Do I need to have the flu jab?

[NooNooHead1981]

I'm 10w3d and when I saw my mw at the booking appointment, she advised me to get the flu jab.

I had the flu years and years ago when on a university trip to New York, and it was utterly awful. I felt really really ill. I do know that the complications during pregnancy and risk to the baby are higher but as I have had a severe adverse reaction to antipsychotic medication in the past that left me with a permanent drug induced movement disorder, I am quite reluctant to put anything into my body that could cause potential adverse reaction again.

I know thet chances of this are pretty low with the flu jab, and the health of me and my baby is paramount during pregnancy but the thought of having it and something happening like a bad reaction really puts me off. On the other hand, if I don't have it and end up being really ill with the flu, I will be kicking myself.

It's so hard to know what to do...

Would totally (& have had) the flu jab. I work for nhs and have had as part of my job for the whole time it's been offered and was even more certain that I was having it this year whilst pregnant
There would be no reason for you to have an adverse reaction to the jab and it's rigorously tested before dished out. Your baby gets the immunity passed down from you
The flu jab is what's called a trivalent strain (some places you can get a quadvalent jab)
So has 3 different strains of the flu (not a live vaccine) so yes they do work on what was last year and what might occur, the flu is evolving every second so they can never get one that is and will be definitely appropriate for this year but overtime you build up your immunity to these different strains so means you are much less likely to get the flu.
Flu is a killer and because people see "a bad cold" as the flu a lot of people don't understand the severity that can occur from this virus.
Pregnancy is one of the high risk categories for who is offered the flu jab for free (along with medical conditions,age and nhs staff) that should give a big clue it's 1)appropriate and 2)safe as possible.....just think we aren't able to take pretty much anything but paracetamol but yet they recommend flu and whooping cough jab
It's obviously your choice and only you know what's best for you but I would always want to protect my little bubba
X

@Bellamuerte sorry I would say your consultant is quite irresponsible and has his own views on flu jabs. You can't rely on herd immunity to keep you safe. Do you never go near other people who may have flu or be a carrier other than your family, even going to a shopping centre you are being exposed

@pickle162 The consultant is the head of the largest foetal medicine unit in northern England so I assumed he knew what he was talking about.

Well, the consultant is correct to the extent that the flu jab will only protect you against the strains that are in the jab (and perhaps very closely allied ones).

And either he was cavalier in this comment about the manufacturers, or you misunderstood, Scientists from major infectious disease centres collaborate globally to establish what strains are circulating and the pattern of spread and mutation. They nearly always get it right.

OP: I think you need to ask your GP for a referral to a specialist in for immunisations. As you have reacted to medications since the main trigger event, you need individual advice on whether this jab will be safe for you.

Wow you all seem to have done alot of research on this!! Where do you all stand on the whooping cough? As it has been mentioned

I had the quadrivalent vaccine yesterday and my arm hurts so much. I feel a bit sorry for myself. I have been having it for many years and no side effects. Had it in my last pregnancy as well and everything was fine.

@Zaiba good to hear, i think your body is more sensitive when your preg

LMX0 Thank you - yes, my movement disorder is the bane of my life but has been getting better slowly since it raised its ugly head two years ago. That is why I am so cautious about any new medication or drugs that may (or may not) cause any further issues. I saw five neurologists and self-diagnosed before one actually said, 'Yes you have tardive dyskinesia'. No-one believed I could get it after only a week on antipsychotic medication as it usually manifests itself after years and years on the drugs. So, as my psychaitrist rightly said, I was 'bloody bloody unlucky'.

scaevola That's great advice, I will consider asking for a referral, although it may be some time to see someone given NHS waiting times...