H1N1 vaccine

gallerygirl

Have you heard? Pregnant women are among the first they want vaccinated this fall for the H1N1 flu- this is in addition to the regular flu shot. I have never taken a flu shot because I really don't like the idea of getting injected with chicken dander and illness. I have never gotten it.

I am hesitant to take this one either- they have no idea how this shot will affect my baby in the short or long term. I asked my DR at my last appointment and she did not an answer yet, we are going to discuss again at my next appointment.

What are your thoughts? Will you get it?

mrs.amandamm

I haven't decided... I always get the flu shot because I have asthma, so it would be really bad if I got the flu... so I am fine getting the regular flu shot.

I am leary about the H1N1 because it is so new... and I feel like it was pushed through.... I would be more apt to get it myself, but being pregnant, I am not all that comfortable...

MrsGhappilyeverafter

I'm really not sure about it.  I'm very concerned about the possible side effects of the vaccine.  I have an OB appointment on Tuesday and I plan to ask about it. 

Babs022

I have never even gotten the regular flu shot, so I am really not sure if I want this one.

Anna&Matt

I will not get it because I'm allergic to the chicken byproducts they use as fillers in flu vaccines (and several other vaccines for that matter). My doctor and I discussed and said the risk of me going into shock like last time was far greater than the risk of anything negative happening as a result of getting swine flu.

crysbena

I'm wondering about this too.  I've also never ever had the flu shot and I've never had an issue with the flu.  I'm sure I've had colds in my day but nothing major.  This kinda scares me because DH is exposed to a lot of people with kids in a small contained working area and he said everyone is sick and he's so upset that they won't go home.  I make him shower and scrub as soon as he gets home.

I keep wondering about effects to the baby since you know they have not extensively studied this.  I kind of don't want to get it but I think I'll probably talk with my dr.  I'm on the fence for now.

steve&heather

They are fast tracking the testing of the vaccine, but the actual vaccine will not be available until closer to fall (probably October). Pregnant women, kids from 6mos-24mos and those people who'll be around kids under 6mos are all at the top of the list.

My husband and DD will get the vaccine, I would rather them be protected than not.

I am talking to my ob about this on Monday because I'm probably going to BF (I say probably b/c you never know what your supply will be) this baby and I don't know how it'll affect him. I want to get it though. 

Lanette

I'm on this fence with this one. On one hand, like you said, they haven't tested the vaccine so we don't know how it will affect our LO. On the other hand if I were to end up getting the swine flu it could be detrimental to both the baby & I. Our next Dr appts are on Aug 11 and we'll def discuss this with both our OB & the perinatal specialist. Then, both DH & I will try to make the best decision for us with the information we have.

mbss

I chatted with my doc, she says get it. Even though I've never even had a regular flu shot she wasn't daunted in the least and said Dr's orders (she was kidding a little but she has to say that with me to get me to really take her seriously). I trust her and will do it.

  That said, my coworker had never had a flu shot and her doc said do what you're comfortable with. I'm comfortable following dr.'s orders but I could certainly see going the other way.

pollykinz

I guess growing up in a medical family I'm not as suspicious of medicine as some people are. If the doctors say I'm safer getting the vaccine than not getting it, then I will get it. I got the regular flu shot for the first time last fall and it was the only year I didn't get sick even once the whole winter. I had no s/e from the shot, so I don't see why I would from the swine flu vaccine either. If they are giving to people, trust me, they have done tests on it. They cannot give out medications that haven't been tested. I realize with it being a new vaccine it's a little scarier, but I trust that my doctor would not advise me to do something that could harm my baby. It seems that there is more risk to my baby from getting the swine flu than from a vaccine. But that's just my opinion.

RJHarmon

I am getting it, but I will have had the baby already at this point.  New moms are on the early list too because of the infant interaction.  I would rather be safe then sorry.

VanessaRae9608

I may just get the regular flu shot...as you all know I already had the H1N1 virus and it really wasn't that bad and my doctor said I should have SOME immunity to it now since I had the disease.

I always get the regular flu shot just because I work in healthcare and my job requires it or you need a doctor's note to approve you not to have it for health reasons.

smallfry4

I will probably get the regular flu shot because I normally do and I'm a teacher, so I am constantly around sick kids.

As far as H1N1, I probably won't.  I don't know if you know, but there was a similar outbreak of swine flu in 1976.  The government recommended that everyone get the vaccine.  The vaccine actually ended up killing 300 ppl and harming over 4,000.  And then it turned out that only one person who ended up getting swine flu actually died from it.

see this link if you are interested in the story.  Watch the video. https://www.examiner.com/x-6495-US-Intelligence-Examiner~y2009m7d10-CBS-60-Minutes-300-death-claims-from-1976-swine-flu-vaccine-only-one-death-from-flu

HisKathy

If I don't get a flu shot, I get the flu - simple as that.

I'll definitely get the flu shot and the H1N1 if they're separate.  I also work in a hospital so I have to get it..but like I said, I would anyway.  I've seen quite a few babies die in the hospital from the flu so there is no way I'm putting my baby at risk because of irrational fears.  The H1N1 vaccine I would imagine has been manufactured the same way as the regular flu vaccine so as long as you don't have reactions to that, you should be fine with this one.

As far as the vaccine from 1976...it's been a very long time since then and a lot has changed in manufacturing so that information doesn't apply to today.

Rossi17

I've gotten a flu shot every year because I work in a school, and I used to get the flu (without fail) every Christmas vacation before I started getting it. I think I will get the H1N1 flu shot if it is available. This is not a new virus, (the Spanish flu and a few others were H1N1) and I think the risk/benefit factor is worth it. I have read that if you get the flu shot, your baby is protected for the first 6 months of life as well.

sheremy

I'm with you. I have never gotten a flu shot because I also feel that it is weird to inject yourself with the virus itself. A lot of people I know get sick with the flu after receiving the flu shot so I don't know why anyone would want to do that to themselves. I can understand getting one if you have a suppressed immune system or are prone to illness, but i'm not and haven't had a case of the flu in years. With the swine flu i know they say that pregnant women are more at risk of death from it, but I just worry about the long term affects it will have on me and the baby, afterall it's a brand new vaccine that won't have been studied for more than a very short about of time. I think i'm going to try to avoid it at all costs. I was going to talk to my doctor about it at my next appointment later this month.

jen-dale

I do get the regular flu shot and had planned on getting one this year. I am scared about the H1N1 shot since they don't really know what it could do to the baby. I will definately be asking my OB at my next appt what he thinks. I am really afraid to contract this during pregnancy as I have heard how bad it is and sometimes they had to take the babies way early and they didn't survive. that is terrifying.

I am guessing this is where the benefits outweigh the risks. I don't think the FDA would put pregnany women at the top of the list for those to get the shot first if they had concerns about what it would do to the babies. We'll see what the OB says.