Whooping Cough Vaccination - still get it?

[MeganMama28]

Good morning everyone 👋🏽 hope you're all managing to stay safe and sane during this very strange time!

I'm currently 20 weeks pregnant and due to have the whooping cough vaccination next Monday when I'm 21 weeks.

Has anyone still had this during the recent health crisis? I'm worried it'll lower my immune system and put me even more at risk (my partner and I are both self isolating - he only leaves to get food shopping).

I phoned the nurse at my GP and she was very relaxed about it and didn't really answer my question. Finding this really frustrating as I have anxiety and this approach didn't help at all.

Has anyone else had it during this time or been advised by a GP/Dr/Nurse/Midwife for or against it now?

Yesterday's advice from government/ healthcare was everyone including newborns should still get their jabs it won't make u ill u may get a sore arm it's for you baby to protect it for first few months and with everything going on it's one last thing to worry about so I would say still go x

Ah good to know that's the recent advice. I had whooping cough 4 years ago and it was awful - don't want our baby getting it too! X

Mine was cancelled at the GP surgery.

I'm worried it'll lower my immune system

It won't. That's not how vaccinations work. Your immune system isn't going to be so occupied with making antibodies to whooping cough that it has no capacity left for fighting anything else. It could save your baby's life. Get the vaccination.

I had the flu jag and whooping cough last week, I had a sore arm but wasn’t up or down with it.
It’s one less thing to worry about and important for your baby. I’d definitely go ahead with it.

I had mine at my anomaly scan yesterday, 19 weeks. They highly recommend it, for your baby's health. I'm OK, other than a really sore arm!

Obviously you should get your vaccinations.
What's the point of putting yourself (and your baby) at risk of other illnesses when you could avoid it?!
I despair of people's lack of common sense about this whole situation sometimes.

@NameChange30 To clarify, I was asking as I didn't want to put my baby at any further risk. They cancelled my flu jab in light of covid-19 and wanted to confirm that it wasn't the same case for the whooping cough vaccination. Hence why I asked if anyone had received any further professional advice about it. In a time where we all need to support eachother, keep unkind and unsupportive comments to yourself. Can't be kind and supportive? Don't comment.

Thank you @Blindingpeaky @ThatLibraryMiss @Jomum2020 @Lucyabraham87 thank you for your advice 💕

@Blindingpeaky did they say why they cancelled?

AFAIK, a lot more babies have died from whooping cough than Covid-19.

And if you don't want opinions don't post on Mumsnet.

Best of luck.

@NameChange30 same with the flu but they still cancelled my flu jab because of it.

AFAIK people come here for support and advice which I got from others - not your rude, unnecessary comment. I'm sure you can better spend isolation time than becoming a keyboard warrior 😊 I won't be responding to you any further. Be kind and take care.

Please still have it. It will protect your baby when they are born. Your GP surgery will be likely running telephone triage system and have a 'clean area' for patients with non respiratory symptoms for urgent stuff like dressings, immunisations and bloods. This is to protect them and you. Whilst immunisations are not 'urgent' they are important and still definitely a service GPs are providing. In your case your vaccine is time critical as you need it before baby is born, and we don't know how long this is going to go on for so best to just get it over with now. Good luck with your pregnancy and keep safe

@Ribeebie thank you. Happy that they are still providing this vaccination during isolation and it's safe to do so. They cancelled my flu jab which made me worry about this one too.

Another mum-to-be friend of mine just had a voicemail from her GP to say that hers has been cancelled. Very confusing times.

My GP finally got back to me and said they'll still be providing mine and they'll let me go straight in through the back door so I don't have to come into contact with anyone else.

Basically Corvid 19 has definitely shown the world what happens when there isn't a vaccine, please please get vaccinated. x

Surgeries shouldn’t be cancelling any vaccines, especially pregnancy and baby ones.

They may amend the protocol for attending the surgery or even ask you to have it at another practice within their local network.

@Blindingpeaky they shouldn’t have cancelled. Current guidance is to continue essential face to face appointments such as immunisations, with special measures. We are using a “cold” room away from our designated “hot” room and wearing gloves, gowns and aprons. We’re taking temperatures and cleaning like we’ve never cleaned before.

Might be worth clarifying with them how you can get it done.

@PrinnyPree my GP as got back to me and confirmed it can still go ahead safely so I definitely will.

It sends mixed messaged to hear that lots flu jabs have been cancelled (including mine) and others have had their whooping cough vaccinations cancelled.

Happy I can still safely get my whooping cough vaccination 💕

@Sidge it is strange that some are being cancelled! Will discuss my flu vaccine with them again on Monday and ask for further clarity as to why they cancelled it. Hopefully they'll just be able to give me both at the same time.

@Blindingpeaky it took them a while to get back to me as they're (very understandably) busy but definitely phone and ask for a nurse/Dr to call you back. I hope they sort it for you xx

They shouldn’t have cancelled. And no reason not to give you your flu jab (unless they’ve run out - and you should have had it earlier really, tut tut!)

Is there any point having a flu jab at the end of March?

I thought it was usually given around Oct-Feb, flu season.

Perhaps the risk is very low now and that's why they've cancelled.

@Sidge I did try to but when I phoned to book it in with my GP at about 14/15weeks I was told the only person that does it there is off for 3 weeks so had to wait until I was 18 weeks. Then the day before (2 weeks ago) they phoned and said they're 'holding off in light of recent events'. Will discuss with them again on Monday x

@NameChange30 not much really, but the flu “season” is 1st September to 31st March so we can give it any time between those dates as long as we have it.

You’re less likely to get flu after March (unless you’re heading to the Southern Hemisphere) hence why those at risk should have it as soon as possible in the season.

@meganmama28 that’s a bit crap. I’d be asking for it on Monday, as that’s the last chance you’ll have to get it!

@Sidge will do 😊 x

It takes 2 weeks to take effect doesn't it? So if given now it would be effective until April?

I've been for mine today ☺️ nurse was wearing mask, apron and gloves and I was in and out in less than 5 minutes. I'm 21 + 2 today.

Another practice nurse saying get it done, we have stopped lots of things but definitely not vaccinations. You don't want a poorly child needing a hospital admission anytime in the next few months.

I got mine a week and a half ago, the whole thing has not kicked off yet, but they definitely were recommending doing it.