ANYONE "NOT" GETTING THE SWINE FLU SHOT???

[Alba333]

Hello again, I was just checking my E-mail and noticed that there was something in there about SWINE Flu prevention.  Well that prompted me to ask this question.  Is anyone out there pregnant and "NOT" getting the flu shot?  Myself, I've never had a flu shot and not planning to now.  I've been speaking to a lot of people who have had it once and they never have been the same.  I mean their immunity to the flu is awful! They never got sick before the shot and now they get a flu every year!  Not to mention what really is terrifying me is the thermosal or mercury that those shot are famous for having.  My son who is 3 has a speech delay and I would hate to think that his vaccines have something to do with it.  I don't have any proof of this anyway. I'll tell ya this, I would rather take him out of his preschool than to subject him to anymore possible damage with this new flu shot.  It also is not helping that online there is so much information about the dangers of this shot, that it makes my stomach flip.   I'm not pregnant but when the time comes if this flu is still around I don't think that I will want to risk my unborn child to these chemicals and I will just have to carry my antibacterial gel around with me everywhere I go and hell if it comes down to it wear one of those surgical masks!  Let me know what you all think because I am already pulling out whats left of my hair over this subject!  What are you all doing about it???
RSVP!!!!!  worried sick!!! Alba

[BabyBlue07]

i did get a flu shot on 9/22.. but the H1N1 i think i skip that since this is new med.. don't trust it and don't want to risk it...

[Jnnlw]

I am a healthcare provider (but not an OBGYN), and I'm also pregnant. I have decided NOT to get the vaccine, even though I work with the public.  Yes, the CDC recommends it as a high priority for pregnant women, but interestingly enough, the medical council in Europe, do not call it a "high priority".  My OBGYN said that she is required to follow the CDC guidelines and recommend the vaccine.  My primary reason for not getting it is that there is just not enough testing on the vaccine.  My second reason is a concern regarding its adjuvant, squalene, and it's possible connection to Multiple Sclerosis.  My husband (and the baby's father) has MS and I am very careful with doing anything that may even remotely affect the baby.  For those of you concerned about thimerosol (mercury), I believe that the single dose vials of the vaccine are thimerosol-free, while the multiple dose vials are not.  

I will be getting the regular flu vaccine, thimerosol-free.

[help4baby]

I m also having tough time deciding to get flu shot or not. I never had the flu shot & neither DH.

I m 5 wks pregnant with my first one & due date is in may  so worried about all this season.  

One more thing we are thinking since I never had shot and now i will take and what if I get side effect from it? didn't talk to my doc. but I m sure she will also say to take it.

I don't work so not much exposure to public area but doing grocery & going mall is also the same risk which we can't avoid & DH go everyday office that's why I m worried.

Please give suggestions what to do?

[Pum]

Gee I feel like I live in the boondocks. We haven't even been offerered the vaccine yet. You guys in the big country are lucky to be having this dilema. Maybe if there's enough left over they might send some doses our way.

On the other hand, we are coming out of winter and H1N1 was everywhere and I'm kindof hoping I've had it. I did have a bad cold but not what I'd call a flu but many kids in the schools had H1N1 so maybe I had a mild dose.

I will be third trimester in autumn so might just miss the peak again. If I'm lucky enough to continue with this pregnancy I might go into hiding for the first 6 months of the baby's life.

[docsaf]

I am not sure about the H1N1, but I am definitely getting the regular flu shot. I was on the fence about the regular flu shot b\c I did not want to risk passing anything along to my baby - I'm trying to be careful about what I put into my body.

My friend told me that she was told to get the flu shot when she was pg last year b\c the flu shot actually passes the protection along to your unborn baby. The flu shot not only protected her during the flu season, but when she had her baby in November, the same flu shot she received while pregnant also protected her baby during the flu season. Since my baby is due in January - in the middle of the flu season - I want to make sure that my baby is protected. I regularly see my nieces and nephews - who always have some sort of cold - and take the train to work - and work in a building with 5000+ other people. I can't avoid contact with sick people and people are contagious before they realize they are sick.

I will talk with my OB and family doctor and see why they think I should/should not receive the H1N1 and decide whether or not it is for me.

[mamom15]

Hello Ladies, I am new to this forum .  I am 9 weeks pregnant.  I was considering going for flu shot and H1NI but now after reading all your posts I am really nervous.  I spoke to my RE, my PCP amd my OB and they all suggested I take both shots but now I am confused.  I have very little contact with kids, only place would be my gym.  What should I do ?!!

[wanting4#1]

I'm still on the fence about the H1N1 shot. Although my OB said that if she were pregnant, she would get it and she is recommending it!

I did get the flu shot, but I got the thimerosal-free one to avoid any mercury-related issues!

For me, and it is a very personal decision, I've worked too hard to get pregnant to do anything that would risk it.  So, while I take all kinds of precautions (I've even stopped shaking hands at Church and I use the Clorox wipes on the grocery carts), I felt completely comfortable getting the flu shot.

The H1N1 scares me because I think that there is a lot of media hype that occurs in the world (remember the bird flu that was going to wipe out all of civilization?) and I just think it's hard to get an objective truth about this kind of stuff. Plus we don't have any idea what kind of side effects will exist from this vaccine, so I just don't know what I am going to do!

[Victoria01]

I'm not getting the shot either. I have never had the flu shot and neither has my 3 year old. It has been almost ten years since I've had the flu and my son has never even had a runny nose. I have known many people who have gotten the flu shot and have become sick more often.

What I find strange is that one of my best friends, who is a self proclaimed germaphobe, and doesn't even allow her children to get dirty while playing outside and gets every shot possible, is sick all the time and so is her children. She uses that hand sanitizer all  the time and it washes away the 'good' bacteria that helps fight off sicknenss. I think, espeically our children, need to learn to acquire a natural immunity.No flu shots for my family. :)

[kyleeNbrookesmom]

I am NOT getting the flu shot. I think its all a load of **** and I think its just a way for the government to control us.  I swear there trying to do population control. I wouldnt be surprised if there the ones who let the virus out. I know I sound crazy but all i know that is me and my children will not be getting injected with anything.

[rubyinparadise]

At this point I am in the camp of definitely NOT getting the H1N1 shot. I have never had a flu shot in my life and, thankfully, I almost never get sick. However, I plan to do more research on the H1N1 shot before I make a final decision. In the meantime, I'm going to be pretty hypervigilant about hygiene during & after being out in public!

[m3lanie]

I agree Sherry and I certainly won't be getting shots, never have never will especially now that I am pregnant.  I do the all natural route. My body wasn't born to be given drugs and put myself and baby at risk no matter how low. Wash your hands, use hand sanitizer regularily. But again, to each their own. *shrugs*

[sherrysb]

I will NOT be getting the swine or and flu shot.  I will continue to take my prenatal vitamins, using hand sanitizer and taking vitamin c (Drinking Orange Juice).  I have a 12 year old in middle school and had a sit down with her about the importance of her washing her hands and not sharing anything personal.  We live in NJ, 20 minutes from NYC.  My husband works in NYC and agrees that none of us should give ourselves a virus to not get a virus.

[akl_cdl]

I am due December 2 and I will definatley be getting the regular flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine as soon as it is available.  For me the benefit of the vaccine out weighs the risk of the virus. I have researched it and feel it is the best decision for me and my family.

[jenstam]

I wonder how many people will develop issues with germs and OCD from all of this. I know I am becoming a freak about sanitizing, my kids washing their hands, wiping down carts, not touching my face, etc, etc...more so than ever before. It's not necessarily bad, but I think some people could go way overboard and develop issues with all of this sanitizing.

[adgal]

I haven't been able to get on in a few days, so just seeing this now.  I will absolutely be getting both the regular flu shot and the swine flu shot.  I work with a population of people that are extremely high risk and vulnerable to getting this so that puts me at risk as well.  I have researched it, talked to my OB and the medical clinic attached to my organization is very involved in the pandemic planning for my city and province.  For me, the benefit outweighs the risk.  I always get the regular flu shot and have never had any problems with it and I feel pretty comfortable in the H1N1 vaccine.  It's a personal choice and everyone needs to feel comfortable with their decision.  I am comfortable with mine. I will be in third trimester when this peaks, so for me, I feel like I am protecting my baby more then possibly hurting him.  

[JourneyJoJo]

I personally will not be getting the H1N1 or seasonal flu shot because I am recovering from Guillain Barre (and pregnant).  I will also be doing lots of handwashing, etc, and am fortunate in that I am not frequently around children or sick people (ie,hospital) nor do I go to crowded places.  My dh has agreed to do the grocery shopping, etc, esp when flu season starts so that I can avoid such contact.  Parnoid, maybe, but we don't want to take any chances if we can avoid it.  

Everyone will have to make the decision for themselves.  If I were to get the shot, it would be the killed virus with no preservatives.

[JourneyJoJo]

Here's what the CDC posted about preventing H1N1 (and the flu, in general):

There is no vaccine available yet to prevent novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection; however, the risk for novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection might be reduced by taking steps to reduce the chance of being exposed to respiratory infections. These steps include:

1.Frequent hand washing.
2.Minimizing contact with sick individuals.
3.Having ill persons stay home (except to seek medical care).
4.Having ill persons cover coughs.
5.Avoiding, whenever possible, crowded settings in communities having outbreaks of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus.
6.And using facemasks and respirators correctly if they are used (see Interim Recommendations for Facemask and Respirator Use to Reduce Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Transmission).

[JourneyJoJo]

I posted this previously.  

Please read the original CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/clinician_pregnant.htm

If you check the CDC website, they are recommending that pregnant women get the KILLED vaccine and not the live one, and that they are also developing a vaccine for pregnant women and young children without preservatives.  You should inform your health care provider if you have severe allergies to eggs, have had previous severe reactions from the flu shot and/or have had Guillain Barre Syndrome.  

Yes, pregnant women are at the top of the list as 6% of people with adverse reactions to H1N1 (including death or maybe it's 6% of total deaths from H1N1, not sure) have occurred in pregnant women, while they only make up 1% of the population, which is why they're a priority.  Apparently most complications occur in third trimester pregnancies.  They don't know why.

[Heather3418]

2009 H1N1 Vaccination Recommendations
With the new H1N1 virus continuing to cause illness, hospitalizations and deaths in the US during the normally flu-free summer months and some uncertainty about what the upcoming flu season might bring, CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has taken an important step in preparations for a voluntary 2009 H1N1 vaccination effort to counter a possibly severe upcoming flu season. On July 29, ACIP met to consider who should receive 2009 H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available.

2009 H1N1 Vaccine
Every flu season has the potential to cause a lot of illness, doctor’s visits, hospitalizations and deaths.  CDC is concerned that the new H1N1 flu virus could result in a particularly severe 2009-2010 flu season.  Vaccines are the best tool we have to prevent influenza.  CDC hopes that people will start to go out and get vaccinated against seasonal influenza as soon as vaccines become available at their doctor’s offices and in their communities (this may be as early as August for some).  The seasonal flu vaccine is unlikely to provide protection against 2009 H1N1 influenza.  However a 2009 H1N1 vaccine is currently in production and may be ready for the public in the fall. The 2009 H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine – it is intended to be used along-side seasonal flu vaccine.  

CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a panel made up of medical and public health experts, met July 29, 2009, to make recommendations on who should receive the new H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available.  While some issues are still unknown, such as how severe the flu season, the ACIP considered several factors, including current disease patterns, populations most at-risk for severe illness based on current trends in illness, hospitalizations and deaths, how much vaccine is expected to be available, and the timing of vaccine availability.

The groups recommended to receive the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine include:

•Pregnant women because they are at higher risk of complications and can potentially provide protection to infants who cannot be vaccinated;
•Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age because younger infants are at higher risk of influenza-related complications and cannot be vaccinated. Vaccination of those in close contact with infants younger than 6 months old might help protect infants by “cocooning” them from the virus;
•Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel because infections among healthcare workers have been reported and this can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients. Also, increased absenteeism in this population could reduce healthcare system capacity;
•All people from 6 months through 24 years of age
◦Children from 6 months through 18 years of age because cases of 2009 H1N1 influenza have been seen in children who are in close contact with each other in school and day care settings, which increases the likelihood of disease spread, and
◦Young adults 19 through 24 years of age because many cases of 2009 H1N1 influenza have been seen in these healthy young adults and they often live, work, and study in close proximity, and they are a frequently mobile population; and,
•Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.
No shortage of 2009 H1N1 vaccine is expected, but vaccine availability and demand can be unpredictable and there is some possibility that initially, the vaccine will be available in limited quantities.  So, the ACIP also made recommendations regarding which people within the groups listed above should be prioritized if the vaccine is initially available in extremely limited quantities. For more information see the CDC press release CDC Advisors Make Recommendations for Use of Vaccine Against 2009 H1N1.  

Once the demand for vaccine for the prioritized groups has been met at the local level, programs and providers should also begin vaccinating everyone from the ages of 25 through 64 years. Current studies indicate that the risk for infection among persons age 65 or older is less than the risk for younger age groups. However, once vaccine demand among younger age groups has been met, programs and providers should offer vaccination to people 65 or older.

[Schtroumpfette]

Interesting thread.

I am 23 weeks pregnant (with a two-year old son) and have been wondering about what to do.  I haven't done much research yet, but from the little that I have read I am leaning towards not getting it.  

I would say that I am normally healthy and strong and manage to avoid, or easily fight off bugs.  I've never had a flu shot (it's only really recommended for the elderly here); last time I had the flu was as a teenager.  BUT I have felt quite run down throughout this pregnancy and don't feel as tough as a I normally would and I think I will have more difficulty this year avoiding (and getting over) the millions of bugs that are passed around at work, including the regular flu and H1N1 if it becomes a problem.

What sorts of natural remedies/vitamins are you all taking to boost your immune system??  And what do you give your kids?

[dainsey]

Just to share an article with you...yes some of the pregnant women who died from the swine flu had underlying conditions, but some did not and were healthy.  I know you feel the way you do and that is 100% fine and I would NEVER try to convince you to get a vaccine that you didn't feel comfortable with.  We all do the best job we can in making choices that we feel will protect us and our children.   Here is the exact quote from the article yet I'm also attaching it for you.  Remember, I am not sharing any info on here in hopes of convincing or changing anyones mind.  I wouldn't ever bash anyone for a choice that is different than mine either and I sure wouldn't make any of the girls on here feel that they were not being a good mom if their decision was different than mine.  (and to clarify I'm not saying you're doing this either :-)

"Some infected pregnant women have other health problems. Trunnell, for example, also had asthma and the skin condition psoriasis. But many of the pregnant women who died were considered relatively healthy, suggesting pregnancy itself is a significant risk, Jamieson said. "
http://kdka.com/national/swine.flu.pregnancy.2.1105588.html

[dainsey]

Nope, this girl didn't have 1 single underlying condition.  The only thing going on is she was pregnant.  I doubt you know her...it's on of my good friends from work.  She didn't make the news :-)  My OB said you can be the healthiest pregnant person yet due to being pregnant your immune system is already compromsied so I'm not taking any chance.  I'm getting the shot and that is something I personally chose for myself.  I'm not telling anyone else to get it or that not getting it is wrong.  There are risks both ways..and yes I've done hours of reasearch on this.  

[Alba333]

In response to your last post, first of all no one is accusing you of any such a thing!  Why are you taking it so personally!!!  SOME moms out there take the (FDA'S) word for it  (for example) or other practitioner's word for it without doing some research personally on vaccines, since we're on the subject.   I wouldn't dare  not to do some of my own research before I stick any thing into my child!!!! Not all of us are so careful!!!   As for being involved in the healthcare field for 13 years that's great, then you must very well now how safe or unsafe it is to have a live flu virus around you!  According to what jenstam was referring to about the nasal mist I sure wouldn't be using it if I were pregnant!  No..... we should not worry about your decisions, we have our own families to worry about keeping them safe and not depending on others do our decision making for us,  but we can't help but care about one another on this site and want the best for our member's children as well, we're all in this together!  Remember!   Bless You

[Quinns momma]

Thanks for the concern ladies but I work in the healthcare field for the past 13 years.Do any of you????  I am WELL AWARE of the risks.
Do not accuse me of not doing the research. I will not put my children or myself in a risky situation.   Why would anyone be stressed out over my decisions. Worry about your own families.