Swine flu vaccine.

[Molliana]

At 9wks, I have just been offered the Swine flu vaccine.  Just wondered what your thoughts are on it?

[tiredbuthappy]

There is a lot of misinformation about the flu shot. To address a few raised here- there is a version that is thimerisol-free, which is what they offer to pregnant and nursing moms in the US. You can also find it for young children. Even if it DID have thimerisol, the one major study that claimed there is a link between thimerisol and autism just retracted the study because they admit it is unfounded.
If this flu shot is being tested on us, then every flu shot is "tested" on us, because the flu shot is new every year to try to target the prevalent strains. This shot was created using the same processes.

Of course, the decision is yours. I urge you to talk to your doctor about any concerns you may have. Ask the questions that some of the previous posters have asked, and I suspect his responses will match what I just shared with you. If you do not trust or believe your doctor, then you should not be going to him and can find a new one. The reasons doctors may "guilt" someone into getting it, is because the risks of the flu to pregnant women and their unborn children are far greater than any risk associated with getting vaccinated. They are doing what they feel is the most responsible thing. As for exposure, if you go to the grocery store, the dr's office, or pretty much anywhere else, you are exposed to illnesses.

Good luck and I hope you have a healthy pregnancy!!

[ammanda]

I myself got it when I was about 26 weeks along, I am now almost 29 weeks and have not had anything bad happen to me.  I was very worried about getting it.  Ive heard bad things about it. I talked to my doctor and he told me not to worry, he has given it to plenty of pregnant woman.  Although the worry will never go away until he is here.  If I had the chance to do it again, I would not.  For me there was no reason to get it, because I never go anywhere, and I haven't heard of anyone around here getting the swine flew.  But my doctor pretty much guilt tripped me into getting it.  

[tarajanes]

There are no true or false statements to the swine flue jab.everyones body is different,,to how they react.the midewife will tell you that symptoms will still occur.although obviously you wont catch it,but its a personal preference if you wish to have it..

[annalc]

Actually, I talked to my kids' pediatrician about them getting the shot. She said that they had this shot in the 70's and it was believed to have caused Guillain-Barre Syndrome but they have been working with and changing it since then and it is no longer believed to cause the disease. She herself got the shot as well as many other people (pregnant and non). It is of course up to you to decide what you are ultimately comfortable with, but I don't want you to be clouded by false statements. It isn't a new shot that they developed in a couple of days and has never been tested. Talk to your doctor about it.

[30something13]

I would not get it. THis is the first vaccine that was not tested and also Obama signed somethign that if somethign were to happen to you becasue of it then you can not sue. THis is the first time they ahve ever alowed this.

It has high doses of thermosil which other countries do not use since the late 70's as it is more deadly then murcury and weighs 46.4 percent of it. It has been known in studies in other countries to cause Autism and many other serious things. As you are in the first trimester your babies brain is developing so fast right now that I just would not do it. The products go straight to the cerebrail and two other parts of the brain that aren't absorbed by the body right away.

The US states that no meds can be tested on children or pregnant woman but this is being tested on us becasue thye plain just did not test it to begin with.

WHere I live tomany people got sick from the shot and spray (hundreds in my small community) as apposed to one little girl that got the swone flu and had less reaction. She was very sick and had gotten it from a hospital outside our area she travels to often and her immune system is very weak. So all those hundreds got sick from it not the flu itself and about 87% where in the hospital! The hospitals here did not giv eit to their emplyees after the first one they gave it to more then 80% were out from being sick from it. That was most of the hundreds by the way so the other hospital chains did not do it and were fine. I would not get it!

[annalc]

You shouldn't have the symptoms unless you have the the nasal sprayer vaccine because it is a weakened live virus. I don't think that your doctor would want to give you this since you are prego. The shot version is a killed virus and shouldn't cause you to have the symptoms of the flu.
They recommend that ALL pregnant women get it since it can be deadly for pregnant women. Flu season doesn't end until late April or May.
The best idea is to get the opinion of your doctor. Good luck with your pregnancy!

[tarajanes]

Here in the uk,we are all offered the swine flu vac,since there was a major out break here.in all honestly there isnt any proof if it actually works.I had one done as well as flu jab.
worst thing about is although you wont catch it,you will still have the symptoms.
its up to the indivisual if she has it.