Swine Flu Vacine

[Vixstar]

I am planning on having my DH and two boys immunised against Swine Flu but have some concerns about getting the vacine done myself.

I understand the implications of not getting it and then contracting the virus are pretty bad but what about in the long term....in 5, 10, 20 yrs time? Do we know how it affects an unborn baby?

Thoughts?
Experiences?
Knowledge?

Thanks in advance!
xxxx

[Visitor7]

Experience & knowledge ... got none.

My thoughts: I'm a little wary of getting it done while pregnant as well. I hear of so many people who have had it done, but I dunno. I had swine flu last year, so I don't even know if it's something I should be getting or not (the vax).
Sorry, not much help at all am I.

[Cherished]

They haven't even tested the effects the vaccine has on adults and children properly let alone on an unborn baby... The is absolutely no way of knowing what effect it will have on 'anyone' in 5,10,20 years time so that includes babies too.

[Rumpleteaser]

Jodi: If you have had swine flu (confirmed) you don't need the vax.

Vixstar: They say the flu vax is safe, the seasonal vax will also contain the swine flu vax (all in one). The only problem is that the flu virus is always mutating, so the strain around this year will be different from last year.

I got the flu vax in 2008 about 14 wk PG, I don't get side effects from the vax, though I know many ppl who claim they do and therefore won't get the vax. My DS was 6 wks prem, though I wouldn't associate it with the vax. He has no developmental delays or problems. I'm considering getting the vax in the next week or two. There is a high death rate for PG women and new born babies if they get swine flu. Mothers who have the vax will pass on antibodies while BF to their babies.

I suppose it is all about weighing up the risks, something terrible may emerge decades down the path for our children who have been vaccinated, but something more terrible may happen if you don't vaccinate.

It is like having to receive blood produces to save a life in an emergency, they can only test the blood for diseases they know about, new viruses are always emerging.

[Visitor7]

thanks so much for that rumpleteaser.

[FabFiona]

I had the swine flu vaccine whilst pregnant last year. The high numbers of pregnant women and babies getting sick and even dying were too large for me to ignore. In the end, I didn't want to take the risk. But that was me. You have to make your own decision and live with that.

[Nikki87]

Gee Vix, hard question haha

Ummm, i have absolutely no idea what i am going to do. Like you, how quickly the vaccine was produced could only mean a very short trial period, and this worries me that it hasnt had proper testing.

Like someone else said, the flu strain is always mutating, so whats the point being vaccinated against something that eventually wont respond to the vaccine anyway ... If this were to happen every year, year after year, by the time we are 100 we will be vaccinated against 100 different flu strains becuase new ones just keep developing and mutating. How far can you go?

I heard that the swine flu kills less people than the 'normal' flu every year. Wheres all the panic over that??? I think the fear was instilled in everyone because it was a new strain and no treatment had been developed yet so it was a very scary thing!

I dont hesitate against other vaccinations, Summer has never been late for any type of vaccination, BUT at this point, I wont be having it and neither will she, but I am open to hearing evidence and changing my mind if the pros outway the cons!

[Pretz]

Vix & Nikki - I don't have any experience or advice to offer, however at this stage, I'm unsure as to what to do as well. I kept forgetting to ask my GP about whether or not he recommended I get the swine flu vax, but figured that he would probably say yes anyways and I'm not sure if yes is what I want to hear.

I also agree that it hasn't been tested enough to be a 100% safe and it also scares me a little that perhaps in 10+ or more years side effects may appear and then what do you do?

I'm seeing my OB on Friday and was thinking about asking him what he thinks, but again, am scared of what he might say....

I don't think I'm going to stress TOO much about it if I don't get it though...

Sorry this isn't much help, but that was just my 2 cents worth...

[Loula]

I will be watching with interest as i too am debating this. I am talking to my OB in a few weeks regarding this. My mum said that the flu was worse the year before than this winter in the UK and suggested i wait and see??

[dusty]

I had the vaccine at the start of my second tri. I gave it a lot of thought & research & decided the risks of not having it outweighed the risk of having it. After 5 years TTC I didn't take the decision lightly.
The vaccine is for you not bubs. As I understand it the bub doesn't get the vaccine as it doesn't cross over the placenta. I'm prepared to take any possible longer term risks as life is about balancing risk & every day we expose ourselves to possible short or long term risks in our exposure to lots of chemicals dangers etc. We wouldn't ever get into our cars otherwise.
With Swine flu pg women are at a much higher risk of severe swine flu symptoms & death which then puts bubs at risk if the mum is so sick.
While the swine flu was mostly mild in the broader Australian community last year it is way more infectious than normal flu. If the general population stay away from being vaccinated there is a higher chance of infection spreading.
I'm not sure how the swine flu fared in the northern hemisphere winter during our summer but I wanted to be prepared for this season. Good luck with your own decision making I know it's not easy when there is so much conflicting info out there.
Xx

[Vixstar]

Thanks girls for your thoughts, opions and expereinces.

I have decided that I will get it after all. I have always had faith in modern med and see this as being no diff. If I was not pregnant or did not have little kids, it would be a diff matter.

We are going to have it after Easter at this stage as some of us have had a bit of a cold / tickle in the throat ( you know the one that makes your eyes water like a waterfall!) and I think you need to be 100% before getting a jab. Poor DS#2 has needles coming up anyway!

Once again, thank you for your replies.

xxxx

[FabFiona]

[QUOTE=Nikki87;2231453]
I heard that the swine flu kills less people than the 'normal' flu every year. Wheres all the panic over that???

This is correct, however not for pregnant women. This is a quote from a Sydney morning herald article:

The study of Australian and New Zealand women found that among women who were pregnant or had recently given birth and were admitted to intensive care units with swine flu from June to August last year, 11 per cent died. Twelve per cent of their babies died.

In Australia between 1997 and 2005 only one pregnant woman died from influenza, but in the three months of the swine flu pandemic four women died from the disease.

So whilst your statement might be true for the majority of the population it is not correct for pregnant women.