Swine Flu Vaccine for Pregnant Women

Would You Get the Swine Flu Vaccine While Pregnant?

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It may no longer be headline news, but the swine flu pandemic still has people talking. This week the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is meeting to discuss the development and distribution of a vaccine that is set to be ready by Fall. Among the groups who may get top priority for the vaccine are pregnant women. Though pregnant women only account for one percent of the US population, they made up six percent of all H1N1 deaths since April. Each year the CDC recommends that expectant mamas get vaccinated for the flu, but only a small number – approximately 15 percent – actually do, citing fears about risks to the fetus and the expense. Would you get the vaccine while pregnant?

Source: Getty
PollPregnancyHealth And FitnessVaccinationsSwine Flu

59 Comments

i wont take any vaccine or medicine a doctor offers me, i was told after my second child was born that the ortha evra patch was the safest birth control out there and 6 months later i started having all kinds of problems and women have died from clotting from it, also when my son was 15 months old his doctor told me that the flu shot was safe and he would be protected and he ended up in the hospital the same night with flu sympyoms. a little boy that went to a daycare where my mother works got the flu shot and died 2 days later with swelling to the brain, i vote no to any new vaccine!!!!!!!
I got vaccinated at 15 wks pregnant and haven't miscarried I'm now 21 wks with no problems at all....However my son does have a heart defect. They do say heart defects happen 1 in every 100 babies born. As for miscarriages they happen more frequently so you really cant say that the vaccine caused it. One lady commented that she has children and never had a miscarriage before until she had the swine flu jab, it doesn't work like that... the odds are that most people will have one in their lifetime and not all will know about it. You could have 20 healthy children it doesn't make you immune from them. Miscarrying does not mean you have something wrong with you they are common. If I had to make the choice again I would still go ahead and get the vaccine as I believe it was coincidence that my baby ended up having a heart defect (his half brother also has a slight defect but no vaccine to blame there). I had no side effects at all from the jab and neither did my 4yr old step son. I feel safer knowing that we are safe from swine flu especially since we spend much time at the Dr's and hospital for pregnancy related apts.
I am 30 weeks pregnant, I am not sure whether to have the vaccine for swine flu, I have read that I am at more risk in the later stages of pregnancy, I am trying to weigh it all up I was totally against it at first but ow I am not sure, I am thinking that because the baby is almost fully developed apart from the lungs that having the vaccine later could be better than in earlier stages, but I dont no, I have a 7 year old as well so even if I avoid crowded places over the next 2 months he still as to go to school and is at risk too,I am also a bit sweyed by the fact that they say my baby will be protected from flu when it is born which sounds like a good thing, I just dont no what to do. However I am thinking that there are more positives to the vaccine than negitives in my opionion, as If I did get it my child could potentially die anyway and my 7 year old would be without a mother if I was to get it bad!
I think that anyone who doesn't get a flu vaccine is just not using their head. I would get the vaccine in a minute if one were available. I had my daughter vaccinated and she had no side effects. Her pediatrician also pointed out that there is a strain of H1N1 in the regular seasonal flu vaccine. The flu is a serious illness especially in pregnant women and others at risk. If you are really worried about harm to your unborn child you should read up on the links that have been found between mental illnesses and autism in children and adults whose mothers had the flu when they were pregnant. My husbands grandmothers mother died from the 1918 flu oh yeah and she was pregnant. I really saddens me that some peoples medical ignorance and persistence in believing pseudoscience is so potentially damaging to their children. I have had probably 15 flu shots in my life and suffered not a single side effect other than a sore arm. I firmly believe that the risk from the flu far outweighs the risks from the shot. I would be very afraid right now if I were pregnant and could not get a vaccine, afraid for myself as your immune system is compromised when you are pregnant and afraid for my child. But hey if dying from respiratory failure sounds like more fun than a needle stick be my guest it's a free country and nobody can make you be reasonable.
Major dilemma am a teacher and got a child from my class at home with swine flu. All the health officials are advising me to have the jab due to my job and the fact that I am 10 weeks preg but reading about all the miscarriages have scared me. Really unsure what to do. I already have 2 girls and dont want to risk anything happening to me but on the other hand I have experienced a miscarriage and am so happy to be pregnant I am totally confused!!!!!
hi I'm 6 weeks pregnant and i really don't no what to do about this vaccine i was doing a bit of research and came across this page full of ladies who all suffered with miscarriages 2-3 days after the vaccine started with cramping then bleeding by the third day they were told there baby had died and some girls were 4-5+ months pregnant and there waters broke and delivered a stillborn they asked there GP had this to do with the swine flu vaccine there answer was NO i guess to save there own hole but its us then whose left with 50/50 decision to make take the vaccine and risk loosing my baby or not to take it and risk catching the flu when it comes to all those well up people there shot will prob be tested and they'll be given all the correct information not like us take or don't?? is anyone else having the same problem,
I am 8 1/2 weeks pregnant and finally had the chance to get the vaccine last week. After much internal debate I finally opted not to get it. I got the regular flu shot but not the H1N1. I hope I made the right decision and don't turn into a sensational case study that terrifies other pregnant women into getting the shot if I do contract H1N1.
If you are pregnant and considering the H1N1 vaccine, please read these first!! number of women who say they've miscarried right after the vaccine! http://miscarriage.about.com/b/2009/09/29/some-pregnant-women-fearful-of-h1n1-vaccine.htm#comment-12992 http://www.icleveland.com/shocking-h1n1-swine-flu-vaccine-miscarriage-stories-from-pregnant-women-tell-your-doctors-that-vac/
My 2 yr. old just got the H1N1. I'm 4.5 months pregnant and was prescribed Tamiflu. I haven't had the vaccine because I was scared and now almost wish I did so I wouldn't have to take Tamiflu which I feel is more dangerous. I'm taking it to prevent from getting the flu. Chances are I'm going to get the flu and will eventually need to take Tamiflu. I feel horrible about the Tamiflu and the vaccine but at this point I feel I have no choice but to take them in order to stay alive. I choose me, my husband and 2yr.
It's funny how on the internet, everyone who is pro vaccine (with thimerosol or not), has a scientific, research based, medical background. Those who are against it, are just based on personal experience. Do what you want. But another pregnant lady that was recently hospitalized just had both her arms and legs amputated from swine flu complications.
I received the H1N1 thimerosal reduced last Monday when I was 6 weeks pregnant. On Tuesday, I started cramping and on Wednesday, I was bleeding. I went to urgent care and I had a miscarriage after two healthy pregnancies and no health problems. It probably was not caused by the H1N1 vaccine however, I regret that I got the vaccine and will never get it while pregnant again.
I work in healthcare as does my husband. Any one educated on the H1N1 vaccine, such as the multiple infectious disease physicians we speak with, are highly recommending it and getting it themselves. Getting the vaccine is a no-brainer. People are paranoid about the vaccine because of the sensational name. And yes, any bad things that happen around the time of getting the vaccine is a COINCIDENCE!! It's also not fair that those who don't get vaccinated benefit from those of us who do.
we're trying to get pregnent at the moment, do i need the vaccine?
I sadly had a still born baby at 26 weeks this May and am now pregnant again so I am extra anxious now. I cannot accept that this vaccine is safe despite being surrounded by people with 'flu' unavoidably I feel that it is a bigger risk to choose to be vaccinated by a drug that hasn't been thoroughly researched. I work for the NHS & had 'flu' vaccine once but never again as it made me feel terrible- and that IS a researched drug!
Im 35 weeks pregnant almost 36, and im still debating whether or not I should get this vaccine. I want to protect myself, but mostly wat to protect my baby. I know that my antibodies will pass to her through the placenta. Im worried that if i dont get it, my newborn will be at risk for catching it because their immune systems are so weak. I want to go ac to work...how i could i send her to childcare without ths vaccine?? My mother is coming to visit from TX who knows what germs she will bring with her from the airport..iM so CONFUSED. I got the seasonal flu shot 3 weeks ago for the 1st time and exactly 48hrs later i was feeling crappy and was "sick" for a week.. i want to get it..but im scared, I just think about the fact that this drug hasnt been out that long..praying on it!
I'm 8 weeks!! Every obgynm, every board of medicine or center of diseases is telling that pregnant women MUST take the swine or 1h1n vaccine, I respect every of your opinnions but Doctor have a lots of years of experience and IF even OBAMA is telling that pregnant woven MUST take this 1NH1 VACCINE we MUST!! I ALLREADY recieved the vaccine last week its going to be already 1 week I had no side effect or anything wrong, I feel more protect know and safe not only me but also my baby, you should trust your dr that what they are for, and if not then why you go to one!! It has to be a shot not the nasal and they gave my one with less preservatives and OFCOURSE the virus is INACTIVE!! I think that every vaccine is made for a reason, all babies get different shot to protect them during there first years, and I also a believer that when something if going to happen is happening anyways, lots of miscarriage and birth deffect babys are born everyday and has nothing to do with a vaccine!! Thats my opinion
I to am struggling with a decision on weather to have the jab but at the moment am swayed to the not having it route. Let's weigh it up,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 1,WE DO NOT KNOW THE SIDE EFFECTS 2. OVERALL VERY, VERY FEW CASES SO FAR OF PREGNANT WOMEN HAVE BEEN MAJORLY EFFECTED BY HAVING SWINE FLU 3, THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH VACCINES IN THE PAST 4, IF YOU CAN'T EAT SOFT CHEESE AND SHELL FISH WH THE HELL WOULD YOU LET SOMEONE PUT A VACCINE IN TO YOUR BODY 5, IF A PREGNANT WOMAN GOT SEASONAL FLU WOULD ANYONE EVEN CARE! 6, WHO WANT'S TO PUT THERE UNBORN CHILD UP AS A GUINEA PIG and the list goes on................ It is sooooooo difficult to try and justify this vaccine!
This is a worrying time for pregnant women. There isn't enough research or evidence outcomes to help a mum to be make the decision. I am now 29 weeks pregnant, and don't know what to do. My gut instinct is not to have the vaccine. I will speak to my doctor first, and then make an informed choice based on the feedback. Each person has to make their own choice and not be swayed by other people.
I am not pegnant at the moment or planning on being BUT my cousin is 10 weeks along and she got the H1N1 shot on Tuesday and is now on bed rest until she can get in to see the doctor. Coincidence? I don't think so. I tried to tell her that this vaccine has barely been tested and that offering herself and her little on up as guine pigs is not worth it. As an adult though she can make her own choices. All I can do is pray and keep my fingers crossed. Blessings all...
Nadia24gv Nadia24gv
sarasonne, I have. But it just says "fall" I am 30 weeks along and getting anxious as hell.
sarasonne sarasonne
I've read a lot about it on cdc.gov.Has anyone else?
sarasonne sarasonne
I've read a lot about it on cdc.gov. Has anyone else?
Nadia24gv Nadia24gv
schnappycat, you are NOT an idiot. I refuse to leave the house until the vaccine is ready. It's pissing me off with how long it's taking.
I'm not sure what to do. I've never had a flu shot and I'm 32. I have Crohns Disease to top things off. This is our first baby and I've already been exposed to toluene- paint thinner. What should I do?
Maybe, i don't know. But i have own experience, and results are different a bit ;)
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