vaccines?

princess_mer · August 2012

So I keep hearing about getting the pretussis vaccine, and the importance of getting family to get the vaccine. How do you go about convincing them to get it? Is it expensive without insurance?

Also I was wondering if any of you got the flu shot. My doc brought it up to me at my last appointment, and I guess it's a good idea but I have never had one so it never crossed my mind. What do you think?

lovebug33 · August 2012

Our insurance wouldn't cover it. The vaccine clinic gave DH 20 dollars off because he is a teacher. It was 70 dollars. The doc said they'd give it to me in the hospital and insurance might cover it as an emergency.

pb_bride · August 2012

I already had my TDaP (pertussis vaccine) back in 2009. I got it when I was due for my 10-year tetanus shot.

DH got his TDaP last week at his PCP office. He called and told the office what he needed. No co-pay ; he was in and out in under 2 minutes. [I did ask our insurance company beforehand and they confirmed the TDaP is covered as long as it's administered by PCP office.]

We have asked my ILs to get TDaPs. Haven't followed up with them yet if they had gotten them.

My parents were just visiting us the last few days, so I brought it up with them. It went well with them and they said they'll ask for their TDaPs when they go in for regular check-up in October.

I used to be a health care worker so I got a flu shot every year for over a decade. Never had a bad side effect. My grad school roommate is an infectious disease specialist now and she says I absolutely should get a flu shot this year, which I will when it's available. DH & my parents will get theirs as well. Not sure about ILs.

verybusymomto4 · August 2012

Nope, I am not getting one, never had the flu shot either. You really do not know exactly what is in those stupid shots.

persephonerose · August 2012

Mostly everyone we needed to get one had it covered by insurance, especially since it is part of the tetanus booster. However, a few people went to CVS and were able to get it for about 60.00.

As far as convincing people to get it, I really just felt that it was not an option. If they want to hold or be around the baby during the first year of his life they have to have the shot.

I will get the flu shot, I get it every year because my immune system is considered compromised due to the normal medications I have to take when not pregnant.

Really it is up to you to determine how strongly you feel about the pertussis vaccine and how much you want to force the issue with family.

jennygirlmt · August 2012

I got mine in the hospital and DH was given his at our Pediatrician's office at DD's first appt (I think we paid $30, it probably would have just been a copay at his doc but we were already at the pedi's and they stuck him right there.) My inlaws also got it with DD1, on their own accord since MIL watches DD frequently.

I just sent out an email to my family asking them to get it and they were all extremely receptive (I also said I wouldn't let them near DD if I heard them coughing). Everyone in my family has insurance so I assume it will be somewhere between $10-$30 for them. I couldn't find any information on cost without insurance.

I also have been getting my flu shot at work for the past 7 years because they do it for free and it consists of walking to the conference room. Now that I'll be home with DD2 I'm not sure when I'll get the flu, maybe they'll give that to me during my admittance for delivery, that would be nice. Because I've never actually been to my GP.

christyhal · August 2012

I got mine at the OB two weeks ago, and they submitted it for insurance. DH went to the pharmacy to get it last weekend and had to pay (I think it was like $70) - but we are on the same insurance, so now I have to call them and find out what's up. I'm hoping I can just submit a claim myself for his shot.

My mom (coming to visit after LO arrives) and my in-laws (visiting at Christmas) got theirs last week also. We live in a high-outbreak area and it was recommended by our pedi, and that was good enough reasoning for them to go get it.

I'm not allowed to get the flu shot anymore, I got it once in college and had a weird reaction to it, so I'm banned.

blondie42107 · August 2012

I got the Tdap when I was in the hospital after having LO #1 (about 2 years ago). DH got his when he ended up in the ER for stitches so they gave it to him then.

I get a flu shot every year because of the field of work I'm in. I'll actually get mine in a couple weeks (paid for by my employer).

KorieAngela · August 2012

I would highly recommend you do your research on vaccines and their ingredients before you go forcing family to put those drugs in their bodies.

SBmomma · August 2012

Have never gotten the flu shot before & not about to start now. Everyone that I know that has gotten the flu shot has ended up sick afterwards.

signarvi · August 2012

So far we've asked my family (since they're out of town and stay in our home) to get the whooping cough vaccine. They live in CT, and got their shots free from their local health department since they are going to be family of a newborn. Whooping cough in a tiny baby scares the hell out of me. DH and I have had the flu vaccine for the past few years, it has never made us sick and we haven't had a bad case of flu in our house. We'll all be getting the flu vaccine but I'm not asking all of our family to get it, if they're visibly sick then they can stay away until their better.

IAM3Bs · August 2012

DH and I got our flu shots last year at Walgreens and were told insurance didn't cover them at Walgreens, so we paid $24 each because neither of us wanted to go sit in a waiting room full of sick people for an hour at my doctor's office. But then I went to the BCBS (my insurance) website and printed out a reimbursement form (Same form you'd use if you had to go to a provider out of town, or go to an emergency clinic that didn't accept your insurance) - and voila! within 2 weeks, I got a check in the mail for all but $2 of the vaccine costs. So even if you pay full price at the drugstore or clinic, your insurance very well may have a provision to cover it as 'preventative care.'

And I am definitely side-eying a couple of you posters... The flu shot does NOT give you the flu- and personally, I'd rather "shove a couple of chemicals in my body and the body of my family" if it means protecting our little one from contracting an awful and potentially fatal disease. Especially if I lived in a high outbreak area- people have been getting TdAP shots for ages- if you've been to the ER and gotten stitches within the past 5 years, you've gotten it. /end rant Confused

verybusymomto4 · August 2012

LoveLossHopeRepeat:
verybusymomto4:
Nope, I am not getting one, never had the flu shot either. You really do not know exactly what is in those stupid shots.
I think my eyes just rolled themselves across the floor.
OP: I called my PCP about having the pertussis booster and they confirmed that I had it in 2009. My husband is going to call his primary tomorrow about having it administered. I have no idea if it will be covered by insurance or not, but I would hope. I guess we'll find out after talking to his PCP tomorrow.

REALLY??

verybusymomto4 · August 2012

LoveLossHopeRepeat:
verybusymomto4:
Nope, I am not getting one, never had the flu shot either. You really do not know exactly what is in those stupid shots.
I think my eyes just rolled themselves across the floor.
OP: I called my PCP about having the pertussis booster and they confirmed that I had it in 2009. My husband is going to call his primary tomorrow about having it administered. I have no idea if it will be covered by insurance or not, but I would hope. I guess we'll find out after talking to his PCP tomorrow.

Really?? Hope you find your eyes then. Sorry, most of us like to do our research before we shoot ourselves and our kids up with a bunch of crap that is really not needed. Guess you would flip out if I told you I told do not get all the shots for my kids either, they got what they needed to start private school and that was yet, now we home school so I have more control. My kids never get sick and all were winter babies, now I am on #4 winter baby, i will follow the way I did with my last. Everyone has the right to do what they feel is best for their family, and sure you may not agree with me, but i do my research and not shooting me and my kids up with crap is what is best for us.

*LrCg* · August 2012

I don't feel that I have any right telling others what to do with their body the only thing I can do is keep my immediate family healthy by taking steps such as eating right, keeping clean, vitamins and getting enough sleep. The only thing I "ask" is that people wash their hands prior to holding the baby- which honeslty I've never had to ask or say anything- its always been done automatically. I myself am not getting the petussis or the flu vaccine (neither is DH). This is our 3rd child and I've always EBF. Personally, I would rather myself get it because then my body is already making anitbodies for the baby. This is our 3rd winter baby and with my first I did get sick (which is rare for me) but my baby never did. Please also understand that some adults don't need the petussis vaccine since they've already been exposed to it. You can get a tier (I know I misspelled this) count to see if this applies to you.

SabreenaEastman · August 2012

I'm personally not getting the pertussis vaccination, nor is the baby, until shes at /least/ 6 months old. Until then, anyone who works with the public or is near them on a daily basis will be required to get the shot to be around her until she is able to handle being sick better. Most of the infants who died were under 6 months of age. Some of them right after the pertussis shot (thank you CDC website). There is also a possible correlation between the shot and SIDS that they are doing more research on for infants under the age of 6 months. But, of course, thats not the majority, thats the minority. however, I know my babys father has adverse reactions to certain vaccinations, so theres a higher chance that my baby will too, and that is why Im choosing to do delayed and selective vaccinations. I was thinking about getting the pertussis vaccination while I was pregnant, but with coming to the conclusion that for my baby and whats best for her that I dont want her to have it until at least 6 months, that I won't until she gets hers, especially since I plan on breastfeeding as well. It just makes sense for my family, personally, to delay or not at all. My midwife and the OBGYN office that I go to do recommend that if any of the girls in my centering class have not had the Tdap in the last couple years (I believe 5 being the most, since the scientific research theyre now finding shows that unfortunately its not lasting as long as 10 years like they hoped) that they do get it in the third trimester as the current research they are doing shows a possibility of the vaccinations being passed on to the child when its born. Nothing concrete as of yet, but good possibility. Also talking to two pediatricians in my area, the rate of pertussis has gone up somewhat dramatically for this area, even though its gone down in my state, within the past year, which is why I did a lot of research and looked up scientific articles and results from CDC, John Hopkins, etc, to see exactly where I stood on that vaccination in general, and when the best time if I did decide to get it for myself, and for my kid, would be. Luckily my doctors recommend the government cited schedules, but understand and encourage talking and discussing options on a case-by-case basis for /all/ vaccinations because the needs for each family are different.

Mine would be 100% covered by my insurance at my midwife office. However, I did call for my mother who may be getting it since she will be around my baby and in her face a lot in those first couple of months, and Walgreens was about $60 and our local health department was about the same for Tdap (everyone around here carries the Boostrix by GlaxoKSmithKline instead of Adacel by Sanofi for some reason, though; havent figured out why yet, but I know that Boostrix is preservative free, at least)

Everyone in my family understands that even if they dont agree with the fact that there are certain measures i will take towards my child, that they will have to respect them. My sister isnt fond of shots and doesnt see a need to get her booster of Tdap but is aware that she will not be in my childs face for the first at least half of her life, even though she can be around her if shes not feeling any type of even slight sickness nor was anyone around her in the last two weeks (my sister is constantly around other children that have a higher chance of carrying the virus).

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