Swine flu jab and breastfeeding. Is it ok? Nurse does not know!

grumpymoo · Nov 24th, 2009, 06:31 AM

Anyone had it or had any advice regarding BF please? I am due to have my jab, am desperate to have it as anyone that knows me knows how much I have been trying to avoid SF due to Rose.

Also does a BF mummy that has it pass on any immunity to their baby?

Would love to know x

freckleonear · Nov 24th, 2009, 06:35 AM

At the moment it is unknown whether immunity is passed on. Many (but not all) antibodies are passed on through breastmilk, so it seems fairly likely.

DolceBella · Nov 24th, 2009, 06:54 AM

It is safe to have while breastfeeding.

RaeRae · Nov 24th, 2009, 08:17 AM

My nurse wouldn't give it to me because there hasn't been any research into it and she didn't feel comfortable giving it to me. I appreciated her honesty. I've had my normal flu jab though and that one is ok.

angelstardust · Nov 24th, 2009, 13:21 PM

The swine flu vaccine is the exact same as the seasonal flu vaccine (except for swine flu being a different strain actually the same strain that caused the 1918 pandemic). Every year the seasonal flu vaccine contains different strains anyway depending on what strains are 'predicted' to be most virulent that year.

The virus itself in the vaccine is not the live virus, it is 'parts' of the virus that the body reacts to to create antibodies, that has been sterilised and deactivated (the RNA has been killed) then broken down using chemicals.

So basically, unless you are allergic to the virus itself (in which case it would be worse if you were to get the flu anyway) or eggs, then it's just as safe as the seasonal flu vaccine.

Can you tell I looked into this quite a bit? DS2 has cerebral palsy so is in the high risk group. He got both seasonal and swine flu vaccines after I researched it.

grumpymoo · Nov 24th, 2009, 13:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angelstardust

The swine flu vaccine is the exact same as the seasonal flu vaccine (except for swine flu being a different strain actually the same strain that caused the 1918 pandemic). Every year the seasonal flu vaccine contains different strains anyway depending on what strains are 'predicted' to be most virulent that year.

The virus itself in the vaccine is not the live virus, it is 'parts' of the virus that the body reacts to to create antibodies, that has been sterilised and deactivated (the RNA has been killed) then broken down using chemicals.

So basically, unless you are allergic to the virus itself (in which case it would be worse if you were to get the flu anyway) or eggs, then it's just as safe as the seasonal flu vaccine.

Can you tell I looked into this quite a bit? DS2 has cerebral palsy so is in the high risk group. He got both seasonal and swine flu vaccines after I researched it.

You know more than the nurse Angel!

TigerLady · Nov 24th, 2009, 13:27 PM

I had the nasal mist, which is an attenuated virus. I would have preferred the jab (as it is a killed virus), but it wasn't an option for me.

Had it 4 days ago and so far, so good.

Attenuated viruses actually have a higher chance of making you ill, as they are not completely killed and pieced.

I agree that is it not known if the immunity passes to LO, but it is likely. I figured I liked the idea of him "likely" getting immunity from me as opposed to him "definitely not" getting immunity if I didn't get the vaccine.

Both my husband and I had the mist -- neither of us have gotten sick. LO has not had any adverse effects that I can tell and he is exclusively BF. My mom got the shot and cares for LO full time while I am at work. She has had no ill effects either.

grumpymoo · Nov 24th, 2009, 13:50 PM

Thanks so much. Rose is exclusively bF too so was really worrying. x

pennysbored · Nov 24th, 2009, 13:53 PM

I got mine 2 weeks before Vincent was born, and I've had no problems. I know that's not quite the same, though.

Nov 24th, 2009, 06:31 AM	#1
grumpymoo Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 717	Swine flu jab and breastfeeding. Is it ok? Nurse does not know! Anyone had it or had any advice regarding BF please? I am due to have my jab, am desperate to have it as anyone that knows me knows how much I have been trying to avoid SF due to Rose. Also does a BF mummy that has it pass on any immunity to their baby? Would love to know x

Status: Offline

Nov 24th, 2009, 06:35 AM	#2
freckleonear Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Devon Posts: 2,733	At the moment it is unknown whether immunity is passed on. Many (but not all) antibodies are passed on through breastmilk, so it seems fairly likely.

Status: Online

Nov 24th, 2009, 06:54 AM	#3
DolceBella Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 4,286	It is safe to have while breastfeeding.

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Nov 24th, 2009, 08:17 AM	#4
RaeRae Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Cardiff Posts: 921	My nurse wouldn't give it to me because there hasn't been any research into it and she didn't feel comfortable giving it to me. I appreciated her honesty. I've had my normal flu jab though and that one is ok.

Status: Offline

Nov 24th, 2009, 13:21 PM	#5
angelstardust Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ayrshire, Scotland Posts: 2,318	The swine flu vaccine is the exact same as the seasonal flu vaccine (except for swine flu being a different strain actually the same strain that caused the 1918 pandemic). Every year the seasonal flu vaccine contains different strains anyway depending on what strains are 'predicted' to be most virulent that year. The virus itself in the vaccine is not the live virus, it is 'parts' of the virus that the body reacts to to create antibodies, that has been sterilised and deactivated (the RNA has been killed) then broken down using chemicals. So basically, unless you are allergic to the virus itself (in which case it would be worse if you were to get the flu anyway) or eggs, then it's just as safe as the seasonal flu vaccine. Can you tell I looked into this quite a bit? DS2 has cerebral palsy so is in the high risk group. He got both seasonal and swine flu vaccines after I researched it.

Status: Offline

Nov 24th, 2009, 13:27 PM	#7
TigerLady Mum (Mom) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: In a Cave Posts: 22,889	I had the nasal mist, which is an attenuated virus. I would have preferred the jab (as it is a killed virus), but it wasn't an option for me. Had it 4 days ago and so far, so good. Attenuated viruses actually have a higher chance of making you ill, as they are not completely killed and pieced. I agree that is it not known if the immunity passes to LO, but it is likely. I figured I liked the idea of him "likely" getting immunity from me as opposed to him "definitely not" getting immunity if I didn't get the vaccine. Both my husband and I had the mist -- neither of us have gotten sick. LO has not had any adverse effects that I can tell and he is exclusively BF. My mom got the shot and cares for LO full time while I am at work. She has had no ill effects either.

Status: Offline

Nov 24th, 2009, 13:50 PM	#8
grumpymoo Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 717	Thanks so much. Rose is exclusively bF too so was really worrying. x

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Nov 24th, 2009, 13:53 PM	#9
pennysbored Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Vancouver BC, Canada Posts: 2,357	I got mine 2 weeks before Vincent was born, and I've had no problems. I know that's not quite the same, though.

Status: Offline

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