both of you remain at risk while you're waiting. Not a good idea.

I've answered the thiomersal/mercury a few questions ago.

pipplin · 21/12/2010 12:40

Hello, I was wondering what you could tell me about any long time side effects? I am 10 weeks pregnant and just a bit unsure about what to do.

DrDavidSalisbury · 21/12/2010 12:41

@Vixster33

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.

I've already answered on thiomersal/mercury. There is no adjuvant in this year's seasonal vaccine and there's no evidence at all that adjuvant is dangerous for babies' development.

Imuvac and Sanofi vaccines do not contain any thiomersal/mercury, so please go ahead!

DrDavidSalisbury · 21/12/2010 12:42

@IhateSunday

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!!!

You're right!

Snowfalls108 · 21/12/2010 12:42

How well do you need to be to have the jab? I'm getting over flu, 17 weeks pregnant, and have the chance to get the jab tomorrow? My nose is still streaming, I've got a hacking cough, should I go ahead?
Thanks

Snowfalls108 · 21/12/2010 12:43

How well do you need to be to have the jab? I'm getting over flu, 17 weeks pregnant, and have the chance to get the jab tomorrow? My nose is still streaming, I've got a hacking cough, should I go ahead?
Thanks

nymphadora · 21/12/2010 12:44

Should people be getting the vaccine if they are asthmatic? All of us except my 10 week old have asthma & have never been called for any flu vaccine.

DrDavidSalisbury · 21/12/2010 12:45

@Snowfalls108

How well do you need to be to have the jab? I'm getting over flu, 17 weeks pregnant, and have the chance to get the jab tomorrow? My nose is still streaming, I've got a hacking cough, should I go ahead?
Thanks

Ask your doctor.

DrDavidSalisbury · 21/12/2010 12:45

@nymphadora

Should people be getting the vaccine if they are asthmatic? All of us except my 10 week old have asthma & have never been called for any flu vaccine.

It depends how severe the asthma is. Your GP will know from the sort of treatment that your family needs whether they would be in a risk group.

Sibecks · 21/12/2010 12:51

This is just a comment & not a question. I don't usually comment on these types of things but felt I had to.
I am a usually fit & healthy 35 mother of two & also a health professional. I got out of hospital yesterday having had swine flu & pneumonia. It has been horrible. It has knocked me for six! I am now on bed rest at home & hoping I am up and about for Christmas. It has amazed me how this flu can affect a young(ish!), fit & healthy person like me.
I can't imagine how it would have been if I had been pregnant. I know for sure I would have worried much more about all the drugs I have been given to treat me much more than the vaccine. I would recommend for anyone to get the vaccine if you can.

DrDavidSalisbury · 21/12/2010 12:53

@Sibecks

This is just a comment & not a question. I don't usually comment on these types of things but felt I had to.
I am a usually fit & healthy 35 mother of two & also a health professional. I got out of hospital yesterday having had swine flu & pneumonia. It has been horrible. It has knocked me for six! I am now on bed rest at home & hoping I am up and about for Christmas. It has amazed me how this flu can affect a young(ish!), fit & healthy person like me.
I can't imagine how it would have been if I had been pregnant. I know for sure I would have worried much more about all the drugs I have been given to treat me much more than the vaccine. I would recommend for anyone to get the vaccine if you can.

Hope you're better in time for Christmas, and couldn't agree more about the benefits for pregnant women.

beabea81 · 21/12/2010 12:56

I have M.E and am 24 weeks pregnant. Is it true that the vaccine can trigger a relapse in M.E patients? Also, is this vaccine definitely safe for my unborn baby & her development in the years to come?

notaroundmuch · 21/12/2010 12:56

Thanks for your answer to my question. The one thing which still hasn't been discussed though, which a few people have mentioned, is what guarantees there are to no long-term side effects of the H1N1 vaccine.
I understand that it is manufactured in the same way as other flu vaccines but does this mean that all flu vaccines have equal risk of long-term side effects as they are 'newly produced' each year according to the strain, or are they all guaranteed risk-free and therefore H1N1 is included in that by being produced as a seasonal flu jab? (does that make sense?!... just a bit confused at the risk differences between that vaccine and other seasonal flu jabs and whether there is any).

Chocaliscious · 21/12/2010 12:58

Hi I am 17 weeks pregnant and in a total dilemma as to whether to have the seasonal combined flu jab or not? I am 36 years old and have had two miscarriages this year (the last one when i was 12 weeks). I do not have any children. I'm am so scared that the flu jab could harm my baby or cause miscarriage I just don't know what to do. I really don't want to inject something into my body that could cause any harm or risk of miscarriage. But at the same time if I were to contract flu/swine flu, could this be worse? As the flu jab this year is combined with swine flu and 2 other seasonal flu's how can we be sure it has been thoroughly tested on pregnant women. Are there any pregnant women that have had this particular jab and delivered healthy baby's? or has there been any women who have suffered any serious side effects from having the jab? Help!

DrDavidSalisbury · 21/12/2010 12:59

@beabea81

I have M.E and am 24 weeks pregnant. Is it true that the vaccine can trigger a relapse in M.E patients? Also, is this vaccine definitely safe for my unborn baby & her development in the years to come?

The vaccine is safe for your unborn baby and will protect your baby from getting 'flu. There is no clear evidence that vaccines like 'flu vaccine can trigger a relapse, but surely you would far prefer not to risk getting 'flu, which really could trigger a relapse of ME?

BelieveInLife · 21/12/2010 12:59

You say it's not a live vaccine, but I had the jab yesterday and before giving it to me the nurse said "I have to make you aware this contains a small dose of live swine flu"...can you explain please?

bosch · 21/12/2010 13:00

You indicate that most under 5's would have had the flu vaccine last year/earlier this year.

we were never called for vaccine and when I asked at my gp's they said that so few people had responded to the call for under 5's they had stopped sending out letters. Our surname starts with W so we weren't in with a chance.

Please look at records of take up of vaccine for under 5's before deciding not to include them at an early stage of the vaccine programme this season...

DrDavidSalisbury · 21/12/2010 13:06

@notaroundmuch

Thanks for your answer to my question. The one thing which still hasn't been discussed though, which a few people have mentioned, is what guarantees there are to no long-term side effects of the H1N1 vaccine.
I understand that it is manufactured in the same way as other flu vaccines but does this mean that all flu vaccines have equal risk of long-term side effects as they are 'newly produced' each year according to the strain, or are they all guaranteed risk-free and therefore H1N1 is included in that by being produced as a seasonal flu jab? (does that make sense?!... just a bit confused at the risk differences between that vaccine and other seasonal flu jabs and whether there is any).

This year's vaccine with H1N1 in it is, as you say, just a seasonal 'flu jab, like other years, and not the same as the pandemic vaccine of last year. There is only one long-term condition that I can think of that has been linked to seasonal 'flu vaccination. It's a neurological condition called Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS). Most studies can't find a link, however one study has shown an extra one case of GBS for every million seasonal 'flu vaccinations. What also came from the research studies was that getting seasonal 'flu disease increased the risk of GBS about eight times. In other words, the disease is a far higher risk than the vaccine and the vaccine could actually protect you against GBS.

DrDavidSalisbury · 21/12/2010 13:06

@BelieveInLife

You say it's not a live vaccine, but I had the jab yesterday and before giving it to me the nurse said "I have to make you aware this contains a small dose of live swine flu"...can you explain please?

I can't believe she said that - she's totally wrong. Send me her details...!

notaroundmuch · 21/12/2010 13:07

ok, thanks. All the info. has been very useful today, I will keep my appt. tomorrow!

MNHQ

GeraldineMumsnet · 21/12/2010 13:08

Thanks to Prof Salisbury - he has to dash. Thanks to him for all the answers and to everyone who posted questions and took part.

OP posts:

BelieveInLife · 21/12/2010 13:19

I think that's part of the problem with people's uncertainty over whether to have it or not. There seems to be so much conflicting information, and dare I say it - lack of knowledge from the frontline medical profession.

TheFoosa · 21/12/2010 14:06

oh dear, that nurse is going to get the mother of all bollockings

domesticslattern · 21/12/2010 14:30

Just to say that we have had seasonal flu in this household. I think I was a bit naive about it, assuming it struck people with pre-existing conditions and was otherwise more like a bad cold. Wrong! It had DH lying on the bathroom floor crying, shaking uncontrollably, vomit everywhere, talking bollocks, roaringly high temperature yet complaining it was freezing cold, and off work for days and days.

And now a hacking cough which is really really annoying.

I wouldn't wish flu on anyone.

LowBumsMum · 21/12/2010 14:38

My children had the Panenza jab last year - 2 shots. How long will it protect them against H1N1?
Thanks