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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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!
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Swine Flu Vacine
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