Swine Flu Vaccine (and other health related!)

[Pootletrinket]

Am 25 weeks pg and last week had consultant appointment (due to being the grand old age of 36!) - the MW gave me the hard line about them recommending the swine flu vaccine again as swine flu's back on the radar and can be fatal in pregnant women. I asked her about risks to baby, she said she didn't know but that the potential fatality risk to me would imply a risk to baby ()

Then the Consultant came in, I asked him his opinion; he said it's personal choice and then said that he doesn't vaccinate his family; I look healthy and robust and if I stay away from crowds and eat well, should be OK.

Although the MW was smiling, I guessed she was seething as he was straying so far from the party line; but I appreciated his honesty.

But now I'm in a quandry. And despite usually being healthy and robust, have spent the last 3 days confined to the house as am v. unwell! Not flu but fever, cough, blocked up etc - and just surviving on paracetamol and karvol (whereas DH has it today, has confined himself to sleep plus all the drugs I can't take!! And DD lets him sleep - no chance for me!) - oh and they both said echinacea in pregnancy was fine - go figure!

So, the main question was, any views on the vaccine? And if I get it, could my exposure to the virus through the vaccine (although I understand it's not live) put my 4yo at risk?

TIA!

Just read the other thread on here (titled "I'm Sorry") which I hadn't found beforehand; think I will probably have it but still a bit about consultant response!!!

From the dr's I know, your consultants view of this seems very unusual.
I can't remember if there was a thread here in the pg topic, or if it was in Chat (in the last week or two), but a nurse came on to give her view. If you suffer from the (admittedly) rare complications of sf, it can be horrendous.
For me it was a non-choice, I didn't think twice about having the jab.

vaccine causes no risk to others so can't pass anything on...

i've bene vaccinated this year (frontline NHS) as has my husband who's recovering from pneumonia... my 2 DDs have also had their first jab as they have asthma.

it is a personal thing and the consultant is entitled to his point of view however if i was in yor position, i'd have the vaccination as having dealt with alot of swine flu patients over the past 2 years, it can be very very nasty.

As a pregnant woman you are high risk for serious complications if you do get swine flu, I am a midwife and pregnant and have had it.
Babies and mums have died because of swine flu I am not aware of any deaths due to the vaccine.

The other PoV is that you can get it and pass it on to a child who might well die because you infected them. It's a social responsibility thing as well. :)

I've had it btw, wasn't pregnant but do have a heart issue. Arm hurt a lot for a week but apart from that was fine.

I had it 4 days ago and all well. I know my Doc quite well and asked her for her off the record opinion and she said she would still recommend, she explained that there was no live virus in the injection so potential risks are practically nil and would be daft to take risk by not having it. I am also a robust and healthy woman, 35 years old. I'm 26 weeks and all good, baby kicking like a good one.

Thanks for these; my second post did say I was going to have it, but surprised by consultant viewpoint given the recommendations.