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Tdap Vaccine, infants & UK Visitor

missnc77missnc77 member
in May 2016 Moms
I have a what would you do question for everyone. My husband's family is from the UK, and his sister wants to come visit the US and see some other family and the new baby along the way. This will be about 2 months postpartum for me. Because of Whooping Cough in the US, it's recommended all visitors around infants have the Tdap vaccination, however in the UK, they do not give non-pregnant adults the vaccine since it's not an issue there. They recommend for UK residents visiting the US and will be around newborns get the vaccine when they arrive. She could get it when she's visiting their mom, but it's only a week later she wants to visit us. I know the flu vaccine takes at least two weeks to build up some resistance in your system, so I really don't know how useful one week of a Tdap vaccine will be.

What would you do? Not worry about it and tell her to come on? Ask her to get the vaccine even if it's only a weeks worth of protection? Tell her she can't come?
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Re: Tdap Vaccine, infants & UK Visitor

  • sarawifenowsarawifenow member

    This is really tough. I don't think that I would tell her she can't come. I think that a weeks worth of protection is better than no protection.

    Honestly, though, do you think that literally everyone that comes in contact with baby after 2 months will have had the vaccine? That is where I am struggling. I don't think it is possible to make sure that everyone is vaccinated, so I am just making sure that the people that LO will be around the most are vaccinated.

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  • Lusitano8Lusitano8 member

    Since it's recommended that visitors around infants have the vaccine I would ask her to go ahead and get it. She should understand, unless she has a strong anti-vaccine stand. I'm sure the risk is small of any baby getting whopping cough but because the effects could be life threatening to a baby the extra caution makes sense.

    Is there a reason why she can't get it in the UK before her trip so she has the immunity built up? She should be able to go to her doc in the UK and say she's traveling and needs to get it.

     

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  • JessicaB0627JessicaB0627 member
    I agree with @sarawifenow. I doubt every single person LO is around is going to be vaccinated or at least have the appropriate boosters, but we're making sure the people who will be in most contact with him/her is up to date on their vaccine.

    But you could always see if she could get it in the UK like @Lusitano8 said. They vaccinate in the US for people traveling so why wouldn't they there?
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  • missnc77missnc77 member
    Lusitano8 said:

    Since it's recommended that visitors around infants have the vaccine I would ask her to go ahead and get it. She should understand, unless she has a strong anti-vaccine stand. I'm sure the risk is small of any baby getting whopping cough but because the effects could be life threatening to a baby the extra caution makes sense.

    Is there a reason why she can't get it in the UK before her trip so she has the immunity built up? She should be able to go to her doc in the UK and say she's traveling and needs to get it.

     

    Nope, I did some research on it this morning. The UK's NHS instructs adults traveling to get the vaccine at their destination. The only adults they'll give a tdap do are pregnant women. I'll ask my doctor what he thinks at my appointment tomorrow. I don't want to be over paranoid and tell a loved one they can't come.

    @sarawifenow - Exactly - not everyone will be vaccinated my baby comes in contact with. But the research shows that babies who do get whooping cough get it from loved ones/friends/family visiting the infant inside the home. There's probably only a fraction of a chance the something can happen, but what if? Ya know?
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  • kbrands7kbrands7 member
    I agree with PP. If it's possible for her to get the vaccine earlier, that's the simpler answer. However, I don't think I would tell her not to visit if she could only get it one week prior. Just try to build up herd immunity as much as possible around the baby, and remember that pregnant women generally get the vaccine in the third trimester which can pass some initial protection to the baby until they can get their DTaP booster/vaccine at the 2 month appointment. 

    From what you've mentioned of the UK recommendations, it sounds like pertussis, etc. is not so much of a problem in the UK and that they are trying to be sure that their residents don't bring it back with them from the US.
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  • Lusitano8Lusitano8 member
    missnc77 Oh bummer, I'm not sure how much of an impact of her getting the vaccine one week before would make. If she's not around large crowds at Disneyworld or something like that I would feel pretty safe. I understand your caution and you're right that it's probably not best to turn her away!  Good call to see what your MD recommends, you could call a pediatrician too.  
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  • LondonToSavannahLondonToSavannah member
    My MIL (and H) is British. She got her Tdap and flu shot before we went there to visit when LO was 2 months old. She had no problem at all getting the vaccine.
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  • Bltbear82Bltbear82 member
    Before my in laws came to visit from Sweden after DS was born I asked them to get both vaccines. It shouldn't be too difficult like PO suggested. I was concerned with them catching something en route since they always end up sick when the come to visit. I would ask her to do it, but if she's coming from an airport directly to you I would also ask her to change clothes before holding the baby.

    For what it's worth I thought I was being a little overly cautious but I specifically asked our now pediatrician when we met with them before delivery and they completely agreed. With international visitors it's not crazy to request vaccines, it's a long flight and you never know what could happen.
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  • missnc77missnc77 member
    LondonToSavannah said:
    My MIL (and H) is British. She got her Tdap and flu shot before we went there to visit when LO was 2 months old. She had no problem at all getting the vaccine.
    Hm - interesting! I'll ask for her to check with her doctor. I'm totally going to become that sister in law/daughter in law, aren't I? Sigh.
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  • mrstmoosemrstmoose member
    @missnc77 she may have to pay out of pocket to get the vaccine. PP are right though, not everyone is going to be vaccinated. My goal is going to see if our parents and siblings can get the vaccine since they will be around the baby the most. 
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  • Pascal86Pascal86 member
    I have a friend who's asking unvaccinated people to wear a face mask when they hold her newborn. Kind of annoying, but a pretty simple solution (not sure how effective it is though).
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  • jewels1020jewels1020 member
    missnc77 said:


    LondonToSavannah said:

    My MIL (and H) is British. She got her Tdap and flu shot before we went there to visit when LO was 2 months old. She had no problem at all getting the vaccine.

    Hm - interesting! I'll ask for her to check with her doctor. I'm totally going to become that sister in law/daughter in law, aren't I? Sigh.


    Seems like the safest route would be having her check with her doctor about getting before she Flys over.. I'd rather be safe then sorry and am requiring everyone who wants to meet my baby within its first 3 months to get it or they'll have to wait till the baby is vaccinated.. it might be over the top but I'm not risking it. Which is where I have a problem My mother n law is completely anti vaccinations.. and I have no clue how to bring it up to her.. she's made it very clear to my husband how she feels about vaccinations.. so she's going to go from loving me to hating me real fast I fear. But to me that's okay my babys health and well being goes above her belief against vaccinations in my book.
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  • missnc77missnc77 member
    mrstmoose said:

    @missnc77 she may have to pay out of pocket to get the vaccine.

    When I emailed her this morning and asked if she could check with her doctor, I told her we'd cover the cost.
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  • helleebelleehelleebellee member
    I hope she can get it!   
      
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  • TXmamatobeTXmamatobe member
    Pascal86 said:

    I have a friend who's asking unvaccinated people to wear a face mask when they hold her newborn. Kind of annoying, but a pretty simple solution (not sure how effective it is though).

    Sorry I'm not sorry but this is so annoying. I totally understand wanting to protect your baby but come on - this is just rude in my opinion. I would rather tell someone to hold off on their visit then to make them wear a mask when they are a visitor in my home. My SIL posted a sign on her door when she had her baby that said if people were unvaccinated, they may not enter. What a joke!! It could be handled so much better.

    Anyway, I think she should be able to get vaccinated before the trip and hopefully, it won't be too much trouble. Best wishes for a fun visit!
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  • Pascal86Pascal86 member
    TXmamatobe said:
    I have a friend who's asking unvaccinated people to wear a face mask when they hold her newborn. Kind of annoying, but a pretty simple solution (not sure how effective it is though).
    Sorry I'm not sorry but this is so annoying. I totally understand wanting to protect your baby but come on - this is just rude in my opinion. I would rather tell someone to hold off on their visit then to make them wear a mask when they are a visitor in my home. My SIL posted a sign on her door when she had her baby that said if people were unvaccinated, they may not enter. What a joke!! It could be handled so much better. Anyway, I think she should be able to get vaccinated before the trip and hopefully, it won't be too much trouble. Best wishes for a fun visit!
    Haha, you are not the only person who thought this came across as rude, don't worry! It was pretty off-putting, but thought in the case of absolutely not being able to get vaccinated before a visit and coming from abroad for a limited time, it could be a thing to think about if you're super worried. I don't think I could bring myself to make anyone wear a mask, myself.
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