FLU JAB

[Sarahjano]

Hi guys just wondering on some of your thoughts and advice on this. I'm 34 years old and 18 weeks pregnant with my 1st child and have been advised by midwife to get the flu jab. I recently had a bad cold and it was awful as I couldn't really take the usual Sudafed nasal spray and plough through. However I'm over it now bar a few sneezes and coughs now and again. I've never ever had a flu jab but I'm dubious about it. I've read and heard it even gives you cancer! Also the obvious "it gives you the flu". I'm also working full time and currently now in my "qualifying weeks" so I can't afford to be off work with the flu symptoms if I get the jab! What should I do?

You can’t get the flu from a flu jab.
I don’t know what kind of batshit sites you’ve been looking at but flu jabs don’t cause cancer.
If you do catch flu you’ll feel like utter shite so I’d get the jab.

DH has to have a flu jab every year because he has a heart condition and flu could do him serious harm.

He tends to feel a bit groggy for a few days and has a dead arm for a day or two but it is preferable to genuine flu which would lay him out for months.

True flu is much, much more than a heavy cold and can have severe consequences for mother and baby in pregnancy. There were cases last year of pregnant women delivering their babies and then being separated because the mother had flu so they were kept apart from their babies for some days to prevent the baby from catching it.

By all means do your research, but talk through the risks and benefits with your GP or Midwife.

The flu jab doesn't give you flu
The flu jab doesn't cause cancer

The flu jab could protect you from flu which is therefore beneficial to you and your baby - not to mention wider society. Those are the facts

You don't get flu symptoms from the flu jab. You get flu symptoms from flu. If you don't want to be off work with flu symptoms then have the jab!

Everything stated above.

Where the hell did you read that it can give you cancer?!

I had mine and all that happened was that I was a bit sleepy that day. Really not the end of the world.

Good excuse for an early night surely Steph?

OP, it won't give you cancer or flu or any of the other shit antivaxxers come up with.

I have it every year as do my dc who are old enough to receive it (we all have the injection due to family members undergoing cancer treatment). I usually have a sore arm for a day or so but compared to flu that's nothing.

The flu is one of the biggest killers of pregnant women because your immune system is compromised in pregnancy.

I've had proper flu once, it is in no way comparable to a cold. I genuinely thought I might die I felt so terrible. The vaccine is not live so it's scientifically impossible for it to give you flu.

I had mine a couple of weeks ago, I had a slightly sore arm and felt a bit tired for a few days. Went to work as normal, no drama. I would have the jab 20x over rather than have flu again!

Get the bloody jab. It's not a live vaccine, I've already had cancer before starting getting flu jabs and it hasn't made it come back. It takes a couple of weeks to kick in so you might be a bit sniffly before that but it won't be as bad as flu. Flu is not just a super bad cold

I had the flu jab Wednesday. No symptoms at all, not even a bit of sleepiness or sore arm. Within an hour of it being done I couldn’t feel it’d be done at all. No flu either.

The whooping cough jab I found hurt for a few days and baby was quiet for a couple of days after the jab, but genuinely haven’t noticed any difference at all from the flu jab. Much safer for you and your baby, get the vaccinations.

I'm 17 weeks and just had it and totally fine. No side effects and had forgotten if had it within ten mins

Just had it at 36 weeks. No sore arm, no illness afterwards. It's not a live vaccine so it's not possible to give you flu like symptoms. The whooping cough one was much more uncomfortable. As others have said, flu can be really dangerous, the midwife told me that it was more to ensure your baby is immune than for your safety so it's just not worth the risk not to have it when there are no downsides.

It doesn’t give you flu.
It most certainly doesn’t give you cancer.
If you can’t afford to be off work then get the jab.

I never had mine 🙈 I had the other jabs and a rubella booster, but left flu alone as they normally get the strain wrong anyway and I have a habit of getting sick from jobs (to make it clear I don't get the flu but most jabs the site will swell, I'll get a temperature, glands up and dodgy tummy)

Oh, and a slight temperature and sometimes prickly heat rash, the only jabs I don't get are the flu ones

I’m also pregnant, and had flu last year so was beating at the door to get the jab this year. I’d also been a bit sceptical in the past as, like Bumblebee says, I’d read that it’s only certain strains - not sure if that’s an actual science fact tho! In any case I was so ill last year, even if it doesn’t mean 100% I won’t get flu, anything to reduce the risk has to be worth it.

I get it every year, the worst I've had is feeling a little off or feverish the evening I have it, and I'd say even that is less than one in three times. Had it today even though we've visitors and baby DD not sleeping. Worth it every time.

Flu jab does not cause cancer.
Flu jab does not cause flu.

Flu is HORRENDOUS. Flu complications are worse. You're more likely to suffer complications if pregnant and it could put your baby at risk.

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/pregnancy/why-are-pregnant-women-at-higher-risk-of-flu-complications/

Ok thanks guys 

I'll book appointment on Monday hopefully get in soon to have it. What other jabs do I need? Not been booked in got any yet I dont think

Ask about whooping cough - I can’t remember when they recommend it, might be from 18 or 20 weeks

I’m not a fan of flu jabs either have researched a lot about it and read mixed things - pharmaceutical is big money so I’m not a fan of just following the crowd but I’ve had the flu jab to avoid getting it during pregnancy only and won’t be taking it in the future. Good luck whichever you decide! :)

@snoopy18 you’ve read legitimate research or you’ve had a quick google?
It’s not about following the crowd. It’s about taking the best advice.

Aozora 13, you're right about the flu vaccine not covering all strains. Flu constantly evolves, so they have to make an educated guess each spring which ones to manufacture before the next winter. Usually they get it right, and it is about 80-90% effective. Some years they aren't so lucky, and effectiveness might be only 30% or so. Last year was a bad year, which led to the hospital bed crises.

@snoopy18 do you think the NHS has so much money to burn that it won't do its own research before paying for immunisations?

I've always found the "big Pharma" argument a bit odd in the UK. I can kind of see how it might be a thing in the US and similar where everything is private but why would the NHS assist pharmaceutical companies by recommending pointless or harmful treatment? I don't understand the logic?