H1N1 Vaccination - to get it or not?

[Anonymous]

I was curious to hear from others about your opinions on getting this vaccination. I'm 7 months pregnant and am very nervous about getting the swine flu, but also concerned about the vaccination on myself and the baby since it is such a new vaccine. There seems to be mixed opinions from the medical community and lots of information floating around which is difficult to filter and research to know what's what. I thought hearing from others that are pregnant like me would be the best bet. So if anyone has any personal or professional thoughts on this, I welcome all opinions! And if you have gotten the vaccination already, I'd appreciate any feedback you have to offer.

[Anonymous]

I am getting it on Wednesday so will my two older kids and husband. I have no concerns at all. I am 34 weeks along and have already had the seasonal flu vaccine (as I did with my other two pregnancies).
I don't find the information confusing at all and I do believe the vaccine while new followed the same testing protocols than regular flu vaccines always follow. Both my ob and ped highly recommended we all get it.
But of course it is a very personal decision.
Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I just got it yesterday, along with my 3 year old daughter. I'm 34 weeks pregnant and got it largely to help pass immunity to daughter #2, who will be born shortly.

I was encouraged to get it by an immunologist who is a friend of my husband's - he said that if his wife were pregnant he'd camp out all night to make sure she got it!

[Anonymous]

This vaccine is new only if you consider the seasonal flu vaccine that comes out every year to be "new". Though the virus culture part is different (has to be), the rest of it is exactly the same. It would have just been included in the seasonal vaccine if the cultures had been ready in time.

I haven't heard of any real dissension in the medical community, and I've done a lot of research. I strongly believe that the very very tiny risk of danger is worth the HUGE benefit, especially to us pregnant women. I got mine this morning!

(Still looking for the seasonal vaccine, though...)

[Anonymous]

I am 13 weeks pregnant and got my H1N1 yesterday. I got my seasonal about three weeks ago. I work at a University where kids are getting the flu all the time and I just could not wait to get the vaccines. I agree with an earlier post, I have heard no dissension in the medical community. The Diane Rehm show had a great show on this topic, you could probably find it in the archives. She had two medical researchers on the show and they were emphatic about pregnant women getting the vaccine. One has a pregnant daughter and said he could not wait for her to get it. I was very concerned about the risks of getting this when pregnant, and that won me over to get the vaccine. Hope this helps!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This vaccine is new only if you consider the seasonal flu vaccine that comes out every year to be "new". Though the virus culture part is different (has to be), the rest of it is exactly the same. It would have just been included in the seasonal vaccine if the cultures had been ready in time.

I haven't heard of any real dissension in the medical community, and I've done a lot of research. I strongly believe that the very very tiny risk of danger is worth the HUGE benefit, especially to us pregnant women. I got mine this morning!

(Still looking for the seasonal vaccine, though...)

I agree with this. The risk from the vaccine is speculative, whereas the risk from the flu is real and proven. I got the H1N1 shot on Wednesday and am feeling fine.

[Anonymous]

I also got both the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1. I am 34 weeks and also am a Nurse Practitioner. Being in the health care field I am privy to many professional opinions of my collegues, all of whom are endorsing the vaccine. The previous posts are completely right--the vaccine is engineered the same as the seasonal flu shot. The main reason why I got the seasonal--I get them every year, but the H1N1 I mainly received due to the fatality risks associated with pregnant women and the swine flu and the newborn's not yet developed immune system being strong enough to fight off the swine flu. Truthfully, if I were not pregnant and did not have a newborn coming into my life I would not be as worried about the Swine Flu vaccine or even getting the virus since the majority of people who have gotten it have had mild-like flu.

[Anonymous]

I'm 15 weeks pregnant and got the vaccine today. Unfortunately, I was not able to get the preservative-free vaccine which is what I really wanted. I was also torn about whether or not to get the vaccine. This was my thought process-H1N1 is dangerous during pregnancy-that's well-established, pregnant women make 1% of the population in the U.S, they made up 6% of deaths from swine. Yes, most people have mild disease but for some reason, some people have serious complications. I figured if I got swine flu, I'd end up having to take antiviral drugs, perhaps antibiotics if you have bacterial infection because of the flu, then steroids if you are having trouble breathing, plus the possibility of being hospitalized and having a hospital-acquired infection,etc.. When I considered all the risks of the various treatments involved, I decided, the benefits of the vaccine and prevention far outweighed the risks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm 15 weeks pregnant and got the vaccine today. Unfortunately, I was not able to get the preservative-free vaccine which is what I really wanted. I was also torn about whether or not to get the vaccine. This was my thought process-H1N1 is dangerous during pregnancy-that's well-established, pregnant women make 1% of the population in the U.S, they made up 6% of deaths from swine. Yes, most people have mild disease but for some reason, some people have serious complications. I figured if I got swine flu, I'd end up having to take antiviral drugs, perhaps antibiotics if you have bacterial infection because of the flu, then steroids if you are having trouble breathing, plus the possibility of being hospitalized and having a hospital-acquired infection,etc.. When I considered all the risks of the various treatments involved, I decided, the benefits of the vaccine and prevention far outweighed the risks.

I got mine today after much thought. Yeah, I would have preferred the thermisol free, but after researching it I saw tuna has more mercury than it and since I ate tuna sometimes..... I can't really justify NOT getting the vaccine based on mercury. Besides, it's being proven that it does not causes autism.

[Anonymous]

The risk from the vaccine is speculative, whereas the risk from the flu is real and proven.

What she said. I'm 6.5 months, and I got the H1N1 shot 10 days ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The risk from the vaccine is speculative, whereas the risk from the flu is real and proven.

Exactly. I am 16 weeks and got mine last week. I feel much better knowing I will have the protection and pass it on to the baby as well.

[Anonymous]

I would not and did not get the seasonal flu shot when pregnant 3 years ago because I didn't want to risk any unnecessary exposure to the ingredients or the killed virus in the shot. I'd never had flu before and didn't expect to start then. However, given that this strain of flu seems particularly dangerous to pregnant women, if I were pregnant now, I'd very seriously consider getting it. Especially if I were past my first trimester.

I am getting the shot for my 2.5 year old asthmatic son on Wednesday. I'd get it myself at this point (only to protect son's exposure), but I will leave that until later so that people in high risk groups get their shots first if they want them.

[Anonymous]

I am not pregnant, but FWIW, I have decided not to get the H1N1 for my 14 month old DS. This truly has been one of the hardest decisions I've had to make, but my "mommy gut" tells me not to get it for him. He did get the seasonal flu shot btw. If a thimerosol free option were available for him, I would get it- and I still may if it becomes available. I'm not writing this to encourage you not to get it, just to say that some out there have decided not to. You should go with your instincts. Good luck with whatever you decide, and with your pregnancy!

[Anonymous]

I think you should go with the numbers, not instinct. While it is unlikely that something tragic is going to happen, the risk of getting sick from the flu is real and some children will get hospitalized or die from it. Contrary to what some people believe, influenza vaccines, with or without thimerosal have a tremendous safety record. Over a billion doses have been provided, and only 293 injury claims have been made, in the last twenty-one years, against influenza vaccines. As for thimerosal, the health claims against it have not panned out. Nevertheless, you have two rational options: get a thimerosal-free one (I have heard posters getting that) or accept it and know that it may be the only shot he'll have to get with it, since the regular pediatric vaccines are all preservative free.

[Anonymous]

No for me, DH, or DS. If I were pregnant, the decision would be harder, as pregnant women do indeed seem to have a higher mortality rate than other people from this flu. I would seriously consider it then.

But, I'm not pregnant. I am like the other poster who said her gut was to not do it; that's just what I'm going with on this one. I'm not broadcasting this, but I find that when people ask and I say we're going to pass, they seem annoyed. I think everyone should do what they think is best, whether I agree with it or not.