For The Pregnant Ladies - Will you be getting the H1N1 vaccine?

[dnikki0928]

As you are all aware of the H1N1 flu (or swine flu), Doctors and researchers are stating that kids and pregnant woman are top priority in getting this vaccine - they are also saying it really isn't affecting the elderly population. But that pregnant woman are much encouraged to get this vaccine when it becomes available. Me, I basically work in the healthcare world - I'm a Massage Therapist and I come into contact with many people throughout a given day. So, with it being a new vaccine and all, will you be getting the vaccine? What are your thoughts?

[Lance06]

My doctor clearly stated to me that I should be getting this one and the flu shot. So I voted yes!!

[dnikki0928]

Thanks! I'm sure I will be getting one also. Do you know when they are supposed to be available?

[bluegenie2003]

My mom is a nurse and she highly recommended getting it. I also have a pacemaker, so I have to get the normal one anyway, so I'll be getting both.

[aly79]

i voted yes i normally get the flu shot anyways ive gotten it since i was 18   one yr i missed it and got horribly sick so i always get it. i have heard that it will be ready sometime in oct but im not to sure about when or if thats even true

[RawrDiino]

I am definitely NOT getting this vaccine. It is a LIVE vaccine and has already killed people. I'm not injecting a LIVE virus into myself while pregnant, or into any of my family. When the polio vaccine was first invented it was live, and it killed too many people. Now, the polio vaccine is an inactive virus. I just don't feel safe getting the vaccine. The "benefits" do NOT outweigh the risks, to me. Just because you get the vaccine doesn't mean you wont still catch the flu. I got my flu shot for the first time last year and ended up with a severe case of the flu, as did my son. I'm not going to get a potentially deadly medication injected into me just because it "MIGHT" protect me from a flu. A flu that - if you're a strong healthy young adult - you can fight by yourself.

[JoyRenee]

Agree with RawrDiino. Also, no one has released the ingredients in this vaccine. It could contain mercury for all you know.

So I voted, "NO WAY". I think it's more risky, at this particular point, to take that vaccine. And most likely I've already been exposed to H1N1. Everyone reacts to it differently. AND not to mention: more people have died from regular, seasonal flu than from this particular strand. It's a bunch of hoopla.

[Lance06]

Joy,

You really think it could be detrimental when doctors are clearly saying patients should get it?

[kmchenry254]

i say no way also....
even though its supposed to worsen this winter and all
im not to crazy about gettin injected with a live virus like rawrdiino was saying
i dont even get the regular flu shot
so far i been pretty healthy i rarely ever get sick
hopefully my health will stay up!

[RawrDiino]

My office manager had H1N1 - she's fine. I WAS EXPOSED TO HER, almost daily, while she had it before she found out thats what it was. I never caught it. I work in the medical field, and probably have been exposed to it who knows how many times.

Wash your hands frequently, and if you get sick go to the doctor. I'm not going to shoot myself with a potentially deadly liquid over something as benign as a flu bug. Here's the big thing - is doctors dont know ENOUGH about H1N1 OR the vaccine to say yay or nay on safety. And I know this because I WORK WITH DOCTORS. They're only saying "have the vaccine" cause they've been told we need it. Blah blah blah, I'm not risking my life, or my family.

When you have a live vaccine - your body sheds the vaccine through saliva, skin cells, feces and urine for weeks. Risking infecting everybody around you. In my honest opinion, the H1N1 vaccine is going to CAUSE the epidemic.

[Ready_4_Baby_2]

Yes. I even tried to get the regular Flu shot today and was denied. They told me to wait until October but I'm a little worried because we are going out of the country in a couple of weeks. Anyways when we get back we are getting the H1N1 and the regular flu shot. No chances here.

[JoyRenee]

Lance- yes I do. Doctors are not gods and often push very unnecessary procedures and things on patients. It's called defense medicine. And it is NOT always in the best interests of the patients or the country.

[JoyRenee]

I must also add that I have talked to doctors, to nurses- the consensus between them all has been the same: THEY DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT IT TO PROMOTE IT. The people pushing it are all government officials.

Sorry, with RawrDiino on this one. My family is far too precious to risk on a live vaccine that no one will give critical information about.

I vaccinate my children against other diseases and they're up-to-date. But this is one vaccine that my DH and I are adamantly against.

[Sunkissed19]

im with the "NO WAY" crew. i dont really believe in vaccines besides the very important ones that they know a whole ton about like the chicken pox vaccine and all the other childhood ones.  but i dont get the flu shot so im not going to get the swine flu shot either. it makes me more nervous to inject myself with it then to face the world and leave it up to chance. i havent heard of anyone dying from swine flu in washington and im not so sure there will be a huge epidemic of it in the winter time...but thats just me. my baby is too precious for me to inject myself with a practically unkown trial drug...until theyre experts and know the pros and cons better than just swine flu or no swine flu then im not taking it! im with joy if the docs cant tell u exactly whats in it then i am not sticking it anywhere near my unborn child.

[MaryAK]

I'm not going to get it.  And, I hope I don't regret not getting it.  But, it's still too new of a vaccine and there isn't any research at all abou tlong term effects on the unborn baby.  Also, I am pretty sure the CDC said they are no longer giving live vaccines and that was a thing of the past.

[spade22]

If the H1N1 virus does reach a state of pandemic, as predicted by the CDC, then any pregnant women that becomes infected with the virus is potentially risking her life as well as that of her unborn baby.  Current estimates suggest that up to 25% of individuals could be inflicted w/ H1N1.  Pregnant women are in a "high risk" category and could suffer much more serious complications from H1N1 than the general public.

The H1N1 vaccine is currently being manufactured and will be subject to clinical trials BEFORE it will ever be made publicly available.  While any risks from the vaccine are not known CURRENTLY they will be before the vaccine is distributed.

Some of the vaccines in clinical trials are made from the live virus however, vaccines will also be available from attenuated and inactivated virus.

There is a very good reason why the government is recommending the certain individuals get the H1N1 vaccine.  Studies have shown that this virus targets pregnant women and the consequences can be quite severe.  

Anyone that chooses not to get the H1N1 vaccine should be aware of the actual facts regarding this vaccine which are available from the cdc website.

[Linzola1]

I am not pregnant... I am not sure if I am getting it or not.. For a while I siad I was but I want to speak with my doctor and sons ped before making a decision. I trust bothe docs to tell me the facts they know.

With Julian having a Congenital heart defect that if he were to get the flu could cause some complications but wany yo ask the Cardiologist when we go. On the other hand I am a stay at home mom and he rarely has contact with other children so Im not sure the risk is as high for him as it would be if he went to a child care facility.

My husband and I were going to TTC but decided it may be smart to wait until the brunt of this has passed and I would not want to get sick and harm my unborn baby as well....

Thanks Spade for the facts they are very helpful!

[claire38]

5 vaccines (measles, mumps, rubella, polio, and varicella) (varicella is chicken pox) are LIVE virus vaccines. i learned this in my medical assistant classes so because it is a live virus doesnt mean its not as bad as the other vaccines. the H1N1 is just a newer vaccine. but like RawrDiino said if u get a flu shot and still get the influenza, it just means u got a differernt strain than what u were vaccinated for.

just a reminder for those whom get confused sometimes, the flu vaccine is for influenza NOT the stomach flu. i get lots of patients asking why they still got the flu (stomach flu) not knowing the vaccine is against influenza.

[babyblurb]

I had the flu for the first time this jan, me and my daughter it was aweful. So...I will definitely talk to the doc about it when i go for my first prenatal visit next week. I cant imagine getting sick like that again especially while pregnant.

[lavenderinscence]

are you kidding me? hasn't anyone read around on the internet or heard reports of this "Vaccine" ? it has INCREDIBLY high levels of mercury ... WHICH CAUSES MENTAL RETARDATION AND AUTISM!! WHY would they recommend pregnant women to get it and NOT elderly? trying to dumb down the country? i'd rather take my risk with the virus, because the death rates aren't any higher than regular flu, and i'd rather be sick for  few weeks than doom an unknowing innocent child to a lifetime of difficulties and handicaps all because "the government" recommended a shot. please people think for yourselves and  do research yourself!! just because a doctor says its good doesn't mean it is!!

[slzerbst]

Blah blah blah... is basically what I'm hearing here, so I figured that I would join in and give ya'll my two cents.  First off I agree with everyone who has said that the "normal" flu kills more people per year that the H1N1 that is coming (or so they think).  Now my OB hasn't tried to sway me into getting it and he hasn't said not to either, because truly he doesn't know.  And everything that the CDC has said this far is just based on the patters of other flus and virious, which makes sence because H1N1 hasn't hit us ye or hasn't become a pandemic yett.  Now I'm still not sure why there is such an up-raw about this at this time, because we really aren't sure how it's going to affect everyone.  Like someone had said before, they were exposed to it everyday before the women found out that she was even sick, and nothing happen to her.  So I beilive that as long as you're washing your hands on a regual bases and trying to stay away from people who are sick, we should all be fine.  

However, pregnant women who work in the health care field should possibly get the vaccination because of their risk to exposure and the fact that it could harm your baby.  All other pregnant women should be awear of the affects of the flu and to seek medical help if and when is neccessary.

[spade22]

The trace amount of mercury in vaccines does NOT cause autism - this has been PROVEN by MANY scientific studies.  The only reason that a paranoia has developed regarding mercury in vaccines is because a doctor, who has since lost his license, published data in a prestigious medical journal that was based on a very, small group of people.  The medical journal has since stated they would not have published that article has they had all the facts at the time (some information was withheld).  There is simply NO link between mercury-containing vaccines and autism or any other medical condition.

[GMB08]

i am a highschool teacher...ill be 11 weeks pg 2m....and i dont know whether or not i will get the flu shot...the scary thing about h1n1 vaccine is the fact that our nurse said it is not fda approved...maybe it will be..who knows...and the side effects are unknown....side effects..to me are bad enough......not knowing or being aware of the possible ones..........make me ill.....she said it should be ready about oct 15...univ of pitt..carnegie mellon already have cases..as well as ohio schools..and flordia...and its not even flu season.....i am confused...and never got the flu shot..so i dont know if i will get that either.....

[lavenderinscence]

well, since there IS a link between mercury and autism (that is why DOCTORS tell you not to eat fish that contain large amounts of mercury while pregnant), it has been documented that the SWINE FLU vaccine in particular has VERY high amounts of mercury ... it follows logically that if exposed to high levels of mercury (regardless of the source) you increase the risk of autism and mental retardation in your children. Why take the added risk? it's not worth it, the swine flu is unlikely to kill you in the first place. I pity you all who swallow advice without ever thinking for yourself or your progeny. For the love of God, do some research.

[dnikki0928]

First off, I wanted people's opinions on this topic...Thank you all for telling me how you feel but please QUIT criticizing one another for their beliefs!! This was NOT intended to become an argument!