Do we get a different flu shot than no PG's?

LovieBear · September 2011

I went to wallgreens with my Dr's perscription. I asked for the pregancy flu shot - I heard there as a perservative free one for Pregnant women.... but they said they only had the regular one. I decided to hold off.
Are we supposed to get a special shot or just the regular one?

KrisM86 · September 2011

I'd ask your OB. I have heard varying opinions about this. According to my MW, it's perfectly fine to get the regular flu shot, so that is what I am doing.

wilsontl19191 · September 2011

My general practitioner gave me the preservative free shot.

Brie2006 · September 2011

I got mine at my OB's office and it was perservative free. I would ask your doctor for his or her thoughts.

Ariana2O11 · September 2011

I was advised by my OB to get only the preservative free kind. I don't know if you have a CVS store/pharmacy near you, but they have it.

kat72883 · September 2011

I would get the preservative free. I don't know that it matters, but that's what I did. And seconded, CVS has it.

jeannkerricotober09 · September 2011

You were smart to hold off. Call your practitioner and ask their advice. I am not getting the flu vaccine. My practitioner specifically told me not to get it while pregnant. I plan to get it after the baby is born and pass the antibodies to the baby through breast milk.

I am going to preface this next part by saying I am not advocating for you one way or the other, just giving you the info I received. I am an advocate on making informed decisions WITH your practitioner.

Here is an excerpt from the flu vaccine insert, depending on which one you get:

8.1 Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category B

A reproductive and developmental toxicity study has been performed in female rats at a dose approximately 56 times the human dose (on a mg/kg basis) and revealed no evidence of impaired female fertility or harm to the fetus due to FLUARIX. There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, FLUARIX should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

8.1. Pregnancy

Fluzone and Fluzone High-Dose

Pregnancy Category C: Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Fluzone or Fluzone High-Dose. It is also not known whether Fluzone or Fluzone High-Dose can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Fluzone or Fluzone High-Dose should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

ceelee4 · September 2011

Interesting..... I was just at the OB and asked if I should wait until after the baby is born. I'm 37 weeks and 2 days pg. She said, "NO! Go now!" So I went to CVS. I asked if it was thimerisol free. The nurse said she was giving me the preservative/latex free one that they give to kids. She said the other one is safe but since they have it she'd give me that. My doc feels it is more dangerous for me or the baby to get the flu. 2 years ago they had some pregnant women hospitalized due to complications. I think we need to be informed AND work with our doctors. I'm glad I asked mine at my weekly appt.

FabulousMrs.P · September 2011

I got the preservative free flu shot at CVS. That is what both my doctor and the pharmacist suggested.

spedi · September 2011

I asked about it at my weekly appointment last week. Asked the nurse and she didn't have an answer, she said to ask the dr. After she left another tech came in with the syringe. She said the dr said DO IT TODAY! I'm high risk/baby is high risk...so if he is in the hospital a while, hopefully, this will stave off some of the bad ju ju germs!

jbean2011 · September 2011

I agree that this is one of those things where different providers will have different answers. My regular OB said to get a flu shot, but didn't say anything about it being preservative-free. I asked the baby's future pediatrician when we met with her, since I had just read about preservative-free shots that day. She stated that option wasn't necessary in her opinion, and gave me a couple reasons why. Finally, I asked another OB in the practice last week to triple check before I got one. She said yes, but to make sure it was preservative-free. I'd pretty much decided on the preservative-free shot anyway, since I figured if it's an option, why not?

My Walgreens did have the preservative-free shot, and said it was standard to give that to pregnant people, but again, I think this varies by store. Yours might have been out of them, or had a different policy. It might be worth calling around if you have more than one Walgreens in your area, or a CVS, Target Clinic, etc.

renogaw · September 2011

My OB couldn't give me the flu shot because apparently half of the doses their main office received 2 weeks ago had the preservative. She said it isn't actually a problem but they don't like to have that discussion with every pregnant woman so they sent them back and were waiting for the preservative free ones. I ended up going to CVS that afternoon and the woman there gave me the preservative free one and told me that's what they normally give to pregnant women. I would have gotten it either way, tbh, because I'm nervous that the baby might come before I'm fully immune since that takes 2 weeks and I only have 3 until my EDD. I thought waiting to get it at my OB's office next week would be cutting it too close.