I'm sure there is already a thread for this but i'm at work and dont really have time to read through everything so just wondered if i could get some quick answers??

I have just been called by my doctors advising that they strongly recommend i have a jab so booked an appointment but does anybody know what sort of risks if any are involved??

there are a lot of threads on this, but after speaking to my gp, my midwife, and doing a bit of research online myself i decided to get it. got it last sunday. its not a live vaccine and it hasnt been rushed out like some ppl are saying. its just another form of flu, but instead of targeting the elderly like normal flu, it targets pregnant ladies and kids. i think its definetly in your best interests to get it!

im really really struggling with this one
xx

Hey, I hope nobody minds if I post my answer from another thread.

Swine flu is no worse than seasonal flu in terms of severity (for most) or the overall number of people who will die. The difference is that 90% of those that have died have had healthy immune systems with pregnant women being more succeptible to complications. With the seasonal flu, 90% of those who die are elderly and immunocompromised patients. So it's a difference of demographics that makes this a concern for us mummies-to-be, not severity.

Also, in terms of a long-term safety trial- the seasonal flu jab is new every year as it contains the synthisized proteins of a DEAD flu virus. None can go through long-term safety trials for this reason- it changes every season. So when you hear somebody say that the vaccine has been 'rushed out' or hasn't gone through enough testing, this is not exactly true. It is an attenuated flu vaccine which has been around for over a decade- it is just the actual TYPE of dead virus that differs.

The Swine Flu jab is no different in that it is also an attenuated vaccine- MEANING, that it is created by synthisizing the protein of a DEAD flu virus. There is no other difference so it is the same as any seasonal flu vaccine.

Having said that, most pregnant women are given un-adjuvenated flu jabs, so the ajuvenated version has less scientific data behind it in terms of safety. The CDC says that BOTH versions are safe for pregnant women but there is slightly more data on the un-adjunvenated type with pregnant women. The un-adjuventated H1N1 vaccine is identical to every yearly flu jab given to pregnant women for over a decade, except the TYPE of DEAD virus protein differs.

I am not pro or against the vaccine I just feel that there is a lot of misinformation surrounding it. Once you have the information, the choice is a personal one

Hope this helps!

i've read a little bit more now, but to be honest it has just confused me even more!!

Hi

I'm in the same boat as you, completely confused by it all, but one thing i have read is that they expect when it gets even colder that the number of people catching swine flu will rise which will be basically the next few months.. also your more at risk the further along you are...so i'm leaning towards having it just because the next few months are when i'll be getting fairly advanced and will potentially also be when it does start to get really contagious.
Its so hard tho, for everything i read about taking it, I read something else saying not too... bit of a dilema!!

Lisax

It is a very confusing issue that Im struggling with too. I havent actually been offered the jab and am desperately trying to keep some perspective on the situation. I've been checking the following site for weekly info.

http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&HP...=1231252394302

I'm taking media reports with a pinch of salt as trying to see past the scaremongering to find actual statistics which is like a needle in a haystack but this link gives you an indication of how the flu is actually affecting the population.

Ive also been reading a lot about this and have chosen not to have it when im called in too...... just not comfortable about it to be honest but everyones different x

Hmm honestly i hadnt given it a second thought until my hubby said are you sure you want to do it? now i'm starting to panic, i'm a fairly healthy person and very rarely get ill or colds (touch wood) but what Lisa080 said makes a lot of sense, i would imagine its going to be at its worst late on in my pregnancy

I can't imagine not getting the shot. I already got mine. I feel so much better knowing I'm protected and my baby will get that protection from my breast milk after he's born too.