tdap vaccine

megwv3 · August 2014

I was wondering if anyone had any information about the tdap vaccine and if getting while pregnant actually does make a huge difference. The reason I ask is because I got in 2008 for college and became very, very ill afterwards. I had a high fever (103), nausea, chills, body aches, and actually ended up in the hospital. They said it was fine and it was just like a 48 hour flu from the vaccine but this makes me very worried that my body had a negative reaction to the vaccine in some way. I have gotten slight colds from other vaccines but honestly I'm too young to remember much. I asked my OB about this and she said that it won't hurt anything but that she doesn't know too much about adverse effects. I am absolutely going to get it after delivery but wondering if it would be a risk if I did during pregnancy. Any advice?

PaulandPregnantChelsea · August 2014

I have terrible reactions to vaccinations, too. Getting a super high fever when you're pregnant is not ideal, but really this is a personal choice.

There's so much controversy about vaccines, it's unlikely you'll get a straight "do it" or "don't do it" answer - even from health professionals.

I'm in med school and I'm definitely pro-vaccine, but slight adverse reactions (flu like symptoms) are really underreported and not studied well because they're usually just an inconvenience.

Bottom line is you just have to go with your gut and what you will be comfortable with.

portentosa · August 2014

I got my tdap at 33 weeks to give this LO the best possible immunity I can since she can't get her own whooping cough vaccine until 2 months old.... right in the middle of Thanksgiving. For me, giving her the best protection possible outweighed any possible adverse side effects I might have had.

If you got the flu around the same time you got the tdap that was a coincidence. Like PP said, you can't catch a cold from a vaccine and you can't catch the flu from the tdap. A negative reaction that includes a fever is possible... that's why you should talkto a doctor and make a risk/reward decision for yourself.

Some links...
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/side-effects.htm#tdap
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/pregnant/whooping-cough/get-vaccinated.html

thegoodpotato · August 2014

The tdap vaccine isn't given to adults in Canada (at least not in my province). I have no strong feeling about it one way or another, but Health Canada doesn't seem concerned enough to make it part of routine care during pregnancy.

Also, from what I see, you should be fine if you've already had the vaccine as an adult or still have immunity from childhood vaccinations. If you already had the vaccine, there shouldn't be any need to get it again.

portentosa · August 2014

thegoodpotato said:

The tdap vaccine isn't given to adults in Canada (at least not in my province). I have no strong feeling about it one way or another, but Health Canada doesn't seem concerned enough to make it part of routine care during pregnancy.

Also, from what I see, you should be fine if you've already had the vaccine as an adult or still have immunity from childhood vaccinations. If you already had the vaccine, there shouldn't be any need to get it again.

In the US it is recommended to get a tdap booster every 10 years. Immunity declines over time and it is recommended by the CDC that a pregnant mother get a tdap vaccine every pregnancy to boost immunity levels. My hospital gave me the shot upon my discharge when my first was born. I did research and decided to get it while pregnant this time for reasons I already said. I had to ask for it and get it done with my primary care doctor as the hospital discharge route seems to be the routine for my area. There have been several confirmed cases of whooping cough in my area of California recently, so I'm not taking chances.

OP is within the 10 year booster recommendation, but the CDC's site states declining immunity as early as 2 years after the vaccine. https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/about/faqs.html

beccalee721 · August 2014

From what I've been told getting a fever while pregnant doesn't impact the baby at all. Like PP's said, you won't get the flu from a vaccine but a fever is possible. The new standard is to get the vaccine during pregnancy because it is the best way to help your LO's immune system. Whooping cough is becoming too prominent for me to risk even if I did get a fever for 2 days. It's obviously a personal decision, but the cold season starts in many areas in Sept and these little guys and gals have no protection.

megwv3 · August 2014

I'm not saying that the fever would be a bad thing. I'm saying if I'm allergic or have a negative reaction to tdap vaccines. Pregnant women have only been getting tdap while they were pregnant for a very short period of time. I just don't know how I personally will react to it.

BkBaby118 · August 2014

I actually had my 28 week appointment/glucose screen yesterday and asked my OB about both the flu shot and the Tdap/DTaP vaccine. She recommended both and said the best time to do it is in the 3rd trimester but before the last month of pregnancy, so that the antibodies can build up for you and the baby. My husband and I went to CVS yesterday to get flu shots, and my OB said she should have the Tdap in about 2 weeks, so hopefully I'll be able to get that at my next visit, because I don't know how long it's been since my last booster. (See https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/pertussis/tdap-pregnancy-hcp.htm; apologies if this has already been linked.)

It's also recommended that anyone who will be around the baby a lot -- e.g. significant others, grandmothers, nannies, etc. -- should get these as well.

megwv3 · August 2014

Kimbus22 said:

When I was a kid I lived through my brother having whooping cough as a baby. 20 some years later my mom is still traumatized by how horrible and scary it was. Getting the shot in your third trimester will help protect your baby until he/she can get it themselves. Do it. Being sick for a day or two (which I highly doubt will happen since the vaccine did NOT give you the flu, it was just crappy/coincidental timing) is far preferable to your child being terribly ill for weeks or months or losing your baby completely to something that is preventable.

No, I had a reaction to the tdap that was in the form of flu-like symptoms. That was confirmed at the hospital.

babe5218 · August 2014

I got it... other than being sore... oddly very sore... it was a piece of cake... I would rather be safe than sorry .. but to each there own. No flu like syptoms.

portentosa · August 2014

megwv3 said:

Kimbus22 said:

When I was a kid I lived through my brother having whooping cough as a baby. 20 some years later my mom is still traumatized by how horrible and scary it was. Getting the shot in your third trimester will help protect your baby until he/she can get it themselves. Do it. Being sick for a day or two (which I highly doubt will happen since the vaccine did NOT give you the flu, it was just crappy/coincidental timing) is far preferable to your child being terribly ill for weeks or months or losing your baby completely to something that is preventable.

No, I had a reaction to the tdap that was in the form of flu-like symptoms. That was confirmed at the hospital.

I see you edited your OP this morning to say it was just LIKE a 48 hour flu. Your weren't quoted last night, but I remember last night it said that the hospital confirmed it WAS a 48 hour flu.

If that was a typo and it indeed was not the flu that you had but a reaction then talk to your doctor about it. It takes 2 weeks to build up antibodies in your body so while getting the tdap after your LO is born won't provide as much protection as getting it while pregnant it could be an avenue for you due to herd immunity (make sure the rest of your immediate family get a booster) and if you BF you can pass antibodies to baby that way.

Though having a negative reaction to that degree would not be fun right after giving birth, it would be a lot better than your baby possibly being hospitalized or dying because of whooping cough. I do highly recommend it while pregnant though.

Trigger Warning: Infant death mentioned in this link.
https://shotbyshot.org/pertussis/kaliahs-story/

MrsDL · August 2014

megwv3 said:

Kimbus22 said:

When I was a kid I lived through my brother having whooping cough as a baby. 20 some years later my mom is still traumatized by how horrible and scary it was. Getting the shot in your third trimester will help protect your baby until he/she can get it themselves. Do it. Being sick for a day or two (which I highly doubt will happen since the vaccine did NOT give you the flu, it was just crappy/coincidental timing) is far preferable to your child being terribly ill for weeks or months or losing your baby completely to something that is preventable.

No, I had a reaction to the tdap that was in the form of flu-like symptoms. That was confirmed at the hospital.

Flu-like symptoms is NOT the flu - as in influenza. Are you saying you had a confirmed case of influenza by a hospital after the tdap vaccine? If so, that it is HIGHLY coincidental but it was not caused by dtap - there is no influenza virus in that vaccine if you are trying to suggest it gave you the flu.

I'm not saying your symptoms were not severe - but so many people claim that vaccines give them the flu or flu-like symptoms, never having had the flu. Influenza is AWEFUL and minor symptoms people label flu-like (fever, aches, pains) usually pale in comparison to the actual thing. I used to say I felt like I had the flu - until one year I actually got influenza (one lousy year I skipped the vaccine). Flu-ish you feel crappy. Influenza - you feel like death is coming. Just my experience.

To each her own - a few days of discomfort (my arm was very sore for 3 days, just had it last week) or even some flu-like symptoms is not half as scary as a baby under 2 months with pertussis imo.

thegoodpotato · August 2014

sparklegrump said:

The tdap vaccine isn't given to adults in Canada (at least not in my province). I have no strong feeling about it one way or another, but Health Canada doesn't seem concerned enough to make it part of routine care during pregnancy.

Also, from what I see, you should be fine if you've already had the vaccine as an adult or still have immunity from childhood vaccinations. If you already had the vaccine, there shouldn't be any need to get it again.
Nope. You need boostered. Also, in the US it's recommended during pregnancy because it passes some immunity on to the baby. Infants can't have it until they are 2 months old and the first few months after birth are the most deadly time to get whooping cough.

That's really interesting. I actually looked at information on the Public Health Agency of Canada and this is what it says:

***************************

Acellular pertussis-containing vaccine is recommended for:

routine immunization of infants and children, including an adolescent booster dose
immunization of children who missed pertussis immunization on the routine schedule
adults who have not previously received a dose of pertussis-containing vaccine in adulthood

Additionally:

Adults: administer one dose of Tdap vaccine if not previously received in adulthood (18 years of age and older).
Adults of any age, who have not received a dose of Tdap vaccine in adulthood and who are in contact or anticipate contact with infants (e.g., parents, grandparents, childcare providers) should be prioritized for pertussis vaccination.

Further information:

NACI does not recommend a universal program for vaccination of pregnant women given the current epidemiology in Canada.

In special circumstances, such as a regional outbreak situation, immunization with Tdap may be offered to pregnant women (≥26 weeks of gestation) irrespective of their immunization history.

Every effort should be made to administer one dose of pertussis containing vaccine in adulthood. Therefore, one dose of combined diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis containing vaccine (Tdap) can be offered to pregnant women (≥26 weeks of gestation) who have not been previously vaccinated against pertussis in adulthood.

*******************************************

I find it interesting that the standard of care is so different between the two countries.

tbarker14 · August 2014

I'm from Canada and live here, we have the tdap. Its in the same shot most commonly known as the Tetanus shot.

Which the hospital will always administer too anyone who comes in with a cut that is serious enough. Or even to those who can't remember when they had it last. (this is standard all across various of provinces, including the territories)

I had a tdap shot before traveling to Africa. Then when I got bitten by a random dog while protecting my dog. Back home in Canada I was administered the shot again even though my last shot was only 5 years prior to the event. (mind you I also had to get the rabies vaccine - which hurt like heck!)

We are supposed to have it every 10 years.

I have an appointment with the dr and they will be following up on shots for both me and my DH.

Gotta do what's best for our little one. Even though my DH is deadly afraid of needles he's ready for the appointment where he's getting the shot as well! It will be a fun appointment. (yes, I am mean!)

thegoodpotato · August 2014

Ummmmm.... The vaccination for pertussis is not a tetanus shot. I think you're confused on that one....

brittneyandadam · August 2014

tbarker14 said:

I'm from Canada and live here, we have the tdap. Its in the same shot most commonly known as the Tetanus shot. Which the hospital will always administer too anyone who comes in with a cut that is serious enough. Or even to those who can't remember when they had it last. (this is standard all across various of provinces, including the territories) I had a tdap shot before traveling to Africa. Then when I got bitten by a random dog while protecting my dog. Back home in Canada I was administered the shot again even though my last shot was only 5 years prior to the event. (mind you I also had to get the rabies vaccine - which hurt like heck!) We are supposed to have it every 10 years. I have an appointment with the dr and they will be following up on shots for both me and my DH. Gotta do what's best for our little one. Even though my DH is deadly afraid of needles he's ready for the appointment where he's getting the shot as well! It will be a fun appointment. (yes, I am mean!)

thegoodpotato said:

Ummmmm.... The vaccination for pertussis is not a tetanus shot. I think you're confused on that one....

TDaP is tetanus, diptheria, and pertussis. She said it's in the same shot as the tetanus and she is correct.

LucilleAustero · August 2014

I cannot get the flu vaccine. I have been hospitalized three times due to my reaction to it. I have zero issues with other vaccines, go figure.

But, your reaction sounds mild to someone that has experienced a severe reaction. The baby will not be harmed by aches, chills, and a medium grade fever.

thegoodpotato · August 2014

brittneyandadam said:

tbarker14 said:

I'm from Canada and live here, we have the tdap. Its in the same shot most commonly known as the Tetanus shot. Which the hospital will always administer too anyone who comes in with a cut that is serious enough. Or even to those who can't remember when they had it last. (this is standard all across various of provinces, including the territories) I had a tdap shot before traveling to Africa. Then when I got bitten by a random dog while protecting my dog. Back home in Canada I was administered the shot again even though my last shot was only 5 years prior to the event. (mind you I also had to get the rabies vaccine - which hurt like heck!) We are supposed to have it every 10 years. I have an appointment with the dr and they will be following up on shots for both me and my DH. Gotta do what's best for our little one. Even though my DH is deadly afraid of needles he's ready for the appointment where he's getting the shot as well! It will be a fun appointment. (yes, I am mean!)

thegoodpotato said:

Ummmmm.... The vaccination for pertussis is not a tetanus shot. I think you're confused on that one....

TDaP is tetanus, diptheria, and pertussis. She said it's in the same shot as the tetanus and she is correct.

Ah... the potato is misinformed. My apologies @tbarker14!

thegoodpotato · August 2014

msspeedymarie said:

emmyg65 said:

@thegoodpotato, I think pertussis is less of a problem in Canada. According to the CDC, 48,277 cases were reported in the US in 2012, but the Public Health Agency of Canada says there are only 1,000-3,000 cases a year there.

I don't think Canada is overrun with nut bombs who refuses to vaccinate their kids for no logical reason.

Unless you live in BC where we have some pretty crazy hippy communities. I had a lady come into my store (in her late 40's/early 50's) who had just recovered from pertussis because she works on one of the smaller islands where the hippies all live, and practically nobody vaccinates their children.

We had a breakout of measles in the Greater Vancouver Area - and there are some really crunchy areas in the interior where all the old draft-dodgers from the Vietnam War settled.

We definitely have the crazies here... they just conveniently confine themselves into particular areas.

megwv3 · August 2014

This is why everyone at Reddit and BabyCenter avoids this place. Everyone is so snarky.

The hospital told me that my body reacted to the tdap. That's all I'm saying.

Also, I spoke with my OB about it and she told me to read the pamphlet because people DO react to it. You can find it online or get it from OB. It says:

"Safety and effectiveness of Adacel vaccine have not been established in pregnant women. It is also not known whether Adacel vaccine can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Adacel vaccine should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed."

So I will be doing more research.

thegoodpotato · August 2014

Hmmm... I'm on Reddit, and I don't avoid The Bump. :-?

Unless there's a special pregnancy subreddit that I've missed out on (and I use Reddit for more interesting stuff anyway)...

megwv3 · August 2014

thegoodpotato said:

Hmmm... I'm on Reddit, and I don't avoid The Bump. :-?

Unless there's a special pregnancy subreddit that I've missed out on (and I use Reddit for more interesting stuff anyway)...

/r/babybumps

tbarker14 · August 2014

Oh believe me Canada has its fair amount of crazies such as @thegoodpotato‌ mentioned!
No worries I too sometimes read too fast!

I think perhaps one reasonable explanation why Canada might have a lower percentage of outbreaks than the states might simply because the vaccine is so widely used.

Dr's and hospital are quick to administer the shots when in doubt. And since we have the "free" medical care. People do go in for all the cuts and scrapes. Unlike in other places where a visit to the dr for any reason cost money.

I could be wrong but that's my opinion as to why we might have a lower outbreak of pertussis (I hope it's spelled right?)

thegoodpotato · August 2014

Thanks @tbarker14 - I feel like an idiot. I'd DD, but I've already been QFP. GBCB!!!

portentosa · August 2014

megwv3 said:

This is why everyone at Reddit and BabyCenter avoids this place. Everyone is so snarky.

The hospital told me that my body reacted to the tdap. That's all I'm saying.

Also, I spoke with my OB about it and she told me to read the pamphlet because people DO react to it. You can find it online or get it from OB. It says:

"Safety and effectiveness of Adacel vaccine have not been established in pregnant women. It is also not known whether Adacel vaccine can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Adacel vaccine should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed."

So I will be doing more research.

People on Reddit and Baby Center can continue to avoid us.

You posted asking for our advice and you got a lot of good information, resources, and personal insights. You also originally posted that it caused the flu, not flu like symptoms. Typos happen to the best of us but we can't read your mind so you are going to get some people telling you that a shot doesn't cause the flu. I notice your OP still says that you got colds from other vaccines....again, that is impossible.

I'm glad you spoke to your OB and are beginning to research. Did you read the CDC's recommendation for getting the tdap while pregnant? Reactions to vaccines do happen, for me personally flu like symptoms are worth keeping my LO safe. Whooping cough kills.

MesmrEwe · August 2014

PaulandPregnantChelsea said:

I have terrible reactions to vaccinations, too. Getting a super high fever when you're pregnant is not ideal, but really this is a personal choice.

There's so much controversy about vaccines, it's unlikely you'll get a straight "do it" or "don't do it" answer - even from health professionals.

I'm in med school and I'm definitely pro-vaccine, but slight adverse reactions (flu like symptoms) are really underreported and not studied well because they're usually just an inconvenience.

Bottom line is you just have to go with your gut and what you will be comfortable with.

^^^^THIS!!!!!

I also get HORRIBLE reactions to certain vaccines - especially the tdap!!! The reaction I get is quite frankly worse than getting any of the above that the vaccine is meant to prevent. I didn't however get any adverse reaction to the Tetanus alone, but the combo, I was barking like a dang seal for two months and laid out. It's now on my charts that I don't get the combo - it's just not worth the risk! I also know people who get outright allergic reactions. While I'm also pro-vaccine, there are times when the vaccine can cause more problems than its meant to prevent for certain individuals!!!

Also, vaccines in general are a "beat a dead horse" issue around here - you have to make your own choice given your own circumstances!

abbyful · August 2014

MesmrEwe said:
The reaction I get is quite frankly worse than getting any of the above that the vaccine is meant to prevent

And here we have someone that obviously doesn't know what these diseases really are.

You think getting tetanus is no big deal? Or pertussis is a walk in the park for a newborn?

It's one thing to know the risk vs benefit for your particular situation, but the way you so casually dismiss the ramifications of getting serious diseases makes me think you are operating under "ignorance is bliss".

brittneyandadam · August 2014

SmileyGirl18 said:

The tdap vaccine isn't given to adults in Canada (at least not in my province). I have no strong feeling about it one way or another, but Health Canada doesn't seem concerned enough to make it part of routine care during pregnancy.

Also, from what I see, you should be fine if you've already had the vaccine as an adult or still have immunity from childhood vaccinations. If you already had the vaccine, there shouldn't be any need to get it again.
Nope. You need boostered. Also, in the US it's recommended during pregnancy because it passes some immunity on to the baby. Infants can't have it until they are 2 months old and the first few months after birth are the most deadly time to get whooping cough.
Boosters are usually only given if it has been 10+ years since your last dose, at least according to my OB. I got a booster when I was pregnant with DS in 2012 because my last shot was in 2002 and he was even a little concerned about the potency at that point. I don't think it is needed, or necessary, after 6 years, but I would double check with your doctor.

Direct from the CDC website: "In October 2012, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend that health care personnel should administer a dose of Tdap during each pregnancy irrespective of the patient's prior history of receiving Tdap (or Td). "

So, you should get vaccinated every pregnancy, no matter how far apart they are.

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/pertussis/tdap-pregnancy-hcp.htm

lincoln79 · August 2014

I have had issues reacting to vaccines. If you think you have had an adverse reaction (which seems likely), then I wouldn't get it. An autoimmune reaction is no joke and most physicians are clueless.

deux · August 2014

What we did, since I have a history of severe vaccine reactions and an autoimmune disease (which was the extreme reaction), is just get DH the booster. We tried to find a singular pertussis vax, but apparently that doesn't exist so he had to get the DTaP. I knew I'd be a breastfeeding stay-at-home, so we'd be in the lowest risk category for exposure, our biggest concern was DH bringing it home from work or public transit. We kept him pretty isolated for the first several months.

happyfarmhousemommy · August 2014

I got the shot a few days ago. I actually didn't feel the injection at all when the nurse administered it, but the injection site has been pretty sore and a little red since I got it.

AMessina821 · September 2014

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