Anyone NOT getting the whooping cough jab?

[Mother2be100]

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

I would never! But I'm against all vaccines. But if you've had it (you might have had it even if you don't know) the absolutely best for the baby is to breast feed. And keep away coughing people. But you can actually get whooping cough from the vaccine. And then there's the risk with the actual shot. Even if they say it's safe no one can actually promise that there will be no consequences. It will contain stuff your body might react to. It can affect the baby.

But in the end it's your decision. Don't let anyone make the decision for you!

You can't get whooping cough from the vaccine. Utter bollocks.

Caper I had a look on that Arnica website (against my better judgement, admittedly). I can't see any hard science on there. Do you have any reputable links to evidence your claims?

Rainpuddles what the actual fuck are you talking about? It's not a live vaccine. You can't catch whooping cough from the vaccine.

There are currently no known safety risks to either mother or child from having the vaccine www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/whooping-cough-vaccination-pregnant.aspx

Comments like yours are ill informed and dangerous. Either provide some research (proper scientific research) to back up what you're saying or don't post such tripe.

I didn't have it, because it wasn't on offer when I was pregnant.

It's not going to have a huge effect on the circulation of the disease (though if the mother has no immunity, then a jab that 'takes' does enlarge the protective herd a little). The only person who really benefits is the neonate, who if exposed in the early weeks of life is at quite some risk.

If it is your first-born and you are reasonably sure you can live in your babymoon bubble, then actually it might not make that much difference. But if you have older children with their own social lives, nurseries or schools; or a DP who will be working outside the home, then yes infection can reach your newborn. And AFAIK this one is a nasty in a neonate.

To be blunt, it probably costs more in cash terms to run the vax programme as the cost to the NHS of dealing with the numbers of cases of illness. But this isn't about cash. It's about offering the only known protection at the right time. It really doesn't matter to anyone but you whether you take it up if not, because that window of a few weeks doesn't really affect the herd. Just the individual.

Posts like Rain's are exactly why excluding people who have had the vaccine from a thread like this is a terrible idea.

The vaccine isn't new, as others have said. It was only offered routinely in the UK post 2012 because prior to then NICE didn't deem it cost effective (ie not enough babies had died). Exactly the same reason for the current lack of catch up program for the men B vaccine.

Ughnotagain - what claims? I mentioned the Arnica website as it has good resource links to reasons why people choose not to vaccinate - which is what the OP is asking for. If you mean that it's not tested on pregnant women or that boostrix is new to the UK then head to the NHS site.

I'm not interested in a pro/anti debate, was simply answering the OPs question as she was specifically interested in hearing from people who chose not to have it.

Apologies to anyone who has been offended by the thread. There are plenty of pro vaccine threads. This thread is entirely for the views and opinions of those against it, not necessarily objective views

But why would you only want postings from people who have refused the vaccine, quite possibly for ill-informed and spurious reasons?

I didn't have it. However, I have a neurological condition and the only possible contraindication I found was for certain neurological conditions (I can't find my source now).

If I didn't have my condition I would have had it.

I have a friend whose baby nearly died from whooping cough (this was just before the vaccine came in). She breastfed. So sorry but I think anyone who refuses the vaccine is totally misguided and living in a lovely first world bubble.

I know a lot of people that have had bad experiences with vaccines. I've read a lot about it and I don't really care what the doctors say. I know a 5 year old girl who had a really bad reaction to the shot she got at 1,5. She stopped growing and talking and communicating. Her doctors agree that it was the shot that caused it. With the help of alternative medicine she's a lot better today but she's still a really small 5-year old. (A lot smaller than my other friends twins that's 3,5)

I dot really care what others believe. But I know what I've seen. I know that it isn't as black and white as people says. And I know I would never take the risk with vaccines.

I have no problem talking about it with people that are open to the fact that vaccines might not be all good. If you truly believe in vaccines its up to you. I have no need to convince anyone.

All immunisations come with a risk. No-one says they don't.

But the diseases they protect against also come with a risk. Often much higher than that of the vaccine, if you are looking solely in terms of the individual.

If you also look to the benefit of removing diseases from general circulation this also protects those in society who are additionally vulnerable (and in some cases unable to be vaccinated at all), as well as you and your DC should the vaccine not take in the first place or protection wear off.

The question isn't black and white. But I wouldn't risk the life of my children over some one else's. I know people generally don't think vaccine is dangerous. But I've seen to much side effects to believe it's 100% safe. It might be selfish. But who wouldn't save their children before someone else's?

I was pregnant nearly 3 years ago, was offered the vaccine and was in two minds. In the end I didn't have it.
It's a shame I didn't as 2.5 years later I contracted whooping cough. Chances are, had I had the vaccine when offered 2.5 years earlier, I would have probably had good immunity still. It is deeply deeply unpleasant and I was relatively fit and healthy. I cannot imagine the effect on an unvaccinated vulnerable person. Luckily, my children's vaccinations protected them and my husband's immunity must have been good enough too. Even so, we were all effectively quarantined, so a pretty miserable time was had by all.
I guess what I'm saying is, this experience showed me the risk of contracting such an antiquated-sounding disease, even as an adult, are higher than I imagined. And I live in a very low-populated rural area, so not exactly an overcrowded hotbed of disease.
So if I were pregnant now and offered the vaccine, would my choice be different? Yes.

PS and I post that as a fully paid up 'woo' alternative medicine user too.

The question isn't black and white. But I wouldn't risk the life of my children over some one else's. I know people generally don't think vaccine is dangerous. But I've seen to much side effects to believe it's 100% safe. It might be selfish. But who wouldn't save their children before someone else's?

People like you are the actual worst AGH

It's a shame that only people pro vaccine are allowed to post their opinions. I have read plenty of comments from people for it whose views are purely opinion based and nobody bullies them. I think everyone is entitled to their own opinions. I absolutely do not think either way is right or wrong and respect everyone's decision. I think the point of this thread has been lost and I am sorry it has become so heated. The reactions on here have inspired me to leave mumsnet. Good luck to you all. Vaccine or no vaccine, I know you are all doing what you think in your heart is best for your baby. This thread was never intended to help people decide either way

Oh rain, I shouldn't engage but you do know that if a newborn gets whooping cough it could be fatal so if you don't vaccinate you are putting your child's life at risk?

I agree vaccines are and should remain a personal choice. However, I wish that the UK would adopt a similar stance to many other countries and say that unvaccinated children aren't allowed to attend nursery or school (medical exemptions notwithstanding).

I didn't get the vaccination in pregnancy as baby arrived early.

She was vaccinated herself as standard in UK; then contracted whooping cough and was seriously ill for 3 months.

I didn't have the vaccine when pregnant with DD (had received letters from GP in previous pregnancy, didn't receive the letter when pregnant with DD, slipped my mind altogether, and wasn't mentioned by midwives during antenatal checks). DD contracted a chest infection at 3 weeks old (couldn't be proven or disproven as whooping cough, so was treated and recorded on her notes as suspected whooping cough). Seeing her face turn blue with choking, witnessing her stop breathing for what seemed like an eternity on several occasions, wired up to monitors and wearing a tiny oxygen mask, holding her little body as she convulsed with coughing episodes - the guilt I felt about having forgotten the vaccination was like nothing I've ever felt before or since. Luckily she was allowed home after 4 days and seems to have made a good recovery, but there's no chance Id go unvaccinated in any future pregnancies.

Nerrsnerr: I know that it can be dangerous. As I said its not black and white. I actually had whooping cough when I was a kid so I hope my kids would be protected by my milk. There's a lot more I could say about it but I don't see the need to discuss it with people that already have their minds set on something else.

"It's a shame that only people pro vaccine are allowed to post their opinions."

Come now, Mother2be

The only people who have been told (repeatedly) they should not be posting on "your" thread, are the pro's.

Anything - absolutely anything - that reduces the chances of children (and more importantly vulnerable babies) getting this appalling illness is a no-brainer - just do it. I have experience of this illness in children and take it from me you do not want your child to get this - ever. Because of previous herd immunity, people have forgotten how appalling it is.