Ask the expert: Vaccinations in pregnancy and early childhood - £200 voucher to be won

[LibbyMumsnet]

Vaccinations can raise lots of questions, whether you’re expecting a baby or taking your child for their routine immunisations. With the NHS vaccination schedule changing this year, you may also have questions about what applies to you and your family.

We’ve invited Danielle Robinson, Lead Vaccination Nurse, and Emma Lormor, Senior Vaccination Nurse, from Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, to answer your questions about vaccinations in pregnancy and early childhood. Danielle and Emma will be posting answers throughout Feb/March.

Share your questions by 16 March for your chance to win a £200 VEX voucher (T&Cs apply).

About our experts:
Danielle Robinson is a Lead Vaccination Nurse with 25 years’ experience as a qualified nurse and has specialised in vaccinations for the past four years, supporting pregnant women, babies and young children.

Emma Lormor is a Senior Vaccination Nurse who supports the organisation and delivery of NHS vaccination programmes across a wide range of settings, including for pregnant women and young children.

You may also find Mumsnet’s vaccination reminders helpful for keeping track of which vaccinations are due and when.

Why do they now offer the choice of injection and nasal spray for flu when it used to just be the nasal spray? How do you know which one to choose?

Can I ask for my child to get the chickenpox vaccine through the NHS or do we have to pay privately for it? He missed out on getting it for free as he is too old, but has never actually had chickenpox and I am worried about him catching it now he is older as I hear it can be worse.

Is there a risk of becoming ill from a vaccination and if so, why?

Is there likely to be a chicken pox vaccination schedule for children who missed out before it became available on the NHS

as we are no longer measles free, will children who haven’t had the vaccination be invited to have the vaccine to encourage more to consider having it who may have previously declined it

How do you know something is a side effect from a vaccination or from something else?

Does having a vaccination during pregnancy harm the baby?

What's the best way to prepare toddlers for getting vaccinations to help it feel less upsetting/scary? And, what is the best way for someone who has questions about vaccinations to get factual and unbiased information- who should they approach?

In a hospital, who is the best person to ask about information on a vaccination; that is when you want to get all the facts. I'm not anti-vaccine, but sometimes doctors/nurses don't give out all the required info regarding a particular vaccine so you don't know the adverse effects until too late.

I had to hold my toddler down for her last nasal flu spray, I know it doesn't hurt her but she was absolutely refusing to allow it. I know younger children are particularly vulnerable to flu, so I was firm with her, but is there a point where older children aren't so vulnerable and it can be their choice whether they have it or not?

Are there times when it's dangerous to get a vaccination?

My eldest son had his MMR at birth - but at school did not get his booster due to being ill, he is 15 now - should I be worried ?

Are covid vaccinations a thing - I and my youngest DC have asthma.
I really still am anxious in crowds and always try to keep my distance - or am I worrying over nothing - I was vaccinated in the pandemic - so was DC - but nothing since.

I am working in a care home on a short term contract, and have been asked to have th Heptitiis B vaccine, I am also TTC - would you recommend I do not have the vaccine ? Could there be any complications ?

Dear Experts,
There are known risks and side effects to vaccinations, minor to fatal. Why are these risks and side effects more favourable than what the vaccinations are supposedly vaccinating against?
Thanks!

I’ve heard that the NHS vaccination schedule has changed this year. For children starting school in 2026, what’s different compared to previous years, and do parents need to do anything differently?
Thank you!

Can you give ibuprofen for fever post MMRV? It’s not clear in the literature and just states to avoid if they come out in the chicken pox rash but not for the post imms fever. I’m maybe overthinking this but just because it’s a live vaccine?

Little one had her first varicella vaccine in January and is due another at 18 months, can we expect to see the same side effects (rashes over a number of days)

I am soon due to get my RSV vaccine however, although I have had all other vaccines and will be having my child vaccinated, the RSV vaccine does concern me.
I appreciate it has been given to many in the USA and has been used in the UK since 2024, however, it appears it was only tested and reported on 4000 women, which is a tiny population. It also has no human study results for fertility and I do question why the European Medicines Agency did not submit results in regard to children aged 2-18.
It is clear the vaccine is very effective at reducing RSV and associated complications but the vaccine seems very new and not thoroughly tested yet.
I likely will get the vaccine as I feel the risk of RSV illness is likely higher than complications of the vaccine, however, with already having a slight increased risk of premature birth and low birth weight, which was also noted in the study but was not necessary regarded as causative, I do wonder the risk that this could cause to the baby.
Do you have any advice on this?

I’m not sure if my dd has had chicken pox as she had only a couple of spots so wasn’t certain if that’s what it was. Can she still have the chickenpox vaccine? I wanted to give it her just incase it wasn’t chickenpox previously, but wasn’t sure if she could have it incase it was chickenpox.

When we lived in Belgium we wanted a second dose of MMR vaccine for our 5 year old. We were told this was not allowed in Belgium and we needed to wait until the child was 12.

Why is the UK vaccination regime different?
Why is the UK so adamant about a second dose at 5 when other European countries say wait until 12?

My 3 year old has recently had their MMRV vaccine and I’m wondering about the effectiveness of only having one dose of the chickenpox vaccine. I know that if we had paid privately for the vaccine, they would have received two doses and I’ve read that having the two gives a lasting, high level of immunity against chickenpox. I’m concerned that now, my child may have some level of immunity that is going to wear off in the future and lead to them becoming much more unwell with the virus than if they had not received a vaccine at all, and instead caught chickenpox at an early age! Is this a likely risk and would it be worth us paying privately for a second dose? Would a second dose even be effective if given more than 6 weeks after the first? Thank you!

If parents are separated and one parent wants to vaccinate their child, but the other parent doesn't want them to be vaccinated, who gets to decide?

My child is terrified of needles. How can I help them access their vaccinations? (Nasal spray for flu is fine, we wish they could all be delivered that way!)

What options are there if you don’t want the chicken pox vaccine but want all the others ?