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MNHQ

Q&A about flu jabs during pregnancy with NHS - ANSWERS BACK

6 replies

RachelMumsnet · 04/10/2012 10:32

The NHS are taking your questions this week about the flu jab. Send your questions before the end of Tuesday 9 October to Dr Cathy Read, flu expert for the Department of Health and Dr Richard Pebody, Influenza lead from the Health Protection Agency and we'll link to their answers on 18th October.

The NHS experts say:
"It's the start of flu season and every year people die from a flu-related illness. Did you know that pregnant women are 18 times more likely to end up in hospital if they develop flu complications? If you are pregnant, getting the flu jab will protect both you and your baby. Other people who need the jab are:

Children and adults with long term health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, and heart or neurological conditions. For a full list of at risk health conditions see www.nhs.uk/flu

Those who care for people with health problems - either in health or social care or as an unpaid carer

Over 65s.

There are lots of myths about the flu jab. Research shows that it is safe to be given at any stage of pregnancy; there is no evidence of problems for pregnant women or their babies; and getting a flu jab during pregnancy will give immunity against flu to babies for the first six months of their life. The jab can't give you flu because it contains no live virus and you do need one every year. If you have a long term health condition such as asthma, diabetes or a neurological condition, you are also at risk of developing serious complications and need a flu jab".

This Q&A has been sponsored by the NHS

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MNHQ

RachelMumsnet · 05/10/2012 13:08

@Clarella

[Grin] mini!

My only other point to your experts, mnhq is that I think some people are more puzzled about the whooping cough vaccination and the fact its a combined one, as well as anxiety about missing out on the antibodies passing to baby if over 38 wks, though we seem to have been told that they can still have it to minimise catching it and infecting baby after birth. I've felt very comfortable having it but I'm sure there's some who are less happy and might a appreciate similar q & a?

Thanks for the suggestion. We are looking into the possibility of this.

MNHQ

RachelMumsnet · 08/10/2012 14:12

@shoppingtrolley

I am due on 12 Oct and got a letter about organising a flu jab. Do you think, as I am due so soon, I can ignore the letter and not have one?

Hi Shoppingtrolley, we realise the archived Q&A won't be live until after your due date so Dr Cathy Read and Dr Peabody have agreed to answer your question ahead of this. Here's their answer:

"The final decision is for you and your doctor, however providing there are no contraindications you can have the flu jab at any stage in pregnancy. There is evidence that if pregnant women are vaccinated their baby may be protected from flu for up to six months after the baby is born. It will usually take a week to ten days for your body to make antibodies and this immunity will be passed on to your baby in the womb. If you have the vaccine you will have your own immunity and so reduce the risk of picking up the flu virus from the community and passing it on to your baby.


You should also talk to your doctor about getting the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine. A temporary immunisation programme has just been introduced to offer pregnant women immunisation against whooping cough in response to the current outbreak. The optimum time for this is between 28 to 38 weeks of pregnancy but you can still have the vaccine up to the onset of labour".

MNHQ

RachelMumsnet · 08/10/2012 14:15

@Spice17

I had mine on Mon 1st Oct at 39+2. Just wondering if the baby will indeed receive protection/immunity if I go into labour on my due date of 06/10/12?

Also the jab left a red raised lump this time - is this because I'm pregnant (not happenbed before and didn't hurt ant the time)

Spice, feel this may already be a little late for you but here is the response to your answer:

"This does seem a bit soon, however if you have had flu in the last few years it is possible for the vaccine to boost your immunity quickly, even within a week. Also, your baby will be protected because, having had the flu vaccine, you will be less likely to transmit flu virus to your baby. The red lump you describe sounds like a local reaction to the jab and is not likely to be because you are pregnant. If you have not had the whooping cough vaccine, you should also discuss this with your doctor or midwife".

MNHQ

RachelMumsnet · 10/10/2012 10:55

The Q&A is now closed. We'll send 20 Qs over to Dr Cathy Read and Dr Pebody and link to their answers on 18th October.

MNHQ

RachelMumsnet · 19/10/2012 00:03

We're sorry the answers aren't live yet - there's been a slight delay but we're working on the archive now and should have the answers to your Qs early next week (we'll sticky this thread so it stays at the top of pregnancy as soon as it's live).

Shriek, we're sorry we can't send more Qs over. We came to the decision to stick to 20 Qs when we realised that mumsnetters just weren't reading beyond this. We try to choose a selection of Qs which we feel is representative of those being asked and we try to stick as far as possible to one questions per mumsnetter.

Pedantic - hadn't read your post before I sent the Qs over or of course I would have selected all your questions as top priority Smile

MNHQ

GeraldineMumsnet · 24/10/2012 12:10

Hello, here is the link to the answers from the NHS to your flu jab in pregnancy questions.

Thanks for your patience (and your questions).

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