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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Original poster

Whooping Cough Vaccine

52 replies

lemonslemonslemons · 27/04/2016 10:47

Has anyone decided NOT to have the vaccine?

I had decided not to bother as I am already vaccinated and had heard bad things about getting ill after having the vaccine. Also, didn't have it with DD as they didn't offer it then and we had no problems.

That said, a friend has just caught whooping cough so I am now wondering if I might be changing my mind...

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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LumpishAndIllogical · 27/04/2016 14:17

I had it, told here in London you have to get it between 28-32 weeks.

No side effects only a sore arm for a few days

29redshoes · 27/04/2016 14:21

I had it at 31 weeks. No side effects except sore arm. I think it's best to have it in the arm on the side you don't usually sleep on!

My midwife said to book it between 28 and 32 weeks.

mininionsteve · 27/04/2016 14:25

Just had it today. Only have a sore arm. I was told 28-32 weeks as well.

mininionsteve · 27/04/2016 14:25

Just had it today. Only have a sore arm. I was told 28-32 weeks as well.

novemberchild · 27/04/2016 14:25

I thought if you'd had actual whooping cough (as I have) , then the vaccine is not necessary?

AveEldon · 27/04/2016 14:28

No, the purpose is not to protect you but to transfer antibodies to the baby
That's why they want people to have it in each pregnancy

LumpishAndIllogical · 27/04/2016 14:38

Yeah it doesn't matter whether you've had it before or already vaccinated. The point of having it in pregnancy is to protect baby by giving them a dose of antibodies via you, newborns are too young to be vaccinated themselves. Previous infections/vaccines won't protect your baby

Salene · 27/04/2016 15:14

I'm up in north Scotland and it's 16-28 weeks here, it's strange how different areas give out different advice. It was 28-35 but new guidelines came in place a few weeks ago bringing it forward

I'm getting mine today in 24 weeks

Peppaismyhomegirl · 27/04/2016 15:20

I'm in north Wales and it's 28-32 weeks

seven201 · 27/04/2016 18:30

I had mine yesterday at 32 weeks and I feel fine. I was told 28-32 weeks - I'm
I'm Kent. I did go at 30 weeks but they'd run out of the vaccine and not bothered to tell me!

CamembertQueen · 27/04/2016 18:36

I am a bit worried now! I am 34 weeks and midwife only mentioned it yesterday. Earliest I can get it from the Nurse is 35 weeks! Midwife just said after 28weeks but nothing about a cut off point.

Mishaps · 27/04/2016 18:37

Whooping cough does need to be taken very seriously - because of herd immunity via vaccination it is so uncommon that people have never seen how it can affect sufferers. My DD had this at age 4 - it was terrifying. I never want to go through such a dreadful experience again. She continued to cough for well over a year if she tried to run at all; and she suffered from all-night coughing for decades. And during the actual illness she was so very very ill. If there is a chance of avoiding this for your child then please take the opportunity. I have never felt so powerless.

AveEldon · 27/04/2016 18:43

Mishaps - was your DD vaccinated?

Artioo2 · 27/04/2016 18:46

I had a slightly sore arm for 24 hours, nothing else.

I don't understand it when people say 'I didn't have it and my baby is fine so it was the right decision.' It was only the right decision because your baby didn't catch whooping cough. That's luck, not a result of your careful weighing up of the options.

Salene · 27/04/2016 18:50

I'm 25 weeks and went for my mine today but nurse refused to give it to me

As although they are all aware of new guidelines of 16 - 28 weeks they haven't had the paperwork through to sign off on it or something but it could appear any day now but untill they do she can't legally give it to me,

How annoying , total waste of journey

I said I will just come back to 28 weeks to be sure

Zoe475 · 27/04/2016 22:00

Hi I'm 34 weeks pregnant I had it I've been OK just hurt a bit but I hate kneedles.xx

rubberducker · 27/04/2016 23:04

I'm having mine tomorrow at 32 weeks. My DM lost her first baby to whooping cough when she was 6 weeks old. There was no way I was going to turn the vaccine down.

pullthecracker · 27/04/2016 23:37

It's recently, (as in the last two weeks) changed to being able to be given from 20 weeks up to around 38 weeks in the UK.

TriJo · 27/04/2016 23:48

Had it at 30 weeks - no side effects at all really. Will do the same if we go again.

miniswin · 28/04/2016 13:54

A friend missed her whooping cough vaccine due to an oversight by her midwifery team. Both she and her baby caught it shortly after birth and it wasn't picked up for several days-weeks despite multiple GP visits as it 'couldn't possibly' be whooping cough. It was only when she saw a locum GP who had recently dealt with an outbreak in her usual practice area that they were was diagnosed and baby was admitted to hospital. Thankfully baby was absolutely fine. Please vaccinate, not for you, but for baby's protection.

lavenderdoilly · 28/04/2016 14:01

I nearly died of whopping cough just after I was born nearly 50 years ago. I suffered febrile convulsions as a likely consequence when I was a bit older. My tough as old boots mum still goes pale at the mention of it. She can still hear me crying and struggling to breath. Vaccinate if you can.

Mishaps · 28/04/2016 14:06

Mishaps - was your DD vaccinated? - no she wasn't. This was a good few years ago (about 40) at the time of the first major "scare" - I have never forgiven myself for not getting her vaccinated. Subsequent children of mine were of course vaccinated at the first available opportunity. Few parents now go through the experience of a child with whooping cough - I wanted to make sure that everyone knew how very serious it can be.

Every 20 minutes day and night she would cough till she was blue and would bring up a cupful of phlegm the consistency of dough - it was dreadful. This went on for weeks and weeks - we were all wrecked. One night, in the middle of this, she asked "Why doesn't god make me better?" - why indeed.

The poor lass got chicken pox as she was just starting to recover from it - she was so ill.

Please take the opportunity to get the vaccination. Sorry to lecture, but I cannot bear the thought of any child going through this.

novemberchild · 28/04/2016 14:16

I had it at about 8 years old, and it lasted for ages. I've been reading the info and will be having the vaccination.

Sidge · 28/04/2016 15:00

lemons the vaccine offered in pregnancy is primarily for the baby's benefit, not yours, so your own vaccine status is largely irrelevant. Of course there is a benefit to you in that you would be very unlikely to contract pertussis (whooping cough) having received the vaccine yourself and so your baby is further protected as you wouldn't contract pertussis and potentially pass it to your baby after delivery.

I've given hundreds of women the vaccine since it was introduced in 2012 - a fair few get a sore arm and feel a bit ropey afterwards, generally off colour but not unwell as such.

It used to be given from 28 weeks of pregnancy, but as of April 1st can be given from 16 weeks, ideally from 20 weeks. However as the change is very new nurses may not have received the new PGD (the paperwork that "prescribes" the vaccine for you under a group protocol) and so cannot give it to you before 28 weeks until they have received, read and signed this directive.

It is best given before 32 weeks, but actually can be given right up to delivery and beyond to reduce risk.

kd83 · 28/04/2016 15:54

I'm having mine tomorrow at bang on 35 weeks, its a bit late but better than never and should still give the baby a bit of immunity.

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