Are you getting a flu jab?

Hi all, I've read conflicting reports about getting a flu jab while you're pregnant. Most say it can be a little risky if you're in your 1st trimester but after that it's fine. I rang my medical centre today about it and the nurse told me not only is it fine but they actually recommend it for pregnant women, as if you were to get a strain of swine flu while pregnant it is very risky to you and your baby's health.

So I've booked in to get a jab on Monday morning (I'm 17 weeks on Sunday), but am still feeling a little nervous about it.

Who else is getting one?

Nope i wont be getting one. I dont usually get one anyway.

Of course people of the health profession will tell you they are fine and safe to take, id personally do my own research into how safe they are before getting it. But thats just me.

I would ask to read the package insert before you get it, then you will read it's not been tested in pregnant women and isn't recommended.

Edited to add info

Quote from vaccine insert

Adequate human data on use during pregnancy and adequate animal reproduction studies are not available. However, as with all inactivated viral vaccines, the risks to the fetus are considered to be negligible. FLUARIX should be used during pregnancy only when clearly needed. Adequate human data on use during lactation and adequate animal reproduction studies are not available. There is no known contraindication in the use of FLUARIX during lactation.


medsafe copy of insert.
http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/datasheet/f/Fluarixinj.pdf

The other vaccine available is now saying that it has been tested on pregnant women and is safe but I would want to look into exactly what that research was first, if it was me.

Personally not getting it.

Edited by cuppatea

I'm not pregnant so cant comment on it from that aspect but I had a couple of friends get the flu jab last year and they ended up getting the flu!

I wont be, i have never had the flu my entire life and i believe the chances of getting sick from the jab aren't worth it....hubby is asthmatic and has never had it and has always been fine....I am unemployed and dont really go out very often so the chances of me coming in contact with it aren't very high anyway

Link from last years discussion thread on this...

I started it...it snowballed!! There are a number of takes discussed in it...some for it, some against it....some links to some articles on it too.

I didn't think I'd get it initially...but after researching ended up getting it. It worked out fine. It's one of the first of many decisions that get made!!!

I'm getting it. Not only am I a nurse but also an asthmatic so the risk of getting the flu (esp Swine flu) is very high and the result could be life threatening. I have it every year.

A common side effect of the jab is a couple of days of flu like symptoms (like babies after their jabs, tiredness, headache, low grade fever). Not everyone gets side effects. The vaccine is made up of inactivated pieces of the virus.

Another point to remember is that it only contains 3 strains of the flu and WILL NOT protect you from all strains of the flu or the common cold. Personal hygiene practices like hand washing still need to be followed!! (You'd be amazed at the amount of people who think getting the flu shot will make them bullet proof)

I agree that it's totally a personal choice and that you should do your own research if concerned about the advice given by your health professional. And even though it makes me sound like one of my former lecturers, make sure the information you are basing your decision comes from credible sources and is based on recent research.

I won't be getting a jab. Mind you I have never had the jab before and never had the flu

I have never had the flu jab before, because (even though I am very pro immunisation, and have done research on immunisation) I have always been off the opinion that my immune system was strong enough to deal with the flu, as long as I was healthy and looked after myself.

But now I am pregnant I have definitely noticed a change in my immune system. I have had a chest infection for the first time in my life, and am definitely more run down.

So I am not sure I could fight the flu off naturally at the moment, and I dont want to be that sick and pregnant. So I will be getting the jab this year.

They offer it through my work every year anyway - but I might just get it through the doctors office.

The thing that makes influenza so dangerous is that it can mutate so easily- this means that even though you had it last year or the year before, you may not be immune when it comes back round again iygwim?

Also, they have to kind of guess what strains to put in the vaccine, based on what is going around in other parts of the world. They don't always get it exactly right.

I'm not pregnant but if I were, I would get it. But then I'm pro-vaccination in just about every case because I believe the benefits (to the whole community as well) outweigh the risks..