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.

wide awake too monster?! :)

Yep! Just looking for something to do

Oh good grief how has it been badly reported?!

The information you have received from the press has been accurate, swift and detailed.

The fact the DOH has sent out information to news outlets and hasn't kept GPs informed as quickly is the DOH's fault.

Having spoken to my own midwife's unit they talked to me about how information has to be "cascaded" from the relevant medical bodies (ie the DOH tells the BMA / RCN and then the body in question tells its members). Too slow. I think it's probably time, in an internet age, that it started sending out factsheets to surgery managers directly.

bad choice of words perhaps at 4 am :Badly only inasmuch as timing of reports, as you say, no one in the medical profession was prepared. It's not been a 'media frenzy' (which is what I was responding too - the mmr crap was a media frenzy) as only facts have been stated, the info was important and correct though not detailed enough to avoid worrying and puzzling those over 38 wks and led everyone to believe they could pop into the gp last Monday and get a jab. Very little has been said either via or in the press since. Not knowing what the press release process in this case is its hard to apportion blame but a little more clarity would have been helpful for those who've been very worried/ frustrated - as on this thread.

You give the press a story without an embargo - they print / broadcast it in a timely fashion. Anything else would be irresponsible - esp for those in the latter stages of pregnancy. The information process from the DOH to GPs isn't anything to do with them.

I'm essentially agreeing with you, just pointing out there's no media frenzy - its not an out of proportion news story as my links to the hpa show.

Update on my surgery in SE London.

I went for my flu jab today and the nurse was very keen to give me the pertussis jab ASAP. Since I'd read up on it I said I wanted to wait until 28 weeks or so (I'm 25). She was very nice and said to book in an appointment.

So I suppose word is getting out, at least around here. My midwife hadn't heard about it on Monday, though.

I have had a mission and a half getting this jab. How is it that my doctor / nurse or midwife team know nothing about it. It's a disgrace ! I was passed around from pillar to post this morning by either sides refusing to accept responsibility for giving these jabs out. Finally my doctors surgery relented and booked me in a week Thursday il be just under 38 weeks. Any advice I can give is don't be fobbed off.

Also as I'm pushing 38 weeks when i get whooping cough jab and delivered early will dc1. I'm right in thinking the anti bodies will go through my breast milk won't it????

But debbie they are authorised to give it now on maternal request, and the sooner you get it the better at your stage. I personally would think they are fobbing you off with next Thursday, but it is your call.

Be warned. It stings, and I have a sore arm after having it yesterday.

peswari bit concerned she might have wanted to give it prior to 28 weeks, but good to know you will get it as soon as you need it.

debbie in that case insist on it sooner. It does not go through breast milk unfortunately. It would offer baby some protection in as much as you ate protected, but nowt else. It needs two weeks at least to pass through placenta. Ideally we would have had this at 34 weeks. I urge you to get the big guns out. They will have stock as it is the pre-school jag. A doctor can give it. A doctor gave it, and flu jag to me yesterday. I am having a section in 3 weeks.

I had a very good experience with it all to be honest, but I think that's more to do with my GP than anything else.

I had my 31wk appointment today, I had my flu jab and asked about the WC inoculation. My GP said that they were having a meeting tomorrow to discuss and that I should call then, which I thought was fine. I left the surgery and about 20 mins later had a call from my GP who had done some digging, found out which nurse was administering them, confirmed that she had them in stock and then put me through to reception to make an appointment. So I'll be having it done on Tuesday morning. It seems that the info is getting there - it's just happening slowly.

I am just over 39 weeks but wanted the jabs anyway just incase the baby comes late and I can pass on the immunity.

Yesterday the midwife, docs, nurses and receptionists had no information other than that heard in the news (I was actually a lot more informed than them in knowing that it was the combined jab and the same as the one given to children). My surgery were amazing, I waited while they rand around and organised an emergency staff meeting and asked me to call the next afternoon (today).

This morning they rang me at 9.30am having managed to secure both the whooping cough and flu vaccines (neither if which they had in stock yesterday) and by half 10 my jabs were done. I cannot fault the staff at my surgery and they were so apologetic even though it was the fault of the government in their lack of info to the health professionals.

Fingers crossed my baby stays put for a little longer, but if not at least I know I have tried!

Spoke to my midwife about this today. They're putting on extra clinics at my GPs on Saturdays and can also have it at the antenatal clinic at the hospital. As I'm having my flu jab tomorrow my GPs have said they're happy to give it to me at the same time. Was worried about feeling really rough having both at the same time but she said all the wc jab should do is give me a sore arm! xx

@Clarella - thank you, I decided to go ahead with it as my doctor was quite convincing arguing that it's the right thing to do. Hope I made the right decision.

Valium, how do you know it doesn't go through breast milk? I've been told it does. I'm 39 weeks tomorrow so it's pretty crucial for me it does. It's all so

How does immunising pregnant women protect babies?
Antibodies produced in response to immunisation help the body to fight infections and reduce the severity of infections.
By immunising pregnant women against pertussis, the antibodies produced will cross the placenta to the foetus so that when the infant is born he/she already has antibodies against pertussis. This immunity is short-lived, diminishing over a few months. Therefore infants should still be immunised in accordance with the routine childhood immunisation schedule. Whilst breast-feeding is important for infants? general health, it will not by itself prevent them becoming infected with pertussis (or other infections).

Alice the above is from the NHS factsheet linked to upthread. I'm 39 weeks tomorrow too, but am going to have it done as she may be late (the last one was)

alice it says so in the information documents I linked to up thread. Plus what gold says. Have you had it? If so, then if baby is late, they will get antibodies hopefully. If not, then you being protected will protect them to an extent. There is no guarantee the vaccine will protect, and ideally we should have had it at 34 weeks. It is being offered to new mums too.

Just to add as wasn't thinking (please let me blame pregnancy brain ) I don't think that the 'government' in general are to blame I'm sure it was just a mistake on behalf of one or two or a complete accidental breakdown of communication. Really don't want to offend!

It is an extremely emotive subject and ladies most interested are going to be heavily pregnant so dealing with hormones, anxiety, sleepless nights etc. it is going to evoke a very emotional response, and hopefully everyone understands that. We are prepared to fight for our babies as we have worked so hard to get this far. It is an instinct thing.

I heard back from MNHQ and understandably they have lots of campaigns they are committed to. They suggested I consider starting a campaign in the appropriate section (did not know there was a campaign section) what do folk think? It seems that the message is getting through slowly, so is only a short delay hopefully for most. Also many of us have been to MPs etc.

I think the documents suggest breastfeeding's not as good as having the jab. But of course your pertussis antibodies will be in your breastmilk - just like all the others will be. They're not a special case.

Am being totally irrational here but I think I'm (temporarily) allowed to be!!

Does anyone know precisely what the advised jab contains ie what does it immunise against? Is it ONLY WC or do they chuck in a few others as well?

And - a personal issue - I am absolutely terrifed of the idea that vaccinating while pg could damage my baby's sight in some way. DH is profoundly deaf and while we are comfortable (as we can be!) with the fact that our baby may be deaf too, I live in morbid terror of doing anything that could affect the baby's sight. DH relies TOTALLY on his eyes (lip-reading etc) and the thought that I could be doing anything that might offer even a 0.1% chance of sight damage is just not worth me taking the risk, not even the horrible awful risk of whooping cough (as statistically our baby has more of a chance of having a problem due to what we already know about our genetics rather than WC if you see what I mean).

I need to ask my MW about this but if anyone has any further info I'd really really appreciate it.

Vallium I'd be very happy to get involved in a campaign pushing for better, more timely comminucation between Govt. and front line health services around pregnancy issues generally, we could use this whooping cough fiasco as an example. And there are so many others; flu jab 2 years ago, the recent 'rationing epidurals' nonsense that came out of that report (was from the RCN?? my memory escapes me), the constantly shifting advice on what to eat/not eat - I could go on and on.

As you say pregnancy can be a fraught and vulnerable time for many women. This and the last Govt have paid lip-service to making maternity services more user friendly but having had 3 pregnancies in the last 5 years I've seen no evidence of improvement. Notwithstanding the fact that my own community midwifery team is excellent staffed by fabulous midwives.

Any thoughts from anyone else???

Emerald mine was a combined jab (assume all the same around uk) with polio, diphtheria and tetanus included.
I would discuss any concerns with your midwife/nurse and hopefully then you can make an informed decision right for you