My GP surgery have just phoned me to offer me the flu and swine flu jab (I had a VSD operation at 8 months old, similar to a PDA but affects the main aorta of the heart as opposed to outside the heart) so they said I could have a free one...I enquired about Emily and they said she can have one at 26 weeks, so have to wait three weeks...at least I will have mine and will see the effects before she has hers...I heard today that a pregnant woman of 18 weeks had her done and all she feels is icky and fluey...but other than that she is ok...
Think I might be worrying about nothing...thanks for all your replies, you are all such wonderful lovely ladies...x

Swine Flu jabs are rationed so I'd say they would only be available on the nhs and high riskers will get them free if they are offered.

CazzyG posted an interesting point about the jabs a while back. From memory it was that the actual carrier vaccination they use is the same as the flu jab, it is only the H1N1 part of it that is different so there is no real risk.

I won't be having one and neither will Abby. I have never in my life had flu. I tend not to pick up colds etc either. Neither does Mr Foo. Abby isn't out and about very often so I don't think any of us are at particular risk. In almost 7 months, Abby hasn't so much as had a sniffle. As the jabs are in short supply, others will benefit more.

Wow are you serious, no colds? Emily and I have had 4 in the space of 10 weeks, we don't go out that much but we have so many children in the family who visit I swear that is the source of them all. I should ban them from visiting until the summer.
It is strange that i have been told that Emily only needs the swine flu jab when my friends premmie now has bronchilitis and there is no jab for that. She was told her baby would get it because he was in SCBU...and that they usually get it at 3-6 months - Nov - March. Am now paranoid about that...have just got over my SIDS paranoia...now am worrying about this...oh joy!

Not a one. But we also don't have heaps of visitors (I sound like fooey nae mates!) and I'm totally anal about stopping folk who are ill coming here. But I did go to my mums for a week when she had a cold but Abby never picked it up.

There will always be something to worry about!

I got my jag today (through work tho - social care) so far no timescale for babies here. Im not sure now if I want Matthew to get it now as my arm is KILLING me and would hate to think of him in pain! But one day with a sore arm versus the potential risk of catching the virus???? x

I believe it was announced today that all children from 6 months to 5 years are to be offered the jab.

I just don't know if I'm gonna.

The swine flu vaccine has been developed the same way as the seasonal flu vaccine is developed every year. It has also undergone the same amount of testing. As it's effectively the same vaccine every year, but with a different flu strain, it does not need to go through the same amount of clinical trials as a brand new vaccine. A lot of the articles in the media are scaremongering and pretty inaccurate.

I had mine this morning - I'm asthmatic and have had pretty bad flu in the past ending up with me catching pneumonia so I do my best to make sure I'm protected now. I'm still breastfeeding so hopefully Charlotte will get some protection through that. But she will get the vaccination when she's called for it. Little ones are at risk of things like febrile convulsions and one of the key characteristics of swine flu is the sudden onset of a high temperature. I understand that it's a difficult decision for many but for me it's been a no brainer.


I think we've become a bit complacent here because after an initial flurry, things seem to have died down. But IIRC from microbiology lectures at uni, it's usually the second wave where the majority of cases are seen and this is yet to hit. It's expected during the normal flu season which hasn't really hit here yet.

Thats Archie got his now. Will let you know how he gets on, oh and babies get another one in 4 weeks time as its only half a dose they get each time. xx

Cheers - I knew you knew something interesting about it and was hoping you'd clarify!

I'm still on the fence. I'm just not sure she needs it, but as you say the complications of flu can be brutal. Hmmmm.

Dona, How's Archie now? I feel reassured somehow that its only a half dose now and in 4 weeks xx