Considering NOT getting flu vaccination.

singhanna · September 2011

This is my first post and I'm excited to learn a bit more from all you ladies! I have not had a flu vaccination since 2004 and have not had the flu since I was in college. I think of myself as pretty healthy and take precautions not to get sick. I'm not crazy with the hand sanitizer but I do wash my hands religiously!

Here's the question - I know my doctor and the general health community recommends that pregnant women get vaccinated against the flu BUT NONE of the flu vacs have been tested on pregnant women. Only 1-2 of the 6 available have been tested on pregnant mice but no long term studies exist about the risks. Also, it is NOT recommended for nursing moms.

Any thoughts? Anyone else NOT getting the vaccine?

Pacheco825 · September 2011

Being healthy doesn't really mean anything. When you are pregnant you have a lower immune system.

That being said, I will not be getting it either.

MrsLeanna · September 2011

Here were MY reasons for doing it and I was very much like you, I had never had it and am not one to get sick.

Immune system during pregnancy is suppressed so you're more susceptible to the flu.

My OB told me every year she has a few patients in ICU and some who deliver early from flu complications.

The baby will receive some of the immunity.

I have a 3.5 year old in school who could very likely bring home a flu virus (I got her the vax also)

I know a lot of pregnant women who have gotten it and have had no complications.

I basically weighed the pros and cons and felt that it was worth it to get the vax because the consequences could be very bad if I didn't and I would just feel SO guilty if I got sick and had something bad happen knowing I could have prevented it.

DEBBIE33CASEY · September 2011

you picked a pretty controversial topic for your first post Big Smile

Considering being pregnant puts you at a much higher risk of catching the flu I will be getting it, as I did with my last pregnancy. And since LO won't be able to be vaccinated (6 months is the youngest) I want him to be covered through the flu season. Even if you (or others) don't have symptoms you could still pass the flu to others. So even though we practice good hand hygiene at my home and work, I don't trust that everyone else (store personnel, daycare, anyone that visits, others at church) will be vaccinated and not be able to get him sick. Even if they don't appear to be sick they could pass the flu to my NB. And considering the immature immune system of newborns and the number of infants that die each year from the flu, I'm much more comfortable getting it while pregnant than taking any other chances.

Good luck with your decision!

singhanna · September 2011

Thanks ladies - I guess I'm pretty fearful more about what this might cause in my baby's development - i.e. autism or other unfound/ untested consequences. It's just scary and I thank you for the insight!

I think I need to decide by mid-October.

MrsLeanna · September 2011

singhanna:
Thanks ladies - I guess I'm pretty fearful more about what this might cause in my baby's development - i.e. autism or other unfound/ untested consequences. It's just scary and I thank you for the insight!
I think I need to decide by mid-October.

There is NO link at all between any vax and autism. If you decide to do it, get the preservative free one.

BabyLuvBug4 · September 2011

My high risk ob is insisting I get one. She says she has seen one too many pregnant ladies hospitalized and its not worth the risk to you and baby. That being said..I am getting one tomorrow.

moleson99 · September 2011

My OB hasn't pressed the issue (next appt is 10/10, so I'm sure it'll come up at that one.) However, I'm not going to get it.

First of all, there are only so many strains that they put within the vaccine. second, I've had it in the past and there have been times when it makes me sick. There have also been times when I've gotten the flu anyway. (probably different strain than what was in the vaccine.) Knowing that i've gotten sick (reaction or whatever it is) in the past from the vaccine, I don't want to risk having that happen again.

MrsKa08 · September 2011

I talked about it with my OB at my last appt and she was very insistant on it. She basically said that the flu can be deadly during pregnancy and the fact that we are delivering in January which can still be the height of flu season, I definetly needed to get the shot. I also have never had the shot before as I hardly ever get the flu, but just hearing the words "deadly while pregnant" was enough to convince me. My husband's job makes it manditory for him to get the shot, and it's free from my office, so I have no real reason to not get the shot. Good luck with your decision though!

JackieMac824 · September 2011

I am not getting the flu vaccine - I got it last time I was pregnant in 2009 and I ended up getting sick and then a week later miscarried the baby - I know the miscarriage was not related to the shot - but I am not taking any chances this time. Plus like you I wash my hands all the time and I am not in a work siutation where I come in contact with alot of people. Before 2009 I never had the flu shot and I never got sick - I did not get it last year and I was fine. Plus they only put a few strains of the flu in the shot - so you could still end up getting another strain of the flu.

F&G777 · September 2011

I'm not getting it....I didn't get it with DD either - I don't get it when I am NOT pregnant, I'm not going to subject my unborn fetus to (antifreeze & formaldehyde - both in the vaccine) - plus it only 'protects' you from a few strains of the flu (there are hundreds of strains) - I just don't believe in it...just my opinion.

aprilbridezilla19 · September 2011

I will most likely get it at my next appointment, my ob didn't say anything about it last time, I'm assuming because it wasn't the height of flu season. The majority of my IL's are teachers with DH included, so that means they're around the germy children and can carry it but may not have any symptoms, and no matter how much hand washing, etc, involved, I know they can pass the flu onto the baby or me within the next couple of months.

Mrs.MauiBride24 · September 2011

OB offices typically get the preservative free flu shot (not available to just anyone) so I would definitely recommend getting it from your OB vs. grocery store, pharmacy, work, etc. Although the preservatives they use have never been proven to be harmful to anyone.

I work in healthcare + pregnancy = I already got mine. Flu season starts Oct. 1.

And the no flu shot while nursing is not true. You can get the flu shot while pg or breastfeeding.

MAMAxB · September 2011

F&G777:
I'm not getting it....I didn't get it with DD either - I don't get it when I am NOT pregnant, I'm not going to subject my unborn fetus to (antifreeze & formaldehyde - both in the vaccine) - plus it only 'protects' you from a few strains of the flu (there are hundreds of strains) - I just don't believe in it...just my opinion.

All of this.

Also OP - if you scroll through a few pages there are about 40 other posts about the flu/other vaccines.

chigirlinaz · September 2011

I wasn't going to bother to respond to this but I'm sorry, the argument that it "only contains some of the flu strains" is NOT a valid reason to forgo the shot completely. Just because it isn't a 100% guarantee that you won't get the flu doesn't mean that it isn't a good idea to get it. Case in point: My DH is a cop, he wears his bulletproof vest everyday. Even though it won't protect him against a gunshot wound to the head, that doesn't mean he shouldn't wear it to protect him from being shot in the chest. Some protection is better than no protection at all.

Liz1485 · September 2011

MrsLeanna:

Here were MY reasons for doing it and I was very much like you, I had never had it and am not one to get sick.

Immune system during pregnancy is suppressed so you're more susceptible to the flu.

My OB told me every year she has a few patients in ICU and some who deliver early from flu complications.

The baby will receive some of the immunity.

I have a 3.5 year old in school who could very likely bring home a flu virus (I got her the vax also)

I know a lot of pregnant women who have gotten it and have had no complications.

I basically weighed the pros and cons and felt that it was worth it to get the vax because the consequences could be very bad if I didn't and I would just feel SO guilty if I got sick and had something bad happen knowing I could have prevented it.

I'm lurking but just want to say I haven't gotten it since I was young but I will be getting it this year. It's unpleasant and it doesn't protect against all strains, but it's not for me, it's for the baby. I'd rather protect him as much as I can instead of risk him having to go to the hospital because I didn't feel like getting a flu shot.

MrsKujawski · September 2011

chigirlinaz:
I wasn't going to bother to respond to this but I'm sorry, the argument that it "only contains some of the flu strains" is NOT a valid reason to forgo the shot completely. Just because it isn't a 100% guarantee that you won't get the flu doesn't mean that it isn't a good idea to get it. Case in point: My DH is a cop, he wears his bulletproof vest everyday. Even though it won't protect him against a gunshot wound to the head, that doesn't mean he shouldn't wear it to protect him from being shot in the chest. Some protection is better than no protection at all.

All this. I got mine. I would rather have some protection for myself and my LO than none at all.

Kim-n-Eric · September 2011

I'm severely allergic to eggs and since the vaccine is incubated in eggs, I can't get it and never have. Knock on wood, I haven't had the flu since I was a kid.

mjay79 · September 2011

Not getting it.:)

Andreaw1124 · September 2011

I can?t get my soon enough. If you ever are unfortunate enough to watch somebody close to you suffer from a strain of Iinfluenza?you would never ever ever forgo the opportunity to be vaccinated against it. It was a near death experience and SO not cool. I?m talking THE REAL DEAL. OH, and the vaccination is not a LIVE virus. Anyone who has ever become sick after getting the flu vaccination either has a different strain, a much milder case of what they would of or could have had, or something completely unrelated but it cannot and will not make you sick. My #1 reason for getting the vaccination this particular year is my baby. The virus is deadly to infants. Why would you play Russian Roulette with something like this, and even take the chance. The benefits FAR out weight the risk. Also?where did you hear that it is not recommended for nursing mothers? I know that those with compromised immune systems are on the top of the list to get it?so why would a nursing mother be off the list? & yes?nice controversial topic!

summer1117 · September 2011

chigirlinaz:
I wasn't going to bother to respond to this but I'm sorry, the argument that it "only contains some of the flu strains" is NOT a valid reason to forgo the shot completely. Just because it isn't a 100% guarantee that you won't get the flu doesn't mean that it isn't a good idea to get it. Case in point: My DH is a cop, he wears his bulletproof vest everyday. Even though it won't protect him against a gunshot wound to the head, that doesn't mean he shouldn't wear it to protect him from being shot in the chest. Some protection is better than no protection at all.

Yes! The flu shot is re-formulated each year to cover the strains that are most prevalent and the ones you are most likely to get. If you aren't getting the shot because you don't normally get the flu you should think again- like other people mentioned, you are way more susceptible to it pregnant than not and the flu is way more dangerous than anything in the shot for sure. That being said, I will be getting the preservative-free option (single dose or nasal version).

theladyjess · September 2011

I'm considered high risk for the flu because I'm asthmatic and I have an autoimmune disorder. I've never had, nor will I ever get the flu shot. My primary care dr doesn't even ask me if I want it anymore.

My main reason is that I don't always develop an immunity from the vaccine. I found this out the hard way when I had an accidental needle stick when working in peds and had to be tested. My first round of the Hep B vaccine didn't "take" and I had to have it again. I'm still not sure if I developed antibodies to it the second time around because I've never had titers drawn for it. (I'm now thinking I should ask my dr to test my titers...) I don't see the point in having the flu vaccine when I may not develop any antibodies to it.

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