[ks3885]

alright ladies, so let's keep this neutral here, i know vaccines are a personal choice, etc etc.

but--i'd like it if you could respectfully offer your thoughts and plans for the swine flu/regular flu vax this season? i don't normally do it, but im thinking of the regular vax since im pregnant this season and more 'at risk' etc. but i also am not going to get it until about 20 weeks or so. however, i don't know if i feel comfortable getting the swine flu vax because it hasn't really been tested yet on pregnant women especially, and it has been linked with guillain-barre syndrome (a nerve disorder), particularly in the past when it was given (though im sure this is a different concoction). i guess i just feel uncomfortable being the guinea pig this season for the swine flu vax esp since im preggo.

im also an RN so i work with lots of people and touch them, etc (L&D--they're not sick usually, but occasionally they do come in thinking they have the flu/swine flu).

what do your OBs/midwives say? im sure my midwife wont want me to get it, but she is rather 'alternative', to say the least, so i think she might be a bit biased.

 

[1babysmom]

I, personally, won't dare get either one. But we don't vax at all so that probably explains a lot. I was in nursing for a while, and DH is an EMT (about as "front lines" as it gets), and FIL is an ER & FP MD (they live right across the road from us and we are with them all the time), but none of us have/will get either vax. As far as H1N1, I have read that vax is absolutely not safe for young babies...so why are they saying it is "okay" for developing fetuses by vax'ing the pregnant mom?

I had the flu when I was pg with DD2 and it was miserable but manageable and we treated it naturally at home and it was really no big deal at all. My MW during that pregnancy would have never recommended I get the shot. My MIL (a long time RN and very educated in natural medicine) is so disgusted by the swine flu vax.

I really value her opinion.

Anymore, I'm far more of a believer in good nutrition, healthy lifestyle and practices, and treatment with natural/homeopathic medicines (as much as possible) than I am in "preventative" vaccines.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Right of Passage]

No shots for me. My personal choice. I've had awesome flu immunity since I got it REALLY bad when I was little. My family got the flu Jan 2008 when DS2 was no more than a month old at the time, he didn't get more than a little sniffle, just like his mama.

 

[judybean]

No shots here either.

Food for thought: The number of people annually that the CDC estimates die from the season flu virus is equal to or lesser than the number of people that die in car wrecks annually. (the CDC estimates 36,000-40,000 die of the seasonal flu and approximately 40,000 people die annually in car wrecks). I will still drive a car even though I am MORE likely to die in a car wreck than die of the flu (not to mention, by far the most people who die of the flu have quite compromised immune systems already).

And I'm with 1babysmom ... if the vax isn't safe for babies outside of the womb, how on earth would it be safe for babies INSIDE the womb?

I don't think the potential risk is worth it.

 

[cocoanib]

None for me.
I stopped getting all flu vax when I got out of the military. I don't plan on starting up anytime soon and especially not while I'm pregnant.

 

[Juvysen]

It's not been tested well enough, but beyond that I wouldn't do it anyway. I can't imagine injecting all that other stuff into me when pregnant. The virus is one thing, but the rest? ew.

 

[catchthewind]

Make sure to read the insert too if you do decide to go for it. A friend of mine's OB was pressuring her into getting it when she was eight months pregnant, and she asked for the insert. The insert said right on it that it hadn't been tested on pregnant women (or maybe wasn't recommended for them, I can't remember which now), yet her OB continued to insist it was safe and she should do it. Usually they contain thimerisol which is not recommended for pregnant women or children. (Imo, it shouldn't be recommended for anyone.) She switched to a midwife at that point lol.

I, personally, wouldn't even consider it, especially while pregnant. I've had the flu shot before (long ago, before I knew much about vaccines in general), and it was the year I got the worst flu I've ever had.

Whether the severity was related to the shot or not, the shot certainly didn't prevent me from getting it. I would much rather take my chances with the flu. But we don't vaccinate at all, so I'm probably biased too.

Funny you ask this, I just posted this on my Facebook page. It's a spoof, so obviously exaggerated, but I found it funny nonetheless:

Also, the flu shot only has three strains of flu, and it's a guess by the manufacturers about which strains will be most common that year. They could be wrong, and there are many many more strains than just three.

Quote:

Other concerns about the dangers of flu shots stem from the fact that many people in the general public may wrongly believe that an annual vaccine will protect them from all strains of flu viruses and therefore take no other precautions to protect themselves. The annual influenza vaccine contains three strains of dead viruses, the three that are believed to be the most common in the United States at that time. Therefore, any number of flu viruses could still make a person sick.

I used to have some really good links but can't find them on this computer. But a quick Google search should get you lots of information on both sides of the story.

 

[apple_juice]

None for me. I find getting the flu vax in the past has lowered my immune system and I got a whole host of stuff so I don;t get the regular vax.

As for the H1N1 vax. No way. I dont want to be a guinea pig can we say thalidomide?

 

[SamuraiMom]

No vax for me thanx.

 

[Carley]

Our family is getting vaccinated. The Flu Shot is an inactivated (KILLED) vaccine & severe allergic reactions are more rare than complications from Influenza - especially more rare than Influenza itself that would cost our family time, health and money. The risk/benefit is clear for me. The Flu Shot comes out every year - every year with new strains. I don't see how this year is any different, other than an additional vaccine will be necessary for the "2009 H1N1" virus.

I wanted to throw in this wrench - the idea of preventative vaccinations isn't just to keep you from getting sick; it's to keep those you might infect from getting sick too. It's large scale prevention and that's interdependent.

I'm not saying people are "Wrong" or "Right" for choosing to or not to vaccinate, but the idea is that we all get vaccinated against something - like Smallpox - so people aren't infected in the first place - thus don't infect others - thus the spread of the disease slows or is eradicated.

It's kind of ironic because the whole idea is pretty Socialist - it's probably as Socialist as I get!

I also wanted to mention that the idea of having "flu immunity" from a previous virus sounds improbable - there are many flu viruses and new viruses mutate each year. Who knows why some people, apparently, have not had the flu in 20 years, but having had a particular virus 20 years ago is an improbable explanation for it. You could also chalk it up to your lucky blanket, KWIM?

 

[Carley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1babysmom As far as H1N1, I have read that vax is absolutely not safe for young babies...so why are they saying it is "okay" for developing fetuses by vax'ing the pregnant mom?

The CDC is recommending children 6 months through 4 years of age, and children 5 through 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions get the vaccine. Where did you read it's absolutely unsafe?

 

[Marymamabunny]

I was thinking of getting the vax but my hubbi advised against it, he got the flu last year so I will have him get one but he is worried about me getting it and the vax having something that will potentally harm the peanut... Although when he got it I didnt and I took no other percausions other that echincea, garlic, probiotics, vit.C....

 

[Newby]

I don't get usually get the annual flu vax since I've gotten out of the military, but I will say it's definitely a possibility for me this year and this is why. I just had a phone conversation with an old co-worker and the lady that took my position when I left died last week from H1N1, the first confirmed death in Colorado. She was in her early 40's and otherwise healthy. I come in contact with many people throughout the day and I work in a facility that has 8000+ employees which equals tons of cubicles of people! I think I'd rather try to vax in hopes of not getting this strain of flu then taking the chance of dying. I see it kind of like the cord blood banking, if there's a chance that I can save my child by banking the cord blood I'll do it. It may not happen, but it's worth the effort to try. However, I completely understand others' views as well. That's why I love this country, it's your choice!

 

[velveeta]

Here are just another couples thoughts to consider:

-swine flu seems to be quite mild compared to regular flu (in my community's experience)
-the risk of complications at *this* stage of pregnancy is less than when we are further along (you know, b/c of the lung space and so), so you could probably delay it safely for a while -- the OP is in a very high-risk group working in health care, so I imagine all of her co-workers will be getting the vax

You're right. It is a complicated matter, and hard to know what to do when you are in that situation. I think my younger DS (2 1/2) has *the* flu. I don't know which kind, but we are going to the conventional dr. to find out b/c I don't want to be the typhoid Mary of the neighborhood!

I'll let everyone know if it turns out to be the swine flu.

 

[MaterPrimaePuellae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carley The CDC is recommending children 6 months through 4 years of age, and children 5 through 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions get the vaccine. Where did you read it's absolutely unsafe?

I assume she was thinking "young babies" = babies < 6 months.

We never vaccinate for influenza and would not be getting the H1N1 anyway-- but absolutely not, x2 now that I'm pregnant.

Even some pretty mainstream reporters/physicians have reported that they don't think highly of the flu vax. Honestly, if I were listing in order of vaxes I would accept, flu is one of the last I would get because 1)so many still contain mercury, 2)you have to get it every year, and 3)lack of confidence in their ability to predict the strains.

They reported on People's Pharmacy last week that some people w/ H1N1 are not even developing a fever. That sounds pretty mild to me!

judybean, great point about car safety/risk assessment.

(DDC crashing from April

)

 

[skeeter30]

I don't know why but, I think all the media hype has scared me enough to get the vax. Right now the swine flu vax isn't even available and I start thinking that it will probably spread faster than they can produce the vax anyway. It doesn't stop me from worrying though. I have a 10yr old son from a previous marriage and what scares me the most is, that if something were to happen to me he might have to go live with his father, who I would have to haunt if that happened. I feel as though he has never been there for my son and that he isn't responsible so...this is probably my driving force. Also my son has asthma. He has gotten the flu vax in the past b/c of this. I myself have never had the flu shot so...I just don't know. There are risks either way IMO. I just don't know what to do.

 

[Yellow Brick Rd]

Argh, I still don't know.

:

A big part of me wants NO part of any vaccine, especially an H1N1 vaccine that is so new to the market.

BUT I have asthma and getting the flu and possibly having compromised oxygen intake for several days or more (which would require me to use inhaled meds) is not ideal. I also hate the thought of (Heaven forbid) a trip to the hospital, where my baby could be exposed to any number of crazy germs.

So, my jury is still out, but I'm leaning toward getting the vaccine. Especially if I can pre-order a single-dose vaccine with no thimerosal preservative.

 

[1babysmom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carley The CDC is recommending children 6 months through 4 years of age, and children 5 through 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions get the vaccine. Where did you read it's absolutely unsafe?

Yes to what the PP said- a baby under 6 months...

A fetus is DEFINITELY under 6 months.

 

[helianthus]

This is a great debate to read--thanks for sharing your opinions.

My OB told me something interesting at my last visit. She's pro-vax, obviously, and she had two arguments I hadn't heard before.

1. If I get the flu shot, the antibodies I make will pass through the placenta and provide the sproutlet with immunity (including immunity after birth), which is especially important for a baby born at the height of flu season. This seems to be a significant advantage to getting vaxed, since really little babies are far more likely to die from flu than I am (generally).

2. The thimerosal in vaccines is very small, AND it is significantly less exposure to mercury than we encounter in our every day lives, like eating food and drinking water. Anyone have more evidence for or against this statement?

What do you think?

 

[catchthewind]

Quote:

Originally Posted by helianthus 1. If I get the flu shot, the antibodies I make will pass through the placenta and provide the sproutlet with immunity (including immunity after birth), which is especially important for a baby born at the height of flu season. This seems to be a significant advantage to getting vaxed, since really little babies are far more likely to die from flu than I am (generally). 2. The thimerosal in vaccines is very small, AND it is significantly less exposure to mercury than we encounter in our every day lives, like eating food and drinking water. Anyone have more evidence for or against this statement? What do you think?

1. Well, that's why we exclusively breastfeed. In fact, I've heard (but I don't have time right now to do a search and get the exact data) that under a certain age (I think six months?), babies don't actually process the antibodies the same way we do and vaccines don't really do anything for them. With breastfeeding, they're getting a continual supply. I've had colds and a flu while breastfeeding my daughter and she gets the occasional sniffle but has only had one really bad cold and that was when she was almost two and her nursing had slowed down somewhat.

2. Not sure about this, though I know that some of our water sources here are contaminated with lead leaching from old pipes. I take steps to minimize that exposure, even though our pipes probably don't leach. We have a water filter (which filters out mercury too, btw). We probably do get some minimal exposure anyhow, when at other people's houses or whatnot. Doesn't mean I'd be okay purposely exposing myself to another source of lead though, you know? I'd rather minimize it as much as possible.

I have an interesting story bookmarked that is about the swine flu in the 70's. Of course, it's a bit sensationalized and they've obviously picked and chosen what to show, but anyhow, I found it an interesting read. Swine Flu Panic