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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Anyone NOT getting the whooping cough jab?

76 replies

Mother2be100 · 22/05/2016 17:46

Just curious to know if there's anyone who has decided not to get the whooping cough jab in pregnancy? I understand the uptake is 50/60% so people must choose not to. If so what are your reasons? Do you worry about the risks of baby catching it? Ive not decided either way so not posting to start a debate just be interested to hear from people who have decided against it for general research

OP posts:
PenguinWatch · 22/05/2016 17:56

I got it (not helpful for your poll!) but I'm shocked uptake is so low.

littlemonkey5 · 22/05/2016 17:58

I have had 3 pregnancies where the jab has been available (didn't get offered with the first 2 - not sure when it was first offered) and have never had it. My consultant was not happy about it but then again, I did refuse all bloods too........

I have 2 reasons. 1 is because I am severely needle phobic and 2 is because I just don't trust a vaccine that hasn't been available for very long..... I know, both reasons are irrational but I can't help the fear.

I have had babies in July, September, November, February and April. None of my children have had whooping cough, we don't go to baby groups and my children don't go to nursery until they are 3. Their exposure to bugs and the like is reduced so the risk has been less. It was only recently that we have succumbed to flu etc because we changed schools.

I have thought rationally about it, my children have their first batch of jabs but I would have had the whooping cough jab 3 times in 4 years if I'd had it before and that is far too much chemical to put into me 'just in case' and as it turns out, totally unnecessarily.

NeedACleverNN · 22/05/2016 18:01

I got it and tbh apart from allergies I don't get why you wouldn't

Original poster
Mother2be100 · 22/05/2016 18:04

Thanks for responses so far. Just to reiterate I have aimed this thread at people who are NOT getting it to establish reasons for doing so. Not trying to spark a debate on what is right or wrong. General research and curiosity as stated

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eurochick · 22/05/2016 18:22

I didn't. I was still trying to decide when she was delivered at 34 weeks. I was very apprehensive about drugs and vaccines in pregnancy. I had no issues with vaccines once she was delivered.

I was not convinced for a few reasons. It hasn't been used for very long. Its efficacy is apparently quite limited if the mother hasn't been vaccinated. I was having a summer baby and WC rates were very low. It only provides protection until the babies have their own jabs a few weeks after birth. However WC is a horrible, horrible illness and it must be awful to see a newborn struggling with it. Hence being on the fence.

duckyisback · 22/05/2016 18:36

I got it with my first (who was stillborn), I didn't get it with my second as I did a lot of reading up and kept reading research showing it can increase your risk of stillbirth.

I am now pregnant again and will be getting it as I have read some new research that shows it doesn't increase the risk of stillbirth.

icklekid · 22/05/2016 18:40

Think this link/figures shown are useful for seeing the reasons for introducing the jab
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/521435/Table_3_Laboratory_confirmed_cases_of_Pertussis_infection__England__by_region__1994_to_2015.pdf

Baz13 · 22/05/2016 18:56

I don't remember it being offered it to me with my previous pregnancy's and both my children never had the whooping cough jab as part of their baby vaccinations due to a family history of something that went wrong with the baby after having it (years ago). There is no evidence to suggest that it was the whooping cough vaccine but due to family prejudices and no babies in my family having it for over 30 plus years I didn't want to be the one to start (silly I know). My sister had a baby last year and is a nurse and was really struggling to decide, in the end she opted not to have it in pregnancy - not sure if her son had it in his vaccinations. I am not going to get it in my pregnancy as my other two were fine without it - and are generally healthy children.

Caper86 · 22/05/2016 18:56

I'm pregnant with my first and have decided against it. No vaccine is tested on pregnant women, so there is no evidence that says what the long term effects are. Also, just worth bearing in mind there's no guaruntee your baby will be protected (I believe most people who contract whooping cough have been vaccinated). i discussed it with my GP who was totally in agreement that it's risky to use a new vaccine on pregnant women. It's completely your decision, but always good to ask questions first I think! Smile

AveEldon · 22/05/2016 19:02

I won't be getting it
I don't want to receive the additional 3 vaccines it is combined with
At present evidence for it's effectiveness is limited although I know there are studies going on which are looking to measure antibodies in babies born post vax

I'm sure I read somewhere that you can have it post delivery - obviously you are then only going to get AB transfer via breastfeeding

Original poster
Mother2be100 · 22/05/2016 19:04

Thank you all. There's loads of forums with reasons for the jab so thought it would be interesting to get the view from the other side as obviously the parents who decide not to get it seem to be underrepresented on these sites. I would never judge anyone for their decision either way btw. Just curious! Keep the comments coming :)

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Caper86 · 22/05/2016 19:35

If you're genuinely interested in further research and reasons women choose not to get it, you could look on the Arnica Natural Immunity website - plenty of medical/science based studies and fact sheets on there to trawl through!

Original poster
Mother2be100 · 22/05/2016 19:37

Thanks Caper! Will have a look

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AveEldon · 22/05/2016 19:38

Hate it when I post on a thread and then realise it's a journo fishing for a story

LuckySantangelo1 · 22/05/2016 19:46

The arnica website is full of anti vax nonsense. You won't find an impartial opinion there.

Original poster
Mother2be100 · 22/05/2016 19:47

Haha you're hilarious. Not a journalist, just a FTM trying to do some research. Funny that people think the only people who do research are journalists. Nobody asked you to look at the thread or comment.

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Teapot13 · 22/05/2016 19:47

I don't think it's a new jab. It just hadn't been offered to pregnant women in the UK till 3+ years ago. It has been used this way in the US for longer (not sure how much) because we started getting resurgent WC sooner. (I have had it twice now.)

Original poster
Mother2be100 · 22/05/2016 19:52

Thanks. Just to be clear I don't mind reading the views of anti vaxers. I've read looooaddss of stuff from those pro so I'm after the other side which seems to be underrepresented (based on uptake figures), as stated

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scaevola · 22/05/2016 19:56

Lots of stats about actual uptake www.gov.uk/government/publications/pertussis-immunisation-in-pregnancy-vaccine-coverage-estimates-in-england-october-2013-to-march-2014/pertussis-vaccination-programme-for-pregnant-women-vaccine-coverage-estimates-in-england-april-to-august-2014

and stats about number of notifications of cases
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/523880/WN1619.pdf

Basically, it's the only known way to offer any protection to babies too young to receive the vaccine themselves. After the death of 14 such infants in 2012, it was made available in UK (been done for longer in other countries).

This is one of the first risk/benefit decisions you'll make about your Dc's health. The first of many.

Caper86 · 22/05/2016 20:01

Sorry, I meant Boostrix is relatively new. Prior to this a different DTap was given in the UK.

Original poster
Mother2be100 · 22/05/2016 20:01

As stated I have read the pro stuff. I've read pretty much everything out there, including the the most recent uptake figures. I'm after the views and reasons from women who decided not to get it for my own personal research. I'm not trying to offend women who have got the vaccine which I may well get myself. This isn't about who is right or wrong

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welshweasel · 22/05/2016 20:03

If you won't have it whilst pregnant please consider having it straight after you give birth. 40% of newborns who get whooping cough catch it from their mothers. Whooping cough can kill newborn babies. In Australia most new mothers make all their friends and relatives get the whooping cough vaccine before they allow them to visit. It's been used in pregnancy in many other countries for far longer than it has been in the UK. There is no evidence of any adverse effects on the foetus. Meanwhile unprotected babies are still dying of whooping cough.

AveEldon · 22/05/2016 20:04

You can reiterate that you don't want to hear pro stuff as many times as you like but this is MN and people will post want they want

Caper86 · 22/05/2016 20:06

Lucky - no it's not impartial, clue's in the name, and I did say 'if you're looking for reasons women don't get it'. However they have a great resource page which links to plenty of peer reviews, studies and info on this subject - probably more informative than a MN forum!

Original poster
Mother2be100 · 22/05/2016 20:11

Thank you to all who have responded to my question. Yes people are entitled to post whatever they like on MN but maybe it would be more appropriate to post it on a different thread. As you can see from my original post, im not asking for people's opinion on whether to get the jab. That's my decision and my decision alone.

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