Flu shot during pregnancy - Page 2

[mamatoElias]

I don't understand this statement thought "Babies born to mothers who had a flu shot in pregnancy also get sick with flu less often than do babies whose mothers did not get a flu shot."

There are references down at the bottom of the page. I don't have time to look through them now, but you might get more information there. My guess would be babies of immunized mothers get influenza less often primarily because their mothers get the flu less often and so they are exposed less. Perhaps there is also some transfer of antibodies via the placenta and breastmilk?

[lillymonster]

Originally Posted by mamatoElias

There are references down at the bottom of the page. I don't have time to look through them now, but you might get more information there. My guess would be babies of immunized mothers get influenza less often primarily because their mothers get the flu less often and so they are exposed less. Perhaps there is also some transfer of antibodies via the placenta and breastmilk?

I didn't find anything to really back up that statement. The statement didn't say how less often (5%, 20%, 2%,less than .001%, 75%?) so it's too general of a statement for me.

I am more concerned about complications for me if I do or don't get it, especially if I am in a low-risk situation. And I still am wary after the problems I had with DD when she was a baby. Every time she got a vaccine, she was sick for a week or more after I stopped getting them (crying, blood in stool, projectile spit up). So she was either not able to handle them or was allergic to an ingredient. I am wondering if it started in the womb with the flu shot I got.

[DaddyM]

My wife had to get one for work. Everyone said it would be fine.

We ended up in the ER that night for 13 hours. She felt horrible but they couldn't find anything wrong. The next day she was fine.

[thebeljur]

Originally Posted by lillymonster

I am having trouble finding information about the flu shot while pregnant. I can find stuff on vaxes for kids, but not for pregnancy, so I thought I would ask. I rarely get sick, I stay at home with DD, she is not in preschool. While I understand I can be at risk for problems without taking it - I just find it odd that my daughter had so many issues, that I know started in the womb. No one can predict allergies, but her eating delays and sensory issues make me wonder, because for a while there therapists were trying to label her as autistic. She got better after I cleaned up her diet and stopped her vaxes for 2 1/2 years.

Here are a few things I found for you about NOT getting the vaccine. (Again, forgive the one-sided aspect, but I searched for information on NOT getting it because finding pro-vaccine information is very easy to find.)

• No reason to vaccinate pregnant women:
  Vaccine Safety Datalink Workgroup – made up of researchers from Kaiser Permanente and the CDC's National Immunization Program
  
  
• Influenza vaccination during pregnancy not supported:
  Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons
  
  
• The package inserts for Fluzone, Fluvirin, Fluarix and FluMist state that no reproductive studies have been done on the safety of vaccines given during pregnancy, nor have risks to the fetus been investigated.

Again, I don't pass judgment on anyone's decision to vaccinate or not. I trust that each person has made an educated decision for themselves. Best of luck in researching this. I know it can be overwhelming!

[fustian]

I am extremely pro-vaccination, but I don't usually get the flu shot. I can't remember ever having the flu (I very rarely get sick) and I find getting stuck with needles unpleasant so I just don't bother. We had our daughter immunized against H1N1 last year as she was in a higher risk group, but as the rest of us were in a low risk category we skipped it. She was fine: no side effects, and she didn't get the flu.

I may consider getting us all a flu shot this year just because of my January due date. I don't really want us all getting sick right after the baby is born. There is a slight risk in getting any vaccine, of course, but as with all vaccines I believe that the risk of getting the vaccine is less than the risk of not getting the vaccine. In the case of the flu vaccine I don't think the risk is great either way, which is why I'm ambivalent about the vaccine.

[texmati]

We do vax, but I don't get teh flu vaccine (esp while pregnant). Just a few years ago they were recommending against it.

I would take a good look at your history with the flu-- do you get it often? I don't think I"ve ever had the flu (at least not that I can remember). I'm just not in high risk situations, I guess. (I don't work near sick people, (in a hospital, dr's office, ect). My ds is not in school. I make a special effort to wash hands, and after the baby's born make an effort to wash it's hands and limit contact with other people.

[kittywitty]

You couldn't force me to get either. Or pay me. When I was pg with #4 it was December and I remember watching the elderly and children being forced into them at my kids' indoor swim lessons. I have never gotten and will never get a flu shot. I had the flu once when I was 8 years old and used to work adult med/surg with a lot of elderly flu patients all through the winter and I was one of a couple of people who refused the shots and we never got the flu. Everyone I know that gets them, gets sick. My dh is diabetic and last time he got a flu shot (he has since stopped) he got severely ill. None of my kids have ever gotten them and they've never had the flu (that I know of). I especially would not get the shot during pregnancy.

[MamaMonica]

Moved to vaccinations, per DDC guidelines.

[nia82]

Nope, won't be getting it. I'm pregnant this year and won't be getting any shots while pregnant. I had piggy flu last year and it was 5 days of strong cold. I don't have allergies, asthma or any other underlying issues. I once got a flu shot when I was 20, the college doc convinced me and incidentally I got really bad colds that year, which I never got before nor again. Anecdotal, but I'm sure the shot lowered my immune system.
Nobody in our household wants the flu shot, but DH has to get it (military). We always make sure he goes off-base to receive a shot instead of their Flumist stuff. Baeh.
Reasons not to get the flu shot are very clear to me, especially if one looks at the efficacy, side effects and how they mostly ever get the 3 strains wrong they pick for it every year. My very pro-vax MD sister is very opposed to vaccines during pregnancy, plus I know it is not even recommended before 16 weeks in Germany (they tell you to wait since the first 16 weeks are extremely sensitive). Funny how things change, just 2 years ago nobody wanted to give me a flu shot while pregnant, now they look at you as if you were crazy.

[JBaxter]

Even when we did fully vaccinate we always refused the flu shot. My Mom, sister and brother are all ER nurses and all will tell you NOT to get the flu shot. They threatened a friends sister with making her wear a mask to work because she was a nurse and refused a flu shot ( she was pregnant) she said NO PROBLEM she would wear on but she wasnt exposing her baby to what was in the flu vaccine.

in 30 yrs of working the ER and taking care of people who were sick my mom NEVER got a flu shot and refused to give them to her co workers ( since one year everyone got the flu just after getting the shot and she had to do back to back double shifts :P )

4 babies all healthy an no flu shots here.

[ma2two]

Originally Posted by thebeljur

The package inserts for Fluzone, Fluvirin, Fluarix and FluMist state that no reproductive studies have been done on the safety of vaccines given during pregnancy, nor have risks to the fetus been investigated.

Same with the package inserts for the H1N1.

You can read the package inserts here:

seasonal flu: http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVac.../ucm094045.htm
H1N1: http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVac.../ucm181950.htm

[lillymonster]

Originally Posted by nia82

Funny how things change, just 2 years ago nobody wanted to give me a flu shot while pregnant, now they look at you as if you were crazy.

This is why I am confused about the whole thing. When I was pregnant with DD it was 2006 when I got the flu shot. My OB told me I needed it, but the nurses said I MUST get a doctor's note and MUST be past first trimester. The OB acted annoyed, but the people giving the shots (at work) were insistent. I figured they would have better information than my OB, but I did it anyway thinking my OB was the one I should listen to. Some places say pregnant woman are "high risk" and need the shot, but in other countries, they are not and told not to get it.

But I feel more comfortable now saying no. And it could be why I got sick so much when I was pregnant, I wasn't sick at all during my pregnancy until after I got the flu shot (could have been the season though - but I never got sick like that since)

[nicolebeth]

I had a baby in May and did not get either flu shot. They did recommend both of them. I may have had mild H1N1 in the fall, plus didn't want to get a new vaccine.

What I did was take Vitamin D, about 2000IU/day. Here's a good article on that:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle6868729.ece

I did get the regular flu shot during my other two pregnancies, but didn't really know that it wasn't so effective back then. The Atlantic had a good article last fall on its lack of effectiveness.

[japonica]

I've never gotten flu shots with any of my pregnancies. There are many things to do to prevent getting the flu besides lining up for a shot.

I recall reading a few years ago a neuroscientist researching maternal infections and mental illness in the offspring noted that it was not the actual influenza virus per se that was causing the changes in the brain of the fetus, it was the maternal reaction/inflammatory response. The neuroscientist was quoted as saying he wouldn't want his wife to get a flu vaccine while pregnant.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...112301327.html

http://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/content/full/23/1/297

Of course, findings from this have gone both ways. Some argue that it is evidence to support getting flu shots to prevent getting influenza (and the associated maternal response), but from my perspective, if the flu shot is designed to create a similar immune response in the mother's body to prevent getting the flu, and the changes in the fetal brain are brought about by this response and not necessarily the flu virus, then wouldn't it be prudent to wait until more safety data is in and use other means to prevent influenza infection?

[Angela512]

If you read the inserts to the flu shots, they specifically state that the flu shots are untested and results are unknown on pregnant women and fetuses and it advises right there that you should not get it if you suspect you are pregnant or are pregnant.

So, I would have to say "NO". Of course, I don't get the flu shot at all, so I definitely wouldn't get it during pregnancy.

The flu shot does contain neurotoxins that are not helping baby...especially one that is just forming its nervous system.

[caned & able]

The package insert for the H1N1 swine flu vaccine says not to be given to pregnant women as they are not tested for safety and the long term effects are unknown. Just reading that should alert an expectant mother to its dangers.

[Marnica]

well I am of the opinion that flu shots in general are largely useless. They don't really work, never have and likely never will. This is supported by the medical literature.

So I wouldn't get one anyway, but even if I did believe they worked, I would NEVER get one while pregnant!!!!!!!!!!

[dakotablue]

My respiratory guy...can't think of what they are called (pulmonary guy?). But anyway the one I go to for my asthma. I've had severe asthma since I was 2 (which has since gotten MUCH MUCH better on a gluten free diet)
He told me that I shouldn't get the flu shot unless I've had the flu. He said that the risk of getting the flu was lower than the complications of the shot, and that I would have to get a new shot each year to retrain my body how to respond. After I have had the flu once he would recommend it.

So I don't know everything that backs his statement, but I believe him. I think the new shot every year is because your body gets used to one response for a virus and doesn't change the response unless 'taught' too or something. Where as normal exposure with a strong immune system your immune system is still smart enough to figure it out on its own. Again this is a vague explanation I was given before I knew much about vaxs all together.

I have been closely exposed to the flu a few times since then and my body handled it (ie I didn't get it even though Dh who never gets sick was cuddling all night with me because he 'needs' to be babied when sick for a week and a half)

I guess my point is unless you've gotten it before and feel immune depressed (like more than just pregnancy) then I wouldn't consider it based on a vax friendly doc position.

BUT I will say the mercury still being used in the flu shot worries me. I don't eat high mercury fish, canned foods or HFCS while pregnant out of concern for mercury...follow me?

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by dakotablue

My respiratory guy...can't think of what they are called (pulmonary guy?). But anyway the one I go to for my asthma. I've had severe asthma since I was 2 (which has since gotten MUCH MUCH better on a gluten free diet)
He told me that I shouldn't get the flu shot unless I've had the flu. He said that the risk of getting the flu was lower than the complications of the shot, and that I would have to get a new shot each year to retrain my body how to respond. After I have had the flu once he would recommend it.

So I don't know everything that backs his statement, but I believe him. I think the new shot every year is because your body gets used to one response for a virus and doesn't change the response unless 'taught' too or something. Where as normal exposure with a strong immune system your immune system is still smart enough to figure it out on its own. Again this is a vague explanation I was given before I knew much about vaxs all together.

I have been closely exposed to the flu a few times since then and my body handled it (ie I didn't get it even though Dh who never gets sick was cuddling all night with me because he 'needs' to be babied when sick for a week and a half)

I guess my point is unless you've gotten it before and feel immune depressed (like more than just pregnancy) then I wouldn't consider it based on a vax friendly doc position.

BUT I will say the mercury still being used in the flu shot worries me. I don't eat high mercury fish, canned foods or HFCS while pregnant out of concern for mercury...follow me?

A new shot every year is needed because the flu virus constantly mutates and changes, thus the need to reflormulate the vaccine and try to include (based on guessing) what strains will be prevelant in the upcoming season.

[beanbean]

Originally Posted by Marnica

A new shot every year is needed because the flu virus constantly mutates and changes, this the need to reflormulate the vaccine and try to include (based on guessing) what strains will be prevelant in the upcoimg season.

And sometimes the strains in the vax are already obsolete by the time the vax comes out.

2 years ago that was the case.

But that's generally not publicized.