I've avoided the flu vaccine for over 10 years. Mostly because the strain of influenza they produce for the year is an educated guess as to what is going to be the/a predominate strain that year. I also tend to get somewhat ill after most vaccinations. During this time I actually worked in a busy hospital ER doing documentation for ER physicians and saw patients to get their medical/social/surgical history by myself and to update them on their progress in testing being done in the ER. On any given shift we'd see between 12-30 patients and not once did I get the flu. I refused the vaccination every year and had to sign a release to "opt out." However, I just got my first one a week back because of this pregnancy. My hospital's policy is not to give pregnant women the "flu mist" since it is a live attenuated virus and that we should get what the nurse told me was a "baby dose." No side effects at all this time--not even a sore arm at the site of injection. I understand that there are very diverse views on getting these vaccinations but in the end my main reasoning was why would I put my little girl at risk of illness or worse just because I have had prior bad experiences (nothing major--that's a whole different concern for others)?? Also got the tDap @ 28 weeks and that went fine as well. My whole family is luckily not opposed to vaccinations and I let them know awhile ago that if they want the LO around on Christmas Day I would only feel comfortable if my entire family had received both vaccinations [(luckily we are talking 5 people on my mom's side and 6 people on DH's side) not including us]. Nearly everyone has already been vaccinated and was completely on board.
I got my very first flu shot ever at my 28 week appointment. Generally, I am anti flu shot, but the doc said that being pregnant with the flu is miserable! I don't ever want another one (unless I am pregnant) because it made my arm red, itchy, swollen and sore for two days. Waaaah
Re: Flu shot for before your December birth??
During this time I actually worked in a busy hospital ER doing documentation for ER physicians and saw patients to get their medical/social/surgical history by myself and to update them on their progress in testing being done in the ER. On any given shift we'd see between 12-30 patients and not once did I get the flu. I refused the vaccination every year and had to sign a release to "opt out."
However, I just got my first one a week back because of this pregnancy. My hospital's policy is not to give pregnant women the "flu mist" since it is a live attenuated virus and that we should get what the nurse told me was a "baby dose." No side effects at all this time--not even a sore arm at the site of injection.
I understand that there are very diverse views on getting these vaccinations but in the end my main reasoning was why would I put my little girl at risk of illness or worse just because I have had prior bad experiences (nothing major--that's a whole different concern for others)?? Also got the tDap @ 28 weeks and that went fine as well. My whole family is luckily not opposed to vaccinations and I let them know awhile ago that if they want the LO around on Christmas Day I would only feel comfortable if my entire family had received both vaccinations [(luckily we are talking 5 people on my mom's side and 6 people on DH's side) not including us]. Nearly everyone has already been vaccinated and was completely on board.