Pregnant ladies...are you having the swine flu jab?

So I got a letter today from my GP inviting me to come in and have a swine flu jab...but I just don't know what to do...I'm worried as it is a new vaccine, and there isn't too much research on any long term side effects. I am not all that nervous about getting swine flu, I have had several exposures to it and nothing, I am 25 weeks pregnant and just don't know what to do!!!

So, pregnant ladies...what are you going to do? Are you going to have it or not??

I'm not a pregnant lady but I have a very good friend who is 5 months a long and she decided not to get the jab. We just had this conversation 2 days ago. She just felt like she didn't want to be or make her baby a "guinea pig" for it as it hasn't really been tested. Yes pregnant women have had the jab but nobody really knows what the effect of it will be on the babies. It's to new of a vaccine to tell yet. Her GP told her if she changes her mind she can come back anytime to get it done. No Pressure. If it were me I'd skip it because I feel the same way.

No, I won't be having it. I asked our OB about this and she said her personal opinion was to not have it. I guess she couldn't give me her professional opinion.

From what I've read it's not been tested on unborn babies and I just don't want to risk it. It's a hard decision to make, though.

Nope, no intention of getting it.  I've gotten my Flu / Pneumococcal jab which I had when I was pregnant with DD, and was informed that I would be amongst the first to be offerend the Swine Flu jab and to expect my letter soon.  I politely declined then got lectured by the nurse at the surgery.

My SIL's a nurse on a Communicable Diseases ward in a hospitals in Sheffield and the staff she works with are advising against it as they've said its not been properly tested, as its been rushed into production.    I don't know how accurate that is, but personally I don't want to be amongst the "first wave" or test subject of patients to receive the vaccine to find all sorts of side effects for me and baby down the line.  I mean I know Thalidomide was used as an anti-nausea med (different ball-game) during pregnancy in the 50s-60s, but I'd rather not take the risk on a new vaccine and my child.  That's just my personal opinion.  If the vaccine were out for a couple of years already I'd probably take it without a second thought, but for now no thanks.

Here's what WHO have to say on it:  http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/frequently_asked_questions/vaccine_preparedness/safety_approval/en/.  I know they say the likelyhood of complications from Swine Flu etc are higher for pregnant women, but personally as I mentioned above I just don't relish the idea of me or my baby essentially being used as a test subject for this vaccine.

I know there was a show done on the tv a month or so ago asking pregnant women if they would receive the vaccine and if I remember correctly most of the Mums were intent on refusing it over concerns for their unborn baby.  Here's an article from the Guardian from early Sept that was a result of a poll done on Mumsnet regarding Mums thoughts on the vaccine.

If you look at the data and look up any articles in the papers you can draw your own conclusions and only you can make the decision of whether you want the vaccine or not.  You can refuse or accept at your own choice.  If you have any questions or concerns you can always speak to your GP before getting the vaccine.  One of the benefits of NHS drs from the US is that they're not drug-company representatives, however if the NHS is pushing for the vaccine you may end up feeling pressured into it by your GP.  Good luck with your decision Racheeeee!

I am also feeling very indecisive!

I'm not overly worried about the safety because it is not exactly a new vaccine, it is based on the regular flu vaccine. Every year the flu vaccine has new strains in it so it is always possible that the regular flu jab could have unforeseen side effects anyway.

At the same time... well who knows? Why risk it, considering that overall the swine flu is not as dangerous as other types of flu? (For example, some types of bird flu have death rates of 75 percent -- now that I would probably get a shot for!)

It's a tough choice but perhaps it depends on how likely you think you are to get it, whether you have other health problems like asthma, etc. Personally, I work at home most of the time; my husband works with a small group of people and cycles to work, so neither of us are exposed to lots of people in crowded spaces every day. If I took the tube every day to go work at a school with a thousand kids (like a friend of mine) I might be more inclined to get the shot.

Poll added. I always love a good poll.

I haven't been offered yet (though wouldn't be surprised if I have but the letter got lost in the post ) but I will say no if/when that happens.  I've never gotten a seasonal flu vaccine in my life and while I do understand this is slightly more significant, there's just too much advice AGAINST getting the jab for me to ever want it.

My cousin was pregnant when she came down with swine flu. She then was placed in a coma in an attempt to save the baby's life. Parker did not survive.

I'm not pregnant, so I can't even pretend to know what it's like, nor can I even pretend to know how I would act if I was.

However, here's an article about Aubrey, incase you're interested: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/health/20pregnant.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

My cousin was pregnant when she came down with swine flu. She then was placed in a coma in an attempt to save the baby's life. Parker did not survive.

I'm not pregnant, so I can't even pretend to know what it's like, nor can I even pretend to know how I would act if I was.

However, here's an article about Aubrey, incase you're interested: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/health/20pregnant.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

How horrible for your cousin! That's so scary. I guess something like that might give someone second thoughts about not having the vaccine. I don't know if I would have it or not, if I were pregnant. 

Oh my heart goes out to your cousin.

I'm certainly not nonchalant about my decision. It's one that my husband and I have talked through very thoroughly.  We understand the risks on both sides and are open to discuss it further if anything changes but we've made our decision. It certainly wasn't an easy decision to make. It's scary to think we are making the wrong choice but only time will tell us if it is.

I'm not denying that there's an element of risk involved with not getting the vaccine, but arguably not much more than getting hit by a bus or other tragic event.  However, I don't feel comfortable subjecting both my body and my unborn child's to a thing that has not only not even been tested for pregnant women but not been proven safe either.

Just my opinion.

I've decided for it,  The virus is dead that is being injected, and the risk of complications of H1N1 to pregnant women seem to be more complicated than ppl who aren't carrying.  
That's just scarier to me, especially carrying twins.
I am getting my H1N1 flu jab on friday, I will try and keep ya post on how things go.
 

My cousin was pregnant when she came down with swine flu. She then was placed in a coma in an attempt to save the baby's life. Parker did not survive.

I'm not pregnant, so I can't even pretend to know what it's like, nor can I even pretend to know how I would act if I was.

However, here's an article about Aubrey, incase you're interested: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/health/20pregnant.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

I'm sorry to hear it for your cousin Brandi and my heart goes out to her and her family, that's got to be awful to go through all of that and to still be left to pick up the pieces!

However I personally still don't have full faith in the vaccine to protect mother and baby sufficiently.  They've based the H1N1 vaccine off of the somewhat unsuccessful trials of the H5N1 and to state that all women that have had the vaccine and become pregnant afterward or during pregnancy have gone on to have successful pregnancies cannot be a true statement seeing as Swine Flu (H1N1) wasn't declared pandemic until June 09 with the vaccine being released afterward... 

NHS Pamphlet - Swine Flu and Pregnancy

However, this is a very personal decision to make on a new vaccine, where no parent pregnant or otherwise undertakes lightly.  And, as always always always is hind-sight 20-20 where you can go back and scrutinise every minute detail into shoulda-woulda-couldas once you've been placed in a worst case scenario.

I decided for it.

 I got my jab on Tuesday. It seems not to of had any ill effect so far other then a sore arm. After talking with my husband about it, because I was weary, we both decided that they wouldn't offer it to us if it wasn't worth the risk. They said when we got ours that they are offering it to us because it could be more harmful for us to get Swine flu then the repercussions of the jab.

Looks like I get to be a pin cushion for the next couple days, Consultant says I need steriod injections for my twins, ones abit smaller than the other, I'm 28 weeks, so off for that today and tomorrow plus H1N1 tomorrow too,
The steriod injections scare me more than the vaccine.

So sorry for your cousin, my heart goes out to her and your family. *hugs*