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If pregnant are you getting the swine flu vaccination? I don't know what to do.
I keep hearing all the info on the swine flu and how pregnant women are the most at risk group and that we should get the vaccine as soon as it comes out. I'm scared to get such an new vaccine but then I'm scared of the consequences of getting the swine flu??? I also have a 16 month old who is in daycare so they say we should get them the shot too. What have you guys heard and any thoughts?
I feel the same way as you! The problem is that the flu shot that is out this week, pregnant women can't take. It's the nasal mist and it has the live virus so we have to wait for the shot which will have the dead virus :-( I wish I knew when that was coming out...maybe the end of this month I heard?
I think that I've posted before about this, but I also discussed the H1N1 with another doctor (a second...well, third opinion now) and his reply to me was the SAME as both of the others, so we've decided to get it.
He told me the same thing that dnikki just posted about how it's created like the flu vaccine....and they told me that it's not choosing between getting the shot and nothing. It's between getting the shot or dying from the flu, if you get it. Since I can't live in hibernation for the next four months, there is a CHANCE that I could become exposed from someone at church, someone at the store, someone coming to the house...
I'm not willing to risk my life or my baby's, so I'll be getting it as soon as my OB has it available. (Probably Weds.)
He told me the same thing that dnikki just posted about how it's created like the flu vaccine....and they told me that it's not choosing between getting the shot and nothing. It's between getting the shot or dying from the flu, if you get it. Since I can't live in hibernation for the next four months, there is a CHANCE that I could become exposed from someone at church, someone at the store, someone coming to the house...
I'm not willing to risk my life or my baby's, so I'll be getting it as soon as my OB has it available. (Probably Weds.)
I just wanted to comment on here - I am 5months p/g and have been on the fence about this issue. I just recieved my regular flu shot this past Friday and I talked to the doc giving it to me about the H1N1 vaccine. He told me it's made the same way the reg. flu shot is - which is taking a (dead) strand of the flu's DNA...It is NOT A LIVE VIRUS. He also stated the fact that the mortality rate for pregnant women is now up to 50%. The drug Tamiflu and the other one which I don't remember the name of it used to treat the flu, is not recommended for p/g women b/c of the unknown side effects on the fetus. So, it's one of those situations where you can be damned if you do and damned if you don't...BUT, I think the consequences are worse if you don't. I will be getting this vaccine to protect my family, my unborn baby and myself. I want to be able to watch my kids grow up and be a life long wife to my husband.
WOW thats interesting that getting the flu shot last year may increase risk!!! yikes- i havent heard that yet! ughh i dunno if there is a right answer - if you dont get it and never get the flu all is well.... but of course if we pass it up and then get it and get really sick, we'll have regrets... for now i'm still not going to get it - down here in texas i'd say at least 50% of people i know have already had it! So i'm hoping it will die down a bit ater the next month or so- intil then i'm avoiding people if i can! Also the CDC released something end of last week that in the Emergency rooms there is no need to even get tested for flu if your not in the high risk category since they are not going to give you tamiflu unless your "high risk" .. so sounds like they are trying to limit the use of tamiflu for that reason that journeyjojo mentioned! who knows!?
The latest research is showing that those who had the flu shot last year are more susceptible to h1n1 than those who did not get the flu shot last year. As a result, they are recommending (so far in Ontario & Quebec) that people who got the flu shot last year get the h1n1 shot first and then get the regular flu shot and not the other way around.
I've also read that they're concerned that the prophylactic (preventitive) use of Tamiflu and other antivirals may contribute to a more virilant strain of H1N1, just like what has happened with the overuse of antibiotics for non-viral purposes (ie, prescribing antibiotics for colds and not viruses).
I've also read that they're concerned that the prophylactic (preventitive) use of Tamiflu and other antivirals may contribute to a more virilant strain of H1N1, just like what has happened with the overuse of antibiotics for non-viral purposes (ie, prescribing antibiotics for colds and not viruses).
I don't know about this question...
Just last Saturday an 18 year old boy from Massachusetts died from the Swine Flu......
Just last Saturday an 18 year old boy from Massachusetts died from the Swine Flu......
Huh? I though CDC recommended the vaccine for pregnant women!
This is what I found online...
"Q: Why does CDC recommend that pregnant women receive the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine?
A. It is important for a pregnant woman to receive the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine as well as a seasonal influenza vaccine. A pregnant woman who gets any type of flu is at risk for serious complications and hospitalization. Pregnant women who are otherwise healthy have been severely impacted by the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (formerly called “novel H1N1 flu” or “swine flu”). In comparison to the general population, a greater proportion of pregnant women infected with the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus have been hospitalized. In addition, severe illness and death has occurred in pregnant women. Six percent of confirmed fatal 2009 H1N1 flu cases thus far have been in pregnant women while only about 1% of the general population is pregnant. While hand washing, staying away from ill people, and other steps can help to protect pregnant women from influenza, vaccination is the single best way to protect against the flu.
Q: Is there a particular kind of flu vaccine that pregnant women should get? Are there flu vaccines that pregnant women should not get?
A. There are two type of flu vaccine. Pregnant women should get the "flu shot"— an inactivated vaccine (containing fragments of killed influenza virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in pregnant women.
The other type of flu vaccine — nasal-spray flu vaccine (sometimes called LAIV for “live attenuated influenza vaccine)—is not currently approved for use in pregnant women. This vaccine is made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu). LAIV (FluMist®) is approved for use in healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant."
This is what I found online...
"Q: Why does CDC recommend that pregnant women receive the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine?
A. It is important for a pregnant woman to receive the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine as well as a seasonal influenza vaccine. A pregnant woman who gets any type of flu is at risk for serious complications and hospitalization. Pregnant women who are otherwise healthy have been severely impacted by the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (formerly called “novel H1N1 flu” or “swine flu”). In comparison to the general population, a greater proportion of pregnant women infected with the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus have been hospitalized. In addition, severe illness and death has occurred in pregnant women. Six percent of confirmed fatal 2009 H1N1 flu cases thus far have been in pregnant women while only about 1% of the general population is pregnant. While hand washing, staying away from ill people, and other steps can help to protect pregnant women from influenza, vaccination is the single best way to protect against the flu.
Q: Is there a particular kind of flu vaccine that pregnant women should get? Are there flu vaccines that pregnant women should not get?
A. There are two type of flu vaccine. Pregnant women should get the "flu shot"— an inactivated vaccine (containing fragments of killed influenza virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in pregnant women.
The other type of flu vaccine — nasal-spray flu vaccine (sometimes called LAIV for “live attenuated influenza vaccine)—is not currently approved for use in pregnant women. This vaccine is made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu). LAIV (FluMist®) is approved for use in healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant."
The CDC has already recommended that pregnant women not receive the H1N1 vaccine. There are, however, other safe and proven ways to protect yourself and your baby. I am taking all normal flu precautions such as coughing in my sleeve, sneezing in a tissue, and washing my hands regularly. In the event water isn't available and I need to wash my hands I carry around an antimicrobial spray in my purse.
I think if you're working in a high risk environment, it's a really good idea. My friend consults in Nunavut and they're preparing for the worst because the population seems more susceptible to H1N1, not to mention the communities are small so viruses spread quickly. If you're not sure, then you should definitely speak with your doctor about it.
In my case, even though GBS was the consequence of a m/c, it would not stop me from trying to conceive again, nor would I suggest to anyone that they not TTC for fear of GBS; it's all risk vs benefit.
GBS is such a strange (and rare) disorder that it's been on "Mysterious Diagnoses". For me it started with tingling & pain in the extremities as well as swelling and a Bell's Palsy (facial paralysis on one side). Eventually I couldn't feel my feet or hands and started to get weak then eventually started falling down when I walked. It took me months to find a neurologist to get a proper diagnosis. They originally thought it was rheumatoid arthritis, but the pain wasn't in my joints; it was nerve pain. Hopefully doctors will be appraised of the rare potential of GBS following vaccines (any vaccines, not just the H1N1) so that people will be identified quickly and receive rapid treatment.
In my case, even though GBS was the consequence of a m/c, it would not stop me from trying to conceive again, nor would I suggest to anyone that they not TTC for fear of GBS; it's all risk vs benefit.
GBS is such a strange (and rare) disorder that it's been on "Mysterious Diagnoses". For me it started with tingling & pain in the extremities as well as swelling and a Bell's Palsy (facial paralysis on one side). Eventually I couldn't feel my feet or hands and started to get weak then eventually started falling down when I walked. It took me months to find a neurologist to get a proper diagnosis. They originally thought it was rheumatoid arthritis, but the pain wasn't in my joints; it was nerve pain. Hopefully doctors will be appraised of the rare potential of GBS following vaccines (any vaccines, not just the H1N1) so that people will be identified quickly and receive rapid treatment.
I am getting it for sure. We are considered at high risk of exposure where I work, so after weighing the risks vs. benefits, it makes more sense to have it. I am also having the regular flu shot. I have discussed this with my Dr. and with the Dr's I work with. One of them is on our provincial pandemic planning board. I am not sure if I would make the decision if I wasn't working in a high risk area, but the population I work with tends to have very compromised immune systems and get everything first. Should this hit as hard as some are predicting it will, I will be working from home.
JoJo & bny, that is all good information. The thought of GBS scares the hell out of me because my grandfather and great uncle both died young of ALS, another myelin sheath disorder, which they are now finding is sometimes genetic. There is just no freakin way I would put myself at such risk.
That being said, I am glad that I have stopped working for the time being. I am a massage therapist and about a month ago someone came in sick, and he was coughing in my face while I was working on him. So freakin inconsiderate. So that was the last straw for me. DH knows I won't get vaccinated so he started to insist that I stop working. If I were still doing massage I would be freaked out about getting sick from a client. But just going about my everyday life, I am really not afraid of contracting H1N1 or anything else. You are right-- good hygiene is really the best defense by far.
That being said, I am glad that I have stopped working for the time being. I am a massage therapist and about a month ago someone came in sick, and he was coughing in my face while I was working on him. So freakin inconsiderate. So that was the last straw for me. DH knows I won't get vaccinated so he started to insist that I stop working. If I were still doing massage I would be freaked out about getting sick from a client. But just going about my everyday life, I am really not afraid of contracting H1N1 or anything else. You are right-- good hygiene is really the best defense by far.
As someone who is recovering from Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS), I can tell you that I highly doubt I will be getting the vaccine. GBS is an autoimmune disorder that strips the myelin sheath from the peripheral nerves and leaves the body in a weakened and painful state that can lead to paralysis of all systems, including respiratory. The technical term is "acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy". I was lucky that I didn't end up in ICU, but I was unable to walk or do anything other than sit on my couch with my feet raised (otherwise they swelled to balloons) on heavy duty painkillers. I have been out of work for the past year as a result. There are treatments - IVIG - an IV drip of good antibodies, which was successful. I have coverage, but apparently it can cost up to $80 000 to treat. They say that recovery is 100%, but it isn't. I am left with numb feet and nerve problems throughout my body that seem to be exacerbated with pregnancy.
Here's the interesting thing -- GBS is correlated with the body's reaction to vaccines (the body fights the invading virus of the vaccine then goes on overdrive and starts attacking the myelin sheath that it mistakes as an invader). For me, it resulted from the loss of a pregnancy. My immune system went into overdrive with the change in hormones from being pg to not being pg. It's very rare, but it happens.
So I guess the moral of the story is, it is rare, but it happens. Consider the risk of GBS to complications from H1N1. Maybe if you're already compromised (eg, asthma, etc), it would be a good idea to get the vaccine. Death in GBS is rare; death of pregnant women and death of the fetus are apparently an issue with contracting H1N1 in second & third trimester pregnancies (http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/notes/h1n1_pregnancy_20090731/en/).
After having said all of that, I will be asking my neurologist (who is following my recovery from GBS) about it at my follow-up on Friday. I'll let you know what he says. Should be interesting.
The best defense against H1N1 is hand washing and sneezing in your sleeve. Make sure everyone in your household washes their hands as soon as they enter the house as well as other times you're supposed to be handwashing like prior to food prep, eating, etc. The other thing people should be concerned about is MRSA. Anyone else see this on Oprah? Wow. Scary. No vaccine though.
Hope I didn't scare too many people.
Here's the interesting thing -- GBS is correlated with the body's reaction to vaccines (the body fights the invading virus of the vaccine then goes on overdrive and starts attacking the myelin sheath that it mistakes as an invader). For me, it resulted from the loss of a pregnancy. My immune system went into overdrive with the change in hormones from being pg to not being pg. It's very rare, but it happens.
So I guess the moral of the story is, it is rare, but it happens. Consider the risk of GBS to complications from H1N1. Maybe if you're already compromised (eg, asthma, etc), it would be a good idea to get the vaccine. Death in GBS is rare; death of pregnant women and death of the fetus are apparently an issue with contracting H1N1 in second & third trimester pregnancies (http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/notes/h1n1_pregnancy_20090731/en/).
After having said all of that, I will be asking my neurologist (who is following my recovery from GBS) about it at my follow-up on Friday. I'll let you know what he says. Should be interesting.
The best defense against H1N1 is hand washing and sneezing in your sleeve. Make sure everyone in your household washes their hands as soon as they enter the house as well as other times you're supposed to be handwashing like prior to food prep, eating, etc. The other thing people should be concerned about is MRSA. Anyone else see this on Oprah? Wow. Scary. No vaccine though.
Hope I didn't scare too many people.
apparently overseas - in europe somewhere where they have started human trials with this specific vaccine there has been a high incidence of Guilliane Barre.. i saw it on CNN news i believe last week(i know defintely cant believe everything you see on the news) but it was in regards to the anticipation of the vaccine being ready here in the US by october.. and now with these new cases over seas they are thinking it wont be ready by then afterall.. I believe this vaccine is differently made than the normal influenza vaccine (though not positive) and they will also be recommending that you get two doses.. one and then another three weeks later i believe.. defintely a personal choice, but i agree i think i'll stick to hand sanitizer and avoiding sick people instead
mlb, you are correct, the fear about Guillaume-Barre is referring to the 1976 vaccine. this is the article I was referring to:
http://thebirdflupandemic.com/archives/scientists-express-grave-concern-about-swine-flu-vaccine-safety
if there is still a connection to Guillaume-Barre(sp?) with the new vaccine, wouldn't it be too soon to know? hundreds of people came down with it last time around. and this version of the vaccine supposedly also increases cancer risk.
http://thebirdflupandemic.com/archives/scientists-express-grave-concern-about-swine-flu-vaccine-safety
if there is still a connection to Guillaume-Barre(sp?) with the new vaccine, wouldn't it be too soon to know? hundreds of people came down with it last time around. and this version of the vaccine supposedly also increases cancer risk.
Just curious where you read that about the doctors?? I have been trying to find info on this from a legit source but haven't found any except those referencing the 1976 vaccination (which had the guillain barre incidence of 1/100000). (I did read that gullain barre is one of the things doctors are supposed to look for with the new H1N1 vaccine and report to the fda but I could not find anything that said it was occurring a lot...) I'd just like to read more about it before I make a decision.
I am definitely not getting it. No way in hell. A law was just enacted in Massachusetts whereby people can be fined for not complying during a "public health emergency". If such a law is enacted in our state we have already decided we will leave the country. We are lucky to have the option because I have dual US/CDN citizenship. I'm just hoping that public health officials come to their senses in the US and stop trying to scare people into getting this dangerous vaccine that has not been properly tested. What is the rush?
I have read that doctors are coming out in droves saying that this vaccine can trigger Guillaume-Barre syndrome, which causes paralysis and in some cases, can be fatal. I think I shall pass.
I have read that doctors are coming out in droves saying that this vaccine can trigger Guillaume-Barre syndrome, which causes paralysis and in some cases, can be fatal. I think I shall pass.
I am also sitting on the fence with this...Every day I hear something new regarding the H1N1 flu strain or vaccine..I know if it worked and is safe it would be a a great benefit for myself and my unborn baby...But I cant help but worry about this new vaccine being so new and all...and what the effects may be for me and baby...On another note..I cannot risk getting sick either..its a really tough call..
I wish someone had some codl hard facts about this...As school is back in soon and so therefore cold season is not far behind..and with all of us being pregnant...Our immune systems are comprimises..(weaker) than they would be witout being pregnant..
I wish someone had some codl hard facts about this...As school is back in soon and so therefore cold season is not far behind..and with all of us being pregnant...Our immune systems are comprimises..(weaker) than they would be witout being pregnant..
I've worked in clinical research and don't feel like a month or 2 of clinical trials will produce sufficient data to determine whether the vaccine is indeed safe in pregnancy... sure the pregnant mother may not have side-effects... and the baby may appear fine, but I want to see long term studies on the fetuses exposed to this before I'd be willing to take it.
This is a tough one. I'm not really sure what I'm going to do...
My dad (who lives in Europe), said the vaccine will be available where he lives in September, and he was urging me to get one, since he had heard so much about pregnancy and H1N1...but I'm still a bit nervous about it too. I'll probably ask my obgyn about it at my next visit.
My dad (who lives in Europe), said the vaccine will be available where he lives in September, and he was urging me to get one, since he had heard so much about pregnancy and H1N1...but I'm still a bit nervous about it too. I'll probably ask my obgyn about it at my next visit.
Oh boy Dana. Definitely talk to your doctor about it. I can't tell you what to do but can only say what I would do. It might not be right for everyone but for myself, I would get it no matter what especially pregnant with a child in daycare. Your immune system is decreased when pregnant. Flus are hardest on those with weakened immune systems, that's a fact and this one especially. As far as the above post I can only say that the regular flu vaccine is new each and every year. The H1N1 flu is no different except that it will be against different antigens than the regular flu vaccine. The regular flu is made against different antigens every year as well specified to how they think it will change. Things in the lab have changed a lot since 1974. The prevelance of Guillain-barre is 1/100,000 and it is rarely caused by influenza vaccines according to the mayo clinic website. For myself, I would not worry about that too much as complications from getting H1N1 are probably much higher than 1/100,000 pregnant women.
i am not getting it.. based on the flu vaccine back in 1974 i believe.. when they hurried manufacturing and then a lot of people came down with chronic illnesses.. including guillian berrai (sp?) i didnt want to get it.. I think that they are hurrying it too fast. . and haven't done adequate human studies.. so i especially dont want to get it while i'm pregnant.. I talked to my dr and she agreed.. and actually.. over in europe or whereever it is that they are starting to give it.. they are already having a high percentage of adverse reactions - including guillian barriae syndrome.. so now the CDC is saying that we wont have the swine flu vaccine by october anyways due to these complications over seas.. SOOOoo i'm going to avoid that one.. but still get the regular influenza vaccine..
I don't think its available here (bc, canada) until after November but by that time I will have given birth but then they are still recommending it for caregivers of little ones so I fall into that category.
I usually do get the regular flu vaccine (haven't had a flu in years and years and years) but this one freaks me out for the lack of testing. I guess I'll have to go with it, see how i feel about it by then.
I usually do get the regular flu vaccine (haven't had a flu in years and years and years) but this one freaks me out for the lack of testing. I guess I'll have to go with it, see how i feel about it by then.
Talk to you medical provider.... he/she will tell you if safe or not...
good luck to you...
good luck to you...
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