This story hit home with me, as easily 1/3 of my friends are pregnant with their 2nd child. Health officials are saying this fall's H1N1 influenza ("swine flu") will likely be most hazardous to pregnant women.
However, I know of some very well-educated women who are still weary of getting vaccinated during pregnancy, as fears surrounding an adverse event or complication from the vaccination is not worth the risk for them.
I would love to hear from other women, based on sound research and literature that you have read: is it more risky to be vaccinated from the influenza virus(es) or is it more risky not to be vaccinated during pregnancy?
You can read more about the topic of vaccinating pregnancy woman for swine flu on EmpowHer: Pregnant Women Should Get Swine Flu Shot First.
Summary from the above article: "A study published in the July 29 issue of The Lancet should weigh heavily on the CDC panel's decision. It confirmed that pregnant women are at especially high risk of complications from the new flu strain." "Pregnant women who have been infected with H1N1 influenza have had a higher rate of hospitalization, about a fourfold increase compared with the general population and a higher proportion than expected of the deaths were among pregnant women...".
However, some of my "weary friends" may point out, "the H1N1 flu vaccine will be very much like seasonal flu vaccines, which have an excellent safety profile, Porcell-Pharr said. "However, no vaccine is 100 percent safe. This vaccine will be no exception," she added.
What are your thoughts?
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment2 Comments
As of now, I would not give this vaccine to my child or take it myself, pregnant or not.
"According to the FDA, candidate swine flu vaccines will be tested for one to three weeks on a few hundred children and adults before being released for public use in the fall." -- From http://www.nvic.org/vaccines-and-diseases/h1n1-swine-flu.aspx#howvaccinemade
One to Three weeks, just to see if they don't die from it? Or suffer from neurological disorders? What kind of long term effects does it have on people? What effects does it have on unborn, developing babies? This blows my mind.
I just cannot fathom how a new vaccine is being pushed on children and pregnant women without little to no knowledge of the effects this vaccine will have on an unborn child. My ob/gyn did not even recommend me getting the regular flu vaccine, in his words "Why willingly expose yourself?"
I am extremely hesitant with vaccines that have been around for years, let alone one that was just created and that the government decided to order 195 million doses of.
In 1976, President Ford ordered the mass vaccination for the swine flu because the outbreak and expected pandemic that never really did break out, the result? "Within weeks, reports surfaced of people developing Guillain-Barré syndrome, a paralyzing nerve disease that can be caused by the vaccine. By April, more than 30 people had died of the condition."
The vaccination was not necessary and devastating-- I hope our government does not make the same mistake twice for the sake of the people willing to take a vaccine to possibly save their unborn child's life.
Video: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9mh9f_swine-flu-1976-propaganda_webcam
July 31, 2009 - 6:08amhttp://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1894129,00.html
This Comment
I'm also concerned about this because my DIL is pregnant with our first grandchild. She has been having a difficult time, between seasonal allergies and morning sickness, which make her system even more compromised, right now. This is worrisome to me.
July 30, 2009 - 8:12pmThis Comment