Vaccines - husband and grand parents?

[vanillafudgecake]

Hello,

I've recently had my jabs for flu and whooping cough and it has only just crossed my mind - should my husband and grand parents to be also get vaccinated?

I've been suffering from a few colds recently and I'm already concerned about being around family at Christmas but at least I will be protected - is this enough though?

I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences?

Thank you

The point of the flu jab is so the baby gains some immunity from you.

Well everyone should get the flu vaccine really. What exactly are you concerned about?

Don't be concerned about being around people.. honestly you can't stop anything even being in a locked room yourself. It's good you've had the vaccine but if you get a cold etc you can't do a lot about it... it's just that season.

The jabs are so that you pass antibodies to the baby to protect it while it's young.

Wouldn't hurt for them to get the flu jab to help prevent passing it on to your baby though.

No. (Unless they want it). Flu vaccine protects the person given it (and their foetus). It doesn't work on herd immunity like other vaccines.

Thanks so much everyone,

This puts my mind at rest a little, I'v felt so rubbish and ill on and off for the last 4 weeks I think I'm becoming paranoid!

Would the same apply when baby is here, should they have the jabs during baby's first 8 weeks before baby has own vaccines? I've been doing some reading on 'cocooning' with vaccines of those who want to hold the bay?

Thanks so much

You can’t make other people have vaccines to protect your baby! If they want it I am sure they will have it. You need to relax!

This is quite an American thing. Are you reading US websites perhaps?

The NHS doesn't offer the flu vaccine to everyone so your DH and baby's GPs may not even be eligible to have one.

What exactly is worrying you? Why do you think they should?

Would the same apply when baby is here, should they have the jabs during baby's first 8 weeks before baby has own vaccines?

Vaccines you have in pregnancy are designed to pass immunity on to baby, and this immunity lasts around 8-12 weeks, which is why babies get theirs then!

Obviously there are occasions where the immunity doesn't pass through or baby gets sick anyway, but we can't immunise against everything. Just ensure that you and anyone handling a very young baby practice good hand hygiene.

I think as a PP mentioned I have picked the cocooning info up of US websites.

I realise with me having the jabs I am protecting the baby so this should be enough especially when baby is here.

I think I am over worrying as I have been so ill lately and getting fed up of catching the general cold off other people (which have absolutely wiped me out!) that it made me think a bit more with Christmas coming up and when baby will be here and grandparents will want to meet and hold....my FIL seems to always have a cold over Christmas and in the winter season too so he'll more than likely have one when baby is here. Both sets of grandparents live too far away to visit for a brief time so they stay with us, which they will be doing for Christmas too.

I suppose what will be will be and baby will be safe anyway

Thanks @mortifiedmama

Lots of hand washing will be happening for sure

Yeah, in America a lot of doctors advise partners/grandparents get the whooping cough jab. Various reasons: the commercial nature of American healthcare, a much bigger anti-vaxxer movement, poor/no sick pay meaning people are more likely to go into work unwell and spread stuff, etc.

There are huge diminishing returns on anyone other than the pregnant woman getting the whooping cough jab - it really doesn't tangibly reduce the risk enough to make it worth doing here, hence why it isn't offered on NHS.

Thanks @Celebelly that totally makes sense when you put it like that

But the flu jab won’t protect against colds - unfortunately I don’t think you can control that. Though if anyone has a cold you would think they would be mindful and keep a distance from a newborn!

Getting the vaccines yourself, breastfeeding, hand hygiene, and asking anyone obviously ill to stay away until they are better- those are the best things you can do to prevent your newborn from getting sick. No need to stay home all the time or ask other people to get vaccines!

Thank you @le42 and @PhoenixBuchanan

I've found it so tough having a cold during pregnancy and like you say not a lot you can do to prevent them. I just hope the FIL is honest over Christmas and if he does have a cold he will stay away. And the same goes for the other grandparents 🙄

I feel really selfish saying that because it is Christmas but I really don't want to get another cold if I can help it

I think it’s totally fair to expect people not to be near baby with a cold.... we were supposed to visit friends with a newborn the other week and I was full of cold and it didn’t cross my mind to go!

Hand out vitamin C and zinc with breakfast. Eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, limit sugar and alcohol.

I was going to say I'm in America now and you can walk in to any corner drug store (eg there version of boots) and pay for the jab it's different on the nhs you get it for very specific health conditions and age ranges don't worry too much about the American drug industry it's so profitable they actually advertise prescription drugs on tv!!