Whooping cough vaccine

[sarah00001]

Hi, I just read that you should ideally have your whooping cough vaccine between weeks 28 and 32. I will be 30 weeks next Tuesday and haven't booked it and I won't be able to speak to my midwife until Monday. I'm worried I'm going to be too late for it if there is a long wait. Is it still ok to get it after 32 weeks? Is it generally done at the hospital or your GP surgery, or does it depend?

Many thanks, Sarah

I had it done at 35 weeks. It meant I got immunity but no guarantee for the baby, they prefer before 32 weeks as it might take 4 weeks to pass on immunity in utero so you might not pass on if you are full term at 37 weeks. Newborns can't have it immediately so at least you have a window where one of you is protected, get it done when you can - have you asked your GP?

I called up my GP surgery to book it when I was 28+0, they've managed to fit me in for 29+4.

Just call your gp and book in with the nurse or doctor. My midwife reminded me but didn't get involved at all.

Oh and I had mine this week at 29+6. I booked the appointment a couple of weeks ago.

I had mine this week and I'm 29 weeks. Booked it monday and had it tuesday, nurse did it at my gp practice

I was told to book it with my GP. Seems like you'll have quite a big window to book it in? Just make sure you insist that it has to be done within those dates. I'm sure they'll accommodate you?

I've just had mine done today at 29+4 x

Had mine at the GPs yesterday, bang on 28w. Whilst they aim for 28-32w, I'm sure my nurse mentioned they can administer it up to 38w, so I'm sure you'll not be too late.

My one top tip though -
The nurse asked me if I was left or right handed, I said right, so she said we'll jab your left arm them. I wish she'd actually asked me what side I prefer to sleep on... it bloomin killed me all night, kept waking me up, and I had to keep rolling onto my right side to take the weight off it! Daft thing is, I'm confident I could've written fine with it, it just didn't like load bearing all night. If I had a time machine I'd go back and get in my right arm in a heartbeat!

Thanks everyone. Following your advice, i called my GP surgery and have my vaccine booked in with the nurse next Friday. I'll be 30+4 weeks, which is fine.

I feel so silly, but I'm scared. I'm not scared of the vaccine itself as I know it's meant to be safe and I know how dangerous whooping cough can be, but my GP surgery is in a real mess at the moment. They are getting a new IT system installed and none of the receptionists can fathom it out, plus they're seriously short staffed. I'm worried in case there's a mix up and I get given the wrong vaccine or something. I'm sure I'm just worrying unnecessarily, but I wish I could have it done somewhere else!.

It's advised to be given in late of, so that the antibodies your body produces in response to the exposure transit the placenta thus giving some immunity to the baby for as long as they remain in circulation.

It's OK and will still have a good protective effect for quite some time after 32 weeks. The recommended timing is as much about giving a reasonable opportunity for those who want it to get it before it's likely that births start happening. Most people go much closer to 40 week term (or beyond), so I really don't think you need worry about it being late until about 36 weeks. And even then it may well be OK.

Don't worry about that, the nurse or doc will be very careful to give you the right vaccine. Mine showed me the box and double checked how far along I was etc.

Thank you. I think I'll give the surgery a call beforehand and ask to speak to the nurse and tell her my concerns. Seeing the box will reassure me.