Vaccines that can be Administered During Pregnancy

[emmy526]

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/776783_3

scary and ridiculous

flu

dtap

hep a&b

pneumovax

meningococcal

[emmy526]

Quote:

Tdap vaccine: Because the US prevalence of pertussis is increasing, the new recommendation is that adolescents receive the vaccine, as well as women during each pregnancy. This should improve protection of newborns from the morbidity and potential mortality of pertussis before they can safely be vaccinated with DTaP. However, data are limited on the safety and efficacy of multiple Tdap doses, and the AAP is reviewing available information before publishing a policy statement on whether it is appropriate to give additional Tdap doses in subsequent pregnancies.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/778333?src=wnl_edit_medn_wir&uac=168814CK&spon=34

[Turquesa]

I'll have to dig up that ACIP link again. I posted it some time ago. It's the one stating that a drawback to vaccinating pregnant women is the lack of science justifying it.

[Rrrrrachel]

This conversation happened very recently. Depending on the vaccine, there can be quite a bit of research showing vaccination during pregnancy is safe.

[Rrrrrachel]

Heres the CDC page, for people who are into that kind of thing.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/preg-guide.htm#flu1

[Rrrrrachel]

Here's more detailed info on repeat tdap each pregnancy, specifically.

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6207a4.htm

[MissCee]

The thing I always wonder about getting vaccines while pregnant is what happens if the fetus has some sort of reaction to the vaccine? Everything is getting passed through the placenta, so there's no real way to know if there's something in a vaccine that the fetus will react to. At least if you vaccinate your baby (after birth of course), doctors can do something to treat a reaction (sometimes), but while in the womb there really isn't anything a doctor can do.

[Rrrrrachel]

That's interesting. I never thought of that.

[emmy526]

Quote:

A theoretical risk exists for severe local reactions (e.g., Arthus reactions, whole limb swelling) for pregnant women who have multiple closely spaced pregnancies. Arthus reactions and whole limb swelling are hypersensitivity reactions that have been associated with vaccines containing tetanus toxoid, tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, and/or pertussis antigens.

How do we know other things aren't swelling up in the mom, like the baby's brain?  

Originally Posted by Rrrrrachel 

Here's more detailed info on repeat tdap each pregnancy, specifically.

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6207a4.htm

Quote:

ACIP concluded that experience with tetanus-toxoid containing vaccines suggests no excess risk for severe adverse events for women receiving Tdap with every pregnancy. ACIP stated the need for safety studies of severe adverse events when Tdap is given during subsequent pregnancies. Plans for safety monitoring in pregnant women following Tdap administration include enhanced monitoring in Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and utilizing the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) to assess acute adverse events, adverse pregnancy outcomes affecting the mother, and birth outcomes; assessing risks for rare adverse events in pregnant women after Tdap will require data collection for several years (31).

So not many plans or safety studies in place rite now, or what?  

[Rrrrrachel]

There have been post licensing safety studies for various vaccines during pregnancy. They specifically cite the need for studies of severe reactions because these reactions are so rare it's difficult to find an accurate rate for them with most studies.

I suppose (although this is way above my pay grade) there is an assumption that an adverse event in the baby like encephalitis would show up in external signs like heart rate, decreased movement, or things after baby is born. I'm sure that wont get traction with some folks, because it seems there's a philosophy that there are many undiagnosed vaccine reactions.

[nia82]

I beg to differ - there are no longterm studies. Which study exactly followed up all infants born to vaccinated mothers up to 18 years? Which study followed up counting things such as ADHD, allergies, schizophrenia, ASDs, cancers, immunodeficiancies, and so on? None. There is good reason to follow up for that long, considering e.g. flu vaccines trigger CRP. And who followed up mothers who were pregnant every 18 months and then got TDaP every 18 months? Methinks nobody. The safety is not established.

[serenbat]

Originally Posted by nia82 

I beg to differ - there are no longterm studies. Which study exactly followed up all infants born to vaccinated mothers up to 18 years? Which study followed up counting things such as ADHD, allergies, schizophrenia, ASDs, cancers, immunodeficiancies, and so on? None. There is good reason to follow up for that long, considering e.g. flu vaccines trigger CRP. And who followed up mothers who were pregnant every 18 months and then got TDaP every 18 months? Methinks nobody. The safety is not established.

I was "told" in another thread this doesn't matter! They end up in managed care and clinical studies, REGARDLESS if a reaction is documented or not. 

[Taximom5]

Originally Posted by Rrrrrachel 

This conversation happened very recently. Depending on the vaccine, there can be quite a bit of research showing vaccination during pregnancy is safe.

There "can be?"  Really?

Oh, wait, no. Not really.  THERE HAS BEEN NO INDEPENDENT SHOWING VACCINATION DURING PREGNANCY IS SAFE.

There doesn't even seem to be a vaccine company that has dared to ask (and study), "hey, since vaccines cause neurological problems like tics and developmental delays, seizure disorders, brain damage, etc, should we look at rates of those issues in 3-6-year-olds whose mothers were vaccinated during pregnancy?"

No, they just looked at the complications rate for labor/delivery and neonates.  

"Well, the baby was born, and has all his fingers and toes, so everything must be good!"

There is, of course, evidence that administration of the flu vaccine during pregnancy resulted in a huge spike of miscarriage rates.  The vaccine companies don't like to mention these things, though. Might scare people off from buying their product.

[Rrrrrachel]

I said there can be because I haven't looked at every single vaccine to see if it's the case. I know there's a fair amount for tdap and flu, but I would have to look at the others to be sure.

I know it's not up to your standards, taxi, but it does exist.

[Rrrrrachel]

Could you point me to the evidence of a huge spike in miscarriage rates? I'm interested in seeing it.

[serenbat]

Originally Posted by Rrrrrachel 

I said there can be because I haven't looked at every single vaccine to see if it's the case. I know there's a fair amount for tdap and flu, but I would have to look at the others to be sure.

I know it's not up to your standards, taxi, but it does exist. This statements sounds very belittling!

Rrrrrachel when you were pregnant (don't know how many times) - what vaccines did you get? I know personal/antidotal is not real science but since us other moms are concerned I see this as a valid question - you weren't concerned and everything was just fine?

If you did get- what and at what month?

might help the rest of us have a better perspective  

[glassesgirlnj]

Rrrrrachel when you were pregnant (don't know how many times) - what vaccines did you get? I know personal/antidotal is not real science but since us other moms are concerned I see this as a valid question - you weren't concerned and everything was just fine? If you did get- what and at what month? might help the rest of us have a better perspective

I'm not Rrrrrachel, but I was asked by my midwives (a group of hospital-based CNMs) to get a flu shot, and specifically to get the preservative-free, single-vial version. This was in my third trimester, I want to say week 33 or so? ...I didn't get any other vaccines during pregnancy, but I got a TDaP booster postpartum, while I was breastfeeding.

My daughter is now 15 months old, and everything seems to be fine so far. I'll try to remember to report back to you guys once she turns 18. ;)

[Rrrrrachel]

I wasn't asked to get any vaccines. At the time the recommendation for tdap was immediately after the baby was born and that's what I did. I almost got a flu shot (it would've been my first one ever!), but the pharmacist have me a shpeal about thimerosal and I didn't know any better so I didn't. I know a lot more about vaccines now than I did then.

I am by no means trying to tell pregnant women that everything is hunkidory and there's nothing to worry about. It's a personal decision that every woman should make for herself, hopefully in consultation with a health care provider. I'm just pointing out that there is research pointing to the safety of vaccines in pregnancy. I assume women can assess the quality of that research and weigh the risks vs benefits themselves.

[serenbat]

Originally Posted by Rrrrrachel 

 but the pharmacist have me a shpeal about thimerosal and I didn't know any better so I didn't. 

 

in English please- what does this part of your sentence mean?

Are you attempting saying the pharmacist (uninformed I am assuming?) was concerned about thimerosal and talked you out of getting the vaccine?

[Rrrrrachel]

Originally Posted by serenbat 

in English please- what does this part of your sentence mean?

Are you attempting saying the pharmacist (uninformed I am assuming?) was concerned about thimerosal and talked you out of getting the vaccine?

The pharmacist said something along the lines of "our flu vaccine contains thimerosal, some people believe it can cause birth defects." Like I said, I didn't know anything else about it at the time. My husband was at that very moment at urgent care getting fluids for his own case of flu, so I was pretty sure I had already been exposed. So I decided to skip it.