Quick poll - Pg ladies, how pg are you and will you be having the swine flu jab?

[laurawantsababy]

I am 25 weeks pg with dc2 and very confused.

After another death but with conflicting advice about the jab chosen for the UK what are we to do??

I would love you here everyones choice and thoughts on it to help me out.

Thanks

difficultdecision - Please don't think I was criticising, it's just what she told me. I am also far from impressed at the level of knowledge out there.

Another thing the mw told me (and again, I have no idea if she is right), is that the pg women who have died and 'underlying medical condition' has been cited, that pregnancy has actually been the underlying medical condition.

Now, I took this with a pinch of salt, but seriously, these are medical professionals, spouting all manner of rubbish.

I have been following this whole thread with much interest.

Canadian doctors have now said that either form of the vaccine is safe for pregnant women here.

I find it quite scary that a number of people on here have spoke to gps or their surgeries and they don't know whats happening, what vaccination they are receiving or when.

Doesn't give you much faith if this is supposed to be as serious as is being made out. What hope have we got if the people in the professions, supposed to be administering the jabs don't know whats going on??

don't worry Pinkjenny, I get you Just didn't want that rumour to start spreading - we've got enough problems at the moment I'm lucky enough to be part time so have a bit of time to spend trawling through the research but there is almost no official information being given to us at the moment which makes it difficult to know what to advise.

I know locally that most but not all of the pregnant women who have been seriously unwell have had a medical condition other than pregnancy. The vast majority of pregnant women with swine flu get better same as everyone else but the hard thing is you can't predict who the most affected will be and tamiflu/relenza also have pretty nasty side effects (a lot of people either don't take or can't bear to finish the courses given by the flu line and ring us to check if that is ok which is a lot of work in itself).

I'm definately want to have the vaccine (have had the seasonal one) but even having gone through the research can't decide which is best - I'll probably have the pandremix as risks are lower with both than with swine flu and the celvapan is in such short supply it has to be saved for those who are egg allergic. Initially 500doses of pandremix will be delivered to each practice from the PCT but each PCT is only being given 200doses of celvapan to distribute to the lcoal GP practices. Our PCT covers over 40 practices so thats theoretically about 5 doses per practice (which is impossible as its half a vial!). It is likely that those with egg allergies will be directed to a central point at the PCT rather than via GPs until there are more supplies - but who knows!

Sorry - i wasn't having a go at the gps/surgeries - I meant obviously the DOH or whoever else is not sending the correct info out, despite this being a story splashed all over the media, telling people that the vaccination program has started.

I phoned my doctors and said I was in a high priority group (pg with twins). I informed them that I required the Celvapan option as I didn't want to take Pandemix - I wanted to make sure that if any doses were received, I was on the waiting list. They took my name but whether that increases my chances of getting the vaccine, I'm not sure, but I didn't want to get an invite for Pandemix only to be told 'if you wanted Celvapan, you should have said earlier'.

I note that the numbers of those infected with swine flu have increased to c53,000 this week and by the middle of winter they expected £1.5m people a week to be infected.

However no-one's really picked up on the fact that the number expected to die from Swine Flu has been reduced to 1000 from 19,000 (quoted as 65,000 in the summer). This new figure of 1000 sounds much more realistic. I guess they don't want to give any of us cause for doubting the need for the vaccine...

I have read all of the thread.

I still can't get away from the fact that this is an untested vaccine.

There also seems to be loads of scaremongering re how many people are likely to be affected by SF. IT seems to me that they really don't know. Remember BSE? The eventual numbers who developed CJD were miniscule compared with the prediction.

I am also alarmed by the lack of liability offered to GSK as part of the deal, and that they are not giving it in the first trimester.

I still think i'd rather take my chances with SF as i am otherwise healthy.

Josie22 Could you post the answers that you get?? I would be curious to know what your GP tells you.

I find it quite amusing that we have a better knowledge on this then most GP's

PETITION - CAN SOMEONE ELSE TRY???

They dont seem to like me anymore! I tried to start another petition last night but didnt get anything back. Normally they email you straight away to get you to click on a link to confirm your petition.

laurawantsababy right about us pregnant worried wells being more clued up than the average GP.

But I'd be worried if my GP was spending as much time as I am researching swine flu and the vaccines. For a start he would be online half the day instead of seeing patients I'd also hope he's got 15,000 other conditions and medicines in his head at the same time...!

I didn't read up on the vaccines my little boy had as a baby AT ALL, or even consider what active ingredients they put in them.

I now think there is truth in the old adage that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing!

started reading this thread (about an hour ago when i had LOADS of more important things to do - damn you mumsnet!) Have gone from being unlikely to have the jab to most likely. Am 30wks with no 3 and live in a big city with cases at ds's school fairly common and dd due to start school just when the baby is born. Is it right that if i have immunity the new baby should get some? I'm not too concerned about getting it myself but i'd be happy to have a jab if it reduced the chance of a new baby being poorly.

NOT having vaccine .... my dd has had swine flu and has recovered in 2 days with usual flu remedies..... calpol, nurofen and tlc! I will do the same!! Not putting anything in my body that has not been tested..... am 35 wks pregnant and not risking anything now!!

Hi , Laurawantsababy. Have put in a petition says that it is waiting for approval will let you all know when I hear back.

I'm Rob White, ITV News Medical Producer. On Monday next (26th October) we will be reporting on the "second wave" of swine flu vaccines, rolling out to GP's and Primary Care Trusts from the start of next week. I would very much like to talk to any pregnant mum (or mums) planning to have the vaccination. Please do contact me as soon as you can - my e-mail is [email protected].

I wouldn't have the jab if I were pregnant (or when? I will be pregnant).

Apologies - I realize I should have put the preceding message from ITV News in the media section. I've now done so.

ROB WHITE - can I ask why you are only interested in pregnant woman who are having the vaccine and not those who are choosing not too (possibly because, like me, they feel that it is unsafe and are worried that no one (i.e. Government, Health Service) is offering reassurance?). Surely you are reporting all sides of the story?

ROB WHITE - have you taken the time to read this entire thread? If so, you'll then realise how worried we are all and that we want the choice of vaccine between Celvapan and Pandemix, the reasons why have been posted if you care to read. I also agree with Josie22, why just report on all those pregnant women who are taking the vaccine? what about all those who WOULD take it if Celvanpan was offered? A balanced view is needed here.

Oooooh, interesting. Will be watching that one, wonder if this thread will be mentioned!

I have read someone, cant find it now, that you are still high risk through pregnancy until 6 weeks after you have given birth.

There was a woman who gave birth safely then died after contracting it. I will hunt for it now.....

Not a question directly related to the vaccine, but just trying to work out what the current figures relating to swine flu really mean.

The health protection agency says cases have gone up in the last week. Specifically they say:
"In week 42 (ending 18 October) GP consultation rates for flu-like illness in England increased compared to the previous week (29.1 per 100,000 in week 41 to 39.1 per 100,000 in week 42). This is now above the baseline threshold of 30/100,000."

I'm just wondering what the reference to the 'baseline threshold' means and what significance is has that the UK is now over it - any ideas?

www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1254510632147

Interesting stats about children Im now wondering whether I should have 16mo dd vaccinated. This article says they should have the jab with one dose.... Pandemrix.

I actually wish I hadnt started looking into swine flu tonight. It seems there have been a lot more deaths and more children.

What I want to know is - What is classed as an underlying health issue??

Interesting Laura about the increased risk lasting 6 weeks postpartum? - I would be interested to read more on that if you can find a source? As far as I was aware (possibly incorrectly) the main risk to pregnant women is the biomechanical 'squashing' of the airways by the growing baby preventing us from using full lung capacity which helps to shift phlegm more easily? If this is the main risk then it seems to suggest that once baby is born, that no longer occurs. It may take a couple of weeks for body organs to drop back into place, but the baby being 'out' must help?

I am 38 wks with baby no 4 and am seriously considering keeping my 5 year old away from school for just 1 week after this next weeks half term if I havent delivered by then as must be dreadful and probably risky going into labour with flu and a fever? It is a difficult decision but with the rapidly rising numbers and to have made it this far with no flu, seems sensible to me.

I am half expecting to get an invite for the vaccine the week I have this baby and tbh, if that is the case, I will probably just turn up with my appointment card and have the vaccine as I dont expect the busy clinic staff to quiz anyone too much (and I will no doubt still look at least 7 months gone ggrrr)

well that is the worry laura - 41% of those hospitalized in New York at moment are asthmatics, compared to 6% being pregnant women. So asthmatics are at far greater risk.

Dp is asthmatic so he will defo have the vaccine. I am starting to worry more about my 16mo dd now as the rise in children dying is shocking.

If children are given Celpavan I think I will let her have it.

samuel447 I will find the article I was reading...