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Original poster

Doubts about the flu jab

153 replies

zigzag7222 · 20/01/2020 15:34

I'm 24 weeks pregnant and am booked in for whooping cough and flu jabs later this week.

I was planning to get the whooping cough jab done anyway as I know it can be very serious if the baby catches it in the weeks after birth.

However, I'm having real doubts about the flu jab. I know several people who have been quite ill after having the jab and am concerned that the same could happen to me. I've read on previous MN threads that the jab isn't "live", so it's impossible to get ill from it afterwards - but it does seem from anecdotal evidence that it can make you unwell.

I've never had flu in my life (am mid 30s) and mostly work from home so don't come into contact with a lot of people on a regular basis. From what I understand, unlike whooping cough the flu jab is solely to protect the mother, not the baby.

My instincts are telling me not to have it, but I'm nervous to go against NHS advice.

I'm booked in for both jabs at the same time - are they separate injections or combined and if so, could I opt to have whooping cough only on the day?

Help!

OP posts:
BecauseReasons · 23/01/2020 08:32

Also, if it’s an inactive virus then how come a lot of people report mild side effects after the jab, such as feeling a bit under the weather and having a high temperature? It obviously does have some effect.

Because a high temperature is caused by your immune system responding to a foreign entity- your body causes it, not the vaccine. Basically, immunity to a bug is gathered when your body comes into contact with it, learns what it looks like and fights it off. If you're immune to something, it's because your body knows what it looks like and fights it off so quickly that it kills the bug before it can even make you ill. Vaccines work by introducing a form of a bug that isn't dangerous- it can't cause you to become ill, but your body doesn't know that, so works learn what it looks like and fight it off anyway. Then, if you encounter the actual bug in real life, your body recognises it and fights it off before it can make you ill. Does that make sense?

Original poster
zigzag7222 · 23/01/2020 08:34

Sorry but I can't believe that in this day and age people are still questioning vaccines

Equally I can’t believe that people just blindly do as they’re told by those “in authority” without question. Injecting something you know very little about into your body when pregnant is just quite frankly, very nerve-wracking. People panic when they eat a bit of brie but are perfectly happy to have a load of chemicals they know very little about injected into themselves - it’s bizarre.

Anyway, as I said, I am going ahead with it despite my serious misgivings. I’m just praying that it doesn’t have any effect on the baby and that I don’t get any side effects from this supposedly harmless jab.

OP posts:
Original poster
zigzag7222 · 23/01/2020 08:35

That’s helpful, thanks @BecauseReasons.

OP posts:
Primrose89 · 23/01/2020 08:38

I've never had the flu but I know that during pregnancy I had a noticeably lower immune system and seemed to catch everything going (I had cold after cold after cold). So I got the flu and whooping cough jabs and the only side effect was a sore arm for a couple of days. As far as I'm aware the flu vaccine effectiveness changes every year depending on which strains they've predicted and which strains actually occur.

Sleepyquest · 23/01/2020 08:45

You can do what you want but how awful will you feel if you end up catching the flu? Not only will you be bed bound and unable to take any remedies, you will be super anxious about your unborn baby

Primrose89 · 23/01/2020 08:45

Also..we put all sorts of chemicals into our body every day without thinking twice about it. Walking outside causes you to breathe pollution, your shampoo has chemicals in it, fitting your car with petrol you can smell it...why is a vaccine any different? You dont understand it because you (presumably) havent had a career in pharmaceuticals or medicine. It doesnt mean it's not ok? A lot of living your life is putting your trust in other people when you dont understand something, as a pregnant woman no one is going to intentionally harm you or your baby!

rottiemum88 · 23/01/2020 08:47

I've also read that it's only about 40% effective anyway - which is very low.

Maybe you should do some proper reading OP. The vaccine's effectiveness is so 'low' because each year it's targeted at the most likely strains of flu to cause an issue that year, based on trends. Some years, it works out better than others, but if you're unlucky enough to contract a strain of flu which isn't covered by the vaccine then you'll still get it.

Milicentbystander72 · 23/01/2020 09:12

I'm glad you're going today OP.

My best friend is a very healthy, fit and active 48 yr old woman. A few years ago she was in a coma from flu and a particular type of sepsis at the same time. The doctors told us to prepare ourselves for her death. It was an awful, awful night. She's been well only 24 hours before.

Luckily she survived. It took a huge psychological effect on her.

We argue often now because guess what - she refuses to have a flu jab because her 'homeopath' has told her it's dangerous. Ffs. She infuriates me.

I'm asthmatic and so is my ds. We both have the flu jab every year and I've been doing so well before I was pregnant. Neither of us has had anything from it but a sore arm for a day.

Original poster
zigzag7222 · 23/01/2020 09:18

Walking outside causes you to breathe pollution, your shampoo has chemicals in it, fitting your car with petrol you can smell it...why is a vaccine any different?

Well, I can’t avoid going outside unless I want to lose my job - and I’m not injecting shampoo into my bloodstream. This on the other hand is something that can be avoided!

OP posts:
Sunshinegirl82 · 23/01/2020 09:48

Honestly OP I think your anxiety is currently latched on the the flu jab as a focus as a result I don't think it will be possible to reassure you.

Have you spoken to your midwife about how anxious you feel?

EstebanTheMagnificent · 23/01/2020 10:19

OP, the unease you are feeling isn’t instinct: it’s anxiety. You are doing a brave thing today. You are refusing to allow your anxiety to stop you from making a rational decision in the best interests of both you and your baby. Good luck.

codenameduchess · 23/01/2020 13:15

Equally I can’t believe that people just blindly do as they’re told by those “in authority” without question. Injecting something you know very little about into your bod

Only the vaccines have been tested and proven they are not only safe for use but of huge medical benefit.

Rubyroost · 23/01/2020 15:22

@zigzag7222 I won't be getting the flu jab. I've already come into contact with it this year and not caught it. If I'd had the jab it wouldn't have made a difference as it was a strain not covered by the jab. Flu season is nearly over now so I'm just crossing my fingers I don't come into contact with a strain actually covered by the jab.

I'm still hyping myself up for the whooping cough jab. I'm 32 weeks very soon so need to get it soon.

Yes, my thoughts may be irrational but I have a lot of anxiety this pregnancy and injecting myself with something unknown increases this anxiety.

My midwife said last time that nothing comes without risks and you just need to weigh up the risks either way for you. I didn't get either last time. But I still may get the whooping cough this time. BTW my kid has had all vaccines, I find it so much easier when I can see them out of the womb.

justasking111 · 23/01/2020 15:27

Please have it. I have the flu jab sore arm. My OH and teenage son did not. In May OH and DS both had the flu, OH wound up with pleurisy was touch and go with 17 year old DS who is an athlete as fit as a flea normally. I had a few days of flu like symptoms. My DIL went to bed on 23rd December with flu was in hospital on 2nd January.

It is a bad virus so just get the jab.

Rubyroost · 23/01/2020 15:35

As I just said I've had the virus in my household and the flu jab was not effective against this strain. I really don't see the point. It's coming towards the end of the season. My immune system stopped me getting the flu, not the jab!

Sunshinegirl82 · 23/01/2020 15:55

@Rubyroost obviously you should make your own choice but there is a "point" to having the vaccination. The point is to reduce (note reduce, not irradiate) your chances of contracting the flu.

If it was all pointless then why would the NHS spend a fortune encouraging people to get the vaccine? Just for a laugh?

codenameduchess · 23/01/2020 16:03

@Rubyroost why would you take issue with 'unknown' substances while pregnant but happily inject them into your baby after birth? That argument is flawed, if you care enough to vaccinate against potentially deadly diseases after their birth why not before?

RoseAndRose · 23/01/2020 16:31

"It's coming towards the end of the season."

Not really. Flu season runs in the northern hemisphere until end March

justasking111 · 23/01/2020 16:35

OH and DS got the flu in the middle of May, one had pleurisy the other hospitalised. The GP said he was still seeing flu cases.

yukka · 23/01/2020 16:48

Just remember if you choose not to get the jab and you do get flu, your baby a is at greater risk of premature birth, low birth weight and still birth. Not to mention your own health could lead to hospitalisation during pregnancy, and if your sick so is your unborn baby, you share the blood stream.

It's worse case, but in my opinion wasn't worth the risk for a simple jab. Theres enough that can go wrong in pregnancy's as it is, hope you stay well.

Original poster
zigzag7222 · 23/01/2020 17:32

I’ve had both jabs done now, despite being incredibly anxious about the flu jab.

No sore arms yet but I did bleed quite a bit from the flu jab needle. When will any symptoms kick in (if they do?)

@Rubyroost I agree that the effectiveness is crap. The only reason I had the jab is that in the end, I felt too nervous to go against medical opinion. Injecting myself with a (non-live) virus I’ve never had in my life still goes against all my gut instincts, but it’s done now. I agree with others who’ve said that all this worry could be a symptom of my general anxiety about this pregnancy.

OP posts:
Letsallscreamatthesistene · 23/01/2020 17:35

Injecting myself with a (non-live) virus I’ve never had in my life still goes against all my gut instincts

but you did it with other vaccinations? there are just so many holes in your argument

Anyway, well done for getting it!

Janaih · 23/01/2020 17:42

My aunt recently died from flu. She was elderly, not pregnant but still.

LH1987 · 23/01/2020 17:49

Can people stop picking on the OP! She simply asked advice on why she should get the jab, decided to get it some days ago, what more do you want from her? Surely, it is good to question medical advice? We shouldn't just believe everything we are told. That being said, I totally believe vaccinations should be taken and are important, but I don't think there is anything wrong with questioning it.

Rubyroost · 23/01/2020 20:24

@codenameduchess it's not an argument, it's how I feel. I really don't give a shit if it's flawed or not. I can't see my baby, I don't have a window to the womb. I don't know what's going on in there. I'm on my 5th pregnancy, have one child... I'm highly anxious and I don't necessarily think rationally. It doesn't really matter what is said on here, it won't change my anxiety, which is hardly ever logical or rational. I haven't died my hair for 6 months for the same reason. I won't be getting the flu jab, I'm aware of the risks, flu season is nearly over and as I said before it doesn't protect against many of the strains. So that makes it pointless to me. It didn't protect against the strain I was exposed to, the only thing that did that for me was my immune system.

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