Whooping cough vaccine

[summeryet]

Hey!

Due for the vaccine this week, and just wondering if it's an IM or subcut?

Thanks!

IM in the arm.

Thanks! I wonder why they use the deltoid rather than a bigger gluteal muscle? Perhaps considered 'nicer'.

We rarely use the gluteal muscle because there is an increased probability of injecting into fat rather than the muscle. Also a potential for sciatic damage. Far safer and generally easier to use the arm.

The only time we routinely use the buttock is for depo-provera.

I didn't think it hurt anymore than a flu jab and
definitly less painful than blood being drawn, if that's what you're worried about.

Arm was sore at injection site for about 3 days and I was a bit cranky but the latter might have just been down to pregnancy hormones. No other side effects that I noticed.

Thanks for the reassurance and info!

Sidge, do you think using gluteal would also result in lower uptake? I mean, it feels ok to roll up a sleeve, but any more intimate might put people off?

I found the injection no different to flu jab but the pain at injection site later on much more tender and sore to lie on so if you have a preferred sleeping side, make sure it's in the other arm.

Callamia I imagine for some people that would be a factor. You only need to pull down the top of trousers slightly for a gluteal injection but even that can be off-putting for people!

Easier for nurse and patient to use the arm, generally.

A friend had hers done a few weeks ago, advice - Don't tense your arm, she was in pain for two weeks after!

Just to say that I didn't get any soreness or stiffness in the arm with the whooping cough jab (but did when I had the flu jab) so it's a possibility but not a given!