H1N1 Vaccine

Preconception & Pregnancy Prenatal Health & Fitness
21

From what I understand, H1N1 vaccine is new the same way that the seasonal flu vaccine is new every year. The base of the vaccine is fully tested and has been used for years. They just tweak which flu it is targeting by using that flu virus (after killing or incapacitating it). So, I don't understand why people are saying that this one is new and untested. If that were the case, every year's vaccine is new and untested. The potential side effects of the vaccine are known. This is not something that they came up with on the fly and are crossing their fingers that it works. No vaccine is 100% effective. But like all flu vaccines, this one has been tested and has just been designed to target the H1N1 virus.

Definitely speak to your OB/Midwife/Prenatal care provider to get their opinion. I have heard many people warning about the vaccine being more risky to a pregnant women actually getting H1N1 flu. Please speak to a medical professional. The effect of this flu on pregnant women is potentially severe. The typically seen side effects of the vaccine (soreness, swelling, fever) are not as bad as landing in the ICU.

22

I am not pregnant but I am COPD. My Pulmonary doctor said he isn't giving this swine flu shot to any of his patients in any form as he is not turning them into test pigs for the government. Instead he has given me a script for Tamiflu 75mg. to take at the on set of systems...which he said would be aches and pains before it effects the lungs....and said I should call him when I start the medication.

Three days before he gave me the reg. flu shot, he had me get an ESR blood test. This tests for any infection going on in the body. If the levels of this test are high, it means my immune system is doing well therefore ok to take the reg. flu shot...he also took my temperature right before giving me the shot. So far so good...I'm doing well.

The doctor decided to do this blood test because 3 years in a row I had gotten sick all winter and each time it started 4 days after I had taken the flu shot....I was on antibiotics and Prednisone and in and out of the hospital all winter long 3 years in a row. The nurses joked saying they named a room after me. So for 2 years after, I refused the flu shot. First year I did fine, second year I had two hospital stays....not good.

I've learned the benifets of eating healty foods, and taking my vitamins and doing daily exercises in keeping my Immmune System healthy.. I even take an over the counter product called "airborne"....check it out ladies it's also made for children. I stopped hugging people, and when young children run up to hug me I stand up to make sure they get me from the waist down. I put my arms around them and tell them how glad I am to see them. I use my hand sanitizer everywhere I go...especially shopping and never do I sit and wait in doctor waiting rooms where sick people gather all day long....I tell them at the desk I'm here but I'll be waiting right out side the door, come get me when the doctor is ready to see me. When a friend is sick, on the phone I'll ask them what they need...I'll do their errands, shop and even cook for them ((in my house))) but I leave it all at their front door for them.. I do realize and know I can't live in a bubble, but I feel I don't have to be stupid about things either.

My GP doctor hasn't recieved the swine flu shots as yet and hasn't decided if he's going to use them or not when he does get his supplies...he said, he just doesn't have enough information on it.

My neighbor who has 2 very young children ((4ys.and 2ys. and both in day care)))) said she is not giving her children the reg. or swine flu shots at all...She and her husband aren't taking them either..

I question our government. On one hand they are pushing all of us to take the swine flu shot which has not been tested on humans, yet they have announced it effects young children yet they also announced they wont be closing down the schools this year to sanitizes as they had done when all this started when a student got sick. It makes me feel it's all about MONEY, not our health, not about saving people lives.

It's a huge decision for all of us to make. NO right, No wrong. Make your decision and what is meant to be, will be.
Everyone is in my prayers....

23

Hi Annie;

I think the bets answer to your question would come from Center for Disease Control and I pasted the link for you and they speceifically adress concerns of pregrant women in relation to H1N1 vaccine.

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/pregnant.htm

Secondly, I was in my Gynecologist's office yesterday (He was listed in "Best doctors of 2009" as per New York Magazine)and he had a sign posted that they are recommending pregnant women to get the H1N1 vaccine.

Hope it helps. Good Luck !

24

I am 14 weeks along and am worrying about the same thing. I did recently hear you could ask for a thimerasol free vaccination. Please let me know what you decide or if you obtain any valuable info. My OB is storngly urging me to get it, particurly because I work in a public school and if any child is exposed, he said i woul dahve to take tamaflu anyway.

25

I would not take the vaccine,and I am not letting my children take it. Dr. Oz is not letting his daughter's or his wife take it. Here are some links for you-follow your instincts, they never lead you wrong:

http://www.mercola.com/article/swine-flu/Swine-Flu-Update-2.htm

26

I know most people don't agree with me, I hate to sound like some kind of crazy conspiracy theorist, but I wouldn't take the vaccine if I were you. Recently I had a similar debate about whether my husband and I, or even our 9 mo old, should get the regular flu vaccine. I had a gut feeling about it (bad feeling) as we are all healthy and have never had flu shots. My pediatrician strongly recommended it and scared us about the severity of infuenza in infants. However I did some research and was horrified by the info I found. I got a news letter from Revive Wellness center (Dr. Artemis Morris) that you may want to look over before getting the vaccine, especially the part about Mercury - a well known neurotoxin ! (i.e. last thing in the world a pregnant woman should be ingesting). I'm still torn about the decision but I think it is important to make a well-informed one. Unfortunately due to the political powers in this world, it is often hard to get the real information we need.

"Is the average child at high risk of mortality due to H1N1? Two-thirds of 36 children who died from 2009 H1N1 influenza infection had underlying conditions, and many of the rest had subsequent bacterial infections, reported by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The children's underlying conditions were primarily cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, or longstanding respiratory or cardiac disease. Some children without underlying conditions suffered bacterial co-infection, prompting clinicians to suspect bacterial infection in children who return with high fever after apparently getting better. One of the best natural anti-biotic is garlic to which there have been no cases of resistance".

"Are the "other" ingredients in the flu vaccine harmful?
Dr. Donald Miller, MD, said that two-thirds of this year's flu vaccines contain 25 micrograms of thimerosal. Thimerosal is 49 percent mercury by weight. We already know not to eat too much fish due to the high mercury content since nearly all fish contains trace amounts of methylmercury with tuna fish containing 9.2 micrograms per ounce(6). This is why purified fish oils are recommended over eating fish until we can clean up our water.
EACH DOSE OF THESE FLU VACCINES CONTAINS MORE THAN 250 TIMES THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY'S SAFETY LIMIT FOR MERCURY. The population most at risk for brain damage due to this extra mercury in the vaccine is CHILDREN AND FETUSES (caution in pregnant women) because mercury is a neurotoxin and their brains are still developing. In addition to mercury, flu vaccines also contain other hazardous ingredients like: Formaldehyde -- a known cancer-causing agent, Aluminum -- a neurotoxin that has been linked to Alzheimer's disease, Triton X-100 -- a detergent, and Phenol (carbolic acid). Why these are added, I don't know, but I do know that the "other" ingredients in the flu vaccine may pose a risk to some people that get the vaccine and that risk may be greater than the benefits of getting the vaccine."
Dr. Artemis Morris, ND, L.Ac
Medical director, Revive Wellness Center

27

Perhaps the best thing to do is to arm yourself w/ knowledge- research this more.
There are several sites that can give you objective, research based information that is devoid of political drive (which is actually not the case w/ CDC or your local health dept.)
NVIC- National Vaccine Information Center is one such organization;
another may be the EWG- Environmental Working Group formed by a group of research scientists who aim for real scientifically based decisions; not moved by politics or corporate money.
Mercola.com and Dr. Tenpenney are knowledgeable about vaccine issues; Dr. Tenpenney having been a vaccine expert in the industry.

WHatever you do, do not feel rushed into making a decision. Do what you can to stay healthy; eating immune supporting foods is key.

28

didn't read all your responses...
but my feeling is that if you are ok with the "regular" flu shot, then the H1N1 one is no different. its no more experimental than the regular flu shot - i could see how people who won't get the flu shot also won't get the H1N1, but definitely don't understand why someone would get one and not the other.

from all medical professionals i've talked to and all the research - it's made the exact same way as the seasonal flu shot (at least the injectible, i dunno about the nasal one).
the way my doctor put it: they have a template for the flu vaccine, they just plug in which strains their research shows them will be worst that particular year and make it from that. if the H1N1 had been been considered early enough, it would have been rolled right into the seasonal flu shot... but since it wasn't, they used the SAME template to make it that they've been using for the "regular" flu shots for years.

that being said - i'm 18 weeks pregnant and still haven't 100% decided on the shots for myself. all my doctor said was he couldn't make the decision for me, but that there's almost definitely more chance of dying from the flu (any strain) than from having bad side effects or death from the shot.

29

Hey Annie, I know it's a hard decision. I am 4 months pregnant with my second. I have always gotten the reg flu shot. Even my last pregnancy, in 2nd trimester though. I just received the reg. flu shot on Friday mercury/thirmerosol free one. I plan on getting the H1N1 when my doctor gets that. My daughter (2 yrs old) just got merc free reg flu shot and nasal mist H1N1 from her pediatrician. Obliviuosly I feel it is important to vaccinate ourselves and our children. Just my opinion after much research.

30

Although i don't know Titianna C, she took the time to tell you what most people dont know. You need to read her response and re read it until it really clicks to understand what she said. She gave you a world of information that is so on the money.
She is well educated on this topic.
regarding your doctor who said the benefits out way the risks, go to you tube and search beautiful cheerleader develops dystonia... one in a million yeah maybe until its you.

31

Hi Annie! Congrats on your pregnancy. i am expecting my third at the end of Feb. 2010. :)
I would NEVER get any flu shot while pregnant, especially this one since NO ONE knows what kind of effects it will have on the mother or baby. And they're already setting the stage for any kind of bad reactions to be coincidental...
This morning I watched a video on it that featured the head of the National Vaccine Information Center and it is a MUST WATCH for everyone!!! I am trying to find you the link but it will not load at the moment and I think it's because of the amount of traffic it's getting. Anyway, I think this will get you there. Try it...I hope it works. It was VERY informative!

I had to repost this link this morning...the one I posted last night I think was wrong. Try this one.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/10/21/Special-Swine-Flu-Update.aspx

32

I am wondering the same thing! So many unknowns and some side effects are not seen for years. I am most concerned about the preservatives in the shots. How do they know that giving a pregnant woman two doses of the additional chemicals in vaccines are safe? Where is the studies on pregnant women getting a normal flu shot AND a H1n1 shot in one year?

33

Hi- please make sure you go to nytimes.com and find article on pregnancy and swine flu that ran this week. Story of pg woman who nearly died, and her unborn child who did. It's no joke. You should get the vaccine imo.

34

Annie,

Pregnant women at are particular risk for developing serious complications from the H1N1 flu. This Q&A from the CDC should answer a lot of your questions about the H1N1 vaccine and pregnancy (including getting the shot during the first trimester):

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/pregnancy/

If you ask enough people, you will get conflicting information about what to do regarding this vaccine. Please try to educate yourself with objective information from reliable public health sources, such as the CDC. The NY Times also ran a useful op-ed piece dispelling many of the myths about this vaccine:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/opinion/12offit.html?scp=2&sq=h1n1%20myths&st=cse

And here is a tragic story of someone who was not fortunate enough to have the vaccine available when she was pregnant:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/health/20pregnant.html

Everyone in my family will be getting both flu vaccines this year. Ask your doctor if a thimerosal (mercury)-free vaccine is available, since that is better for your baby. Good luck making your decision, and wash your hands a lot!

Allison

35

First off, congratulations on your pregnancy! I am 11 1/2 weeks along and have decided to get the H1N1 vaccine once it's available. My OB strongly recommended receiving it and said it's no more harmful than the seasonal flu vaccine, which I just got last week from my primary doctor. I asked her about the H1N1 vaccine and she said it's okay to get it, but that the H1N1 flu is mild and not to be too concerned if I catch it before I can be vaccinated against it. I hope this helps with your decision.

36

I had the same reservations. My OB originally advised against getting the live H1N1 vaccine. When the dead version became available, my OB strongly recommended getting that one. I got the regular flu shot in October, the H1N1 vaccine in November and delivered by baby at the beginning of December. She is completely healthy and neither one of us have had any problems.I recommend you get it just as a precaution. Mainly because it helps build the baby's immunity to it and keep you feeling well.