Per chance, did anyone's KIDS get the H1N1 flu mist (even though you are pregnant)?

[Anonymous]

Dear all:

I am 25 weeks pregnant. I'm curious if any other pregnant moms out there have children who have received the H1N1 flu mist? If so, has your OB been concerned?

Due to a miscommunication (for which I blame myself), our pediatrician's office gave my kids (ages 5 and 7) dose #1 of the H1N1 flu mist on Friday afternoon.

I got a little worried about that since it's a live vaccine (even though I didn't get the H1N1 mist myself . . . it was my kids.)

I called the OB's office hoping for some reassurance, but they were very worried that my kids had received the H1N1 flu mist vaccine. Their recommendation was to (a) get on Tamiflu for 10 days; (b) isolate myself for 4 days; and (c) wear a mask around my kids when I returned from isolation. I was a little worried that this was overkill because my kids and I didn't have any symptoms of H1N1.

I called the pediatrician's office to warn them about not to give the H1N1 flu mist to children of pregnant women, but they said that it's completely fine to do so and they plan to continue doing so. They said that there have been absolutely no problems with it.

On the CDC web site and on the CDC handout that my kids received with the H1N1 flu mist, it does NOT prohibit children of pregnant moms from getting the H1N1 flu mist. Instead, it says that the only "close contact" that may NOT get the H1N1 flu mist is a person in close contact a person with a severely weakened immune system (requiring care in a protected environment, such as a bone marrow transplant unit). (Pregnant women do have weakened immune systems, but not to this extent.)

I sent CDC an email, and they wrote me back within a day! They said that "the current estimated risk of getting infected with vaccine virus after close contact with a person vaccinated with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is low (0.6 to 2.4 percent). Because the viruses are weakened, infection is unlikely to result in influenza (flu) illness symptoms. These weakened vaccine viruses have not been shown change into typical or naturally occurring influenza viruses."

CDC also said that "Early treatment with influenza antiviral medications is recommended for pregnant women with suspected influenza illness."

So I can understand taking Tamiflu if you're feeling symptoms. But (knock on wood), my kids and I do not have symptoms after 3 days. We'll wait and see since the incubation period is generally 1-4 days.

FYI: My two kids will need the H1N1 flu mist "booster" in 28 days. By then, I'm hoping I will have found a place to get the H1N1 shot for myself so that I'll have a little immunity.

I was looking for some comfort out there. Are there pregnant moms out there whose CHILDREN have gotten the H1N1 flu mist? If so, any adverse results? Thank you.

[Anonymous]

My kids got the h1n1 mist last week, I did not know I was pregnant at the time and was there with them. my younger is showing some symptoms of being sick, but seems to be okay. I am not worried for myself...

[Anonymous]

Not H1N1, but my older kids have received flumist before while I was pregnant. Last time I was very visably pregnant with twins. No concern on behalf of our ped our my OB. Our ped gave me my flu shot at the same visit.

[Anonymous]

I still have not had the H1N1 vaccine (I am 34 weeks along) but my kids did get the regular flu shot in the mist form and neither my ped or ob had any concerns about it. Don't know if there is any difference. Both are "live vaccines" so the risk should be similar. Of course if you do get sick H1N1 is riskier for the pregnant mom....

[Anonymous]

I'm pregnant and my pedi was willing to give the mist to my son. She said that the run-of-the-mill immune suppression in pregnant women, elderly grandparents, etc. wouldn't be a problem -- the only people he should be kept from were those with chemotherapy- or ICU-level issues.

[Anonymous]

Huh. This hadn't even occurred to me. I got my H1N1 shot already, and have been planning to get DD the H1N1 mist 8 days later (because the shot is no longer available the place we're going). I guess I'll bank on the low risk of transmission, plus the fact that my own shot will have had 8 days to kick in by then. But if I get flu symptoms I'll call my doc asap for some Tamiflu!

I don't have medical training, but if I were in the OP's shoes I'd wait to see if I felt any symptoms before taking Tamiflu. And I don't think I'd bother with masks and isolation and all that -- just my usual handwashing and avoiding touching my face routine!

[Anonymous]

Where did you all get the H1N1 shot? Was it thimerosol free?

[Anonymous]

Just when we thought we had enough to worry about!

I'm with the others and probably wouldn't bother with the masks, isolation and tamiflu unless there were any symptoms. Tamiflu use during pregnancy has its own drawbacks so I would only take it if I actually thought I had the flu.

[Anonymous]

OT here: My regular OB (as opposed to the OB from the practice) just called to say that she thought it was OK for children of pregnant women to get the H1N1 flu mist. She thoughts that the risk was small. I thought that this was worth sharing. Thanks for everyone's responses on this stressful topic!

[Anonymous]

I just did the same thing with my crew and now I and my youngest have a sore throat, runny nose and headache. I should have known better but we were rushed in and out of the physician's office so fast that I didn't get a chance to really talk to the physician and I thought they got injectable H1N1 and nasal seasonal flu (which I was already vaccinated against)! My symptoms are more of an annoyance than anything else - they are really mild so I think I will avoid Tamiflu unless things get worse.

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Hopefully I can give you some reassurance. I am 22 weeks pregnant and my kids got the h1n1 mist 11 days ago. My OB gave it the all clear before I took them and I have had no problems at all. As I understand from a friend who is an ER doc, people who get the mist pose a real risk for severely immuno-compromised, i.e., transplants patients, cancer patients, etc.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I am 21 weeks pregnant and my daughter got the flumist at a clinic on Monday. I had never heard this was a concern until reading your post. They knew I was pregnant, since they asked me whether I was being vaccinated as well (I already had been). I would not take the tamiflu - I actually was on it last week for an H1N1 false alarm and a) it made me miserable and b) I am not comfortable with the risks to the fetus.

[Anonymous]

I'm also hoping to offer a little reassurance. I am not pregnant, but my 5 year old got the H1N1 mist on Tuesday. On Wednesday morning, he woke up with a cough and he was also congested. He is the same way today (Thursday). I write this because I wanted to let you know that while he had a mild reaction to the shot (which I completely expected), it happened within 24 hours. So, I think you're in the clear if it's been a few days and you have no symptoms.

[Anonymous]

My kinds got the mist and I was pregnant, I just didn't know it yet! How ya like that?

Everything I looked into said it is okay....and there is nothing I can do about it now!!!!

[Anonymous]

It is a weakened live virus that can not replicate and survive in the lungs -- even if you did get it the resulting illness would be very mild, as if you'd had it yourself. I would not personally be concerned.