Whooping cough jab

[blonderthanred]

Anyone got any views on this?

I just read on the BBC website that due to the recent cases, pg women are all to be offered a whooping cough jab between 28-38 weeks, to take place at a routine antenatal appt.

I'm 34+3 so I guess they may offer it next week when I go in - it doesn't say whether there will be any notification or info sent, or if I will just be told/offered it on the day. What do people think about this issue, it seems a sudden decision which makes me nervous but I guess there will have been a longer thought process. Plenty of people have the flu jab when pg although I believe that only offers the mother protection, not the baby (?) so I don't know if there are any risks or even if it crosses the placenta.

I was born in '76 when there was a scare about the baby wh cough jab (recently proven false) so I didn't have it and then caught wh cough. I don't know if that will make any difference.

I'll take whatever vaccines they offer! Have my 36 week appt this weekend so will ask then - don't know if they'll be offering already by then.

I've just seen this. The news said it does cross the placenta and protects the baby as they can't immunise them until they are 2 months. I think the flu jab also continues to provide protection if they are breast fed so maybe this is the same? I want to find out more too as have a mw app next week (33 weeks) and want to know more about it before I'm offered it.

This has been talked about for a few months as the number of whopping cough cases has increased. If I were pregnant I would have this jab. Without a second thought actually. Whooping cough is a horrible illness and a killer for newborn babies. The idea is that the jab will boost your antibodies and thus give them enough to keep them safe till their own jabs start at 8 weeks.

I Was told the flu jab protects the baby even if you don't breastfeed?

Yes, most of me thinks absolutely, have it, but then a little part of me envisages a headline in 2 years time saying it was all a big mistake and lots of babies were affected in some way. But then I am quite hormonal so I can't claim that's a rational response.

Does anyone know if some pg women have this jab already, or what research there is?

I'm 32 weeks and have a midwife appt next week so am going to ask about it. Am also due the flu jab next week as well.

My initial thoughts are that I'll have it as they say it crosses the placenta and gives baby protection but a little concerned if they offer it next week as I'm wondering if having that and the flu jab so close together will be too much xx

blonder - the jab is being offered to women at 28 weeks plus. So all significant neurological and physical development has been done. The baby will get some antibodies that they would be getting in anything from 3 to 5 months later in a bigger dose through their own jab. There's no such thing as a 100% safe intervention. Everything has a risk. In this case though I think the risk is tiny and the danger of WC is significant.

Here is the info from department of health

I'm off for my 36 week app today, if I'm offered it I'll have it. But, if it's anything like the flu jab my doc won't offer it until 3 days before I'm due and there's no way I'm having it then cos it always knocks me for 6.

That's interesting, NL, thanks for the link. Sounds like something to go for.

I was wondering the same thing wondering, but it sounds like our immunity won't be passed on to the baby so the jab will cover it early on.

I'm still interested to know what the advice will be re the flu jab, whether to leave a gap etc.

My friends' prem baby twins nearly died of WC last year. I wouldn't hesitate to vaccinate if I were pregnant.

I am 29 weeks and living in France, my doctor has said that I will be given the whooping cough jab...I think it's standard here. He has also said that my DH has to have it! But I've also had to be tested for Toxylasmosis every month here too. They seem to do more tests and give more jabs here.

I'm 37 weeks today and have an appointment with the MW next week when I am 37+6, so will phone the doctors this morning about it as it seems like a good idea to get it asap.

I'm furious They've known about this for weeks, yet only announcing it now- and as I'm 39+3 I can't have the jab :(

Hi,
Just to say the USA have been doing this for years so therefore I would have thought it was safe as something would have come out of the woodwork by now. I am 30 weeks and am defo having my flu and whooping cough jab the risks are just too great in catching the illnesses and at the end of the day would the goverment really recomend something they are not sure about? As this is the future generation and I am sure they have learnt from pass mistakes regarding law suits extra.

Sorry 'etc' not 'extra' !

milk I'm in exactly the same boat (38+6 today, so over 39w once the jabs are rolled out) - gutted, as DH had it a few years back and it was awful :( Will be speaking to the GP this morning and will report back!

Milk is this your first child ?

I'm 40 weeks today so will miss the cut off, anyone know how best to protect my newborn from catching it? How is it being spread? We have lots of family who work in schools and hospitals would they be higher risk for spreading it? Should I be stocking up on alcohol hand gel?

I am 33wks. Was exactly the same when I heard about it this morning; is it safe? Also my parents refused me the jab in the seventies.
My nurse told me the doctor who did the researchmback then was exposed as incompetent for using a focus group of 12 children when the common practice is to use something like 1000+ (her words not mine, not at all medical here!).

My trouble is that scientific bodies/government are always changing their minds about what is safe and what isn't so naturally you wonder about it.

I think though, with the danger of WC being potentially fatal it is something I will be having but I totally concur it is a contentious issue.

Blonderthanred, I happen to know about this a little bit, it hasn't been tested for effectiveness or safety on pregnant women, and not for effectiveness in being passed through to new baby, but it's been given to pregnant women inadvertently in France and Germany with no ill effects.

Just spoke to doctors surgery and they had no idea what they were doing about it as first they had heard was on news today... Hopefully that was just the receptionist.

She said the doctors need to decide if they are offering it and will then need to order vaccines so to phone back next week. I'm already 38 weeks so don't want to be leaving it till late though.

Katie it's spread through saliva/water droplets in the air etc. Trouble is, it's most infectious in the first fortnight, usually before symptoms appear, from what I understand.

Oh also I know that it's the pre-shcool booster vaccine not the one given to babies and it's not recommended for pregnant women but that's because they're not allowed to "research " with pregnant women so they don't have the safety studies. However all the doctors are saying it's safe.