Whooping Cough Jab

[SB75]

Hi

Has anyone with Hypothyroidism and PA had the Whooping Cough Jab whilst pregnant? Just wondered if any side effects etc. I know the jab is very new so it's hard to say what long term affects are.

Thank you

[shaws Administrator]

I would wait awhile and think you are right to query any vaccines, particularly if you're pregnant This is a link but would definitely read the comments from the public.

bbc.co.uk/news/health-19751209

[SB75 in reply to shaws]

Thanks for the link, very informative. I didn't know that the vaccine was combined. I don't need a booster of the other vaccines included & I'm sure most people don't. I have a real issue with combined vaccines..

[shaws Administrator in reply to SB75]

It does make you very wary, especially if they are just trying to bump up the vaccines. I think baby is protected in the first months through his Mother.

I, too, wouldn't like combined vaccines. We already have a comprised autoimmune system, so who knows what that could mean.

[SB75 in reply to shaws]

My gut instinct is to always question the "recommendations"; I've already declined the flu jab many times.... Thank you for the reassurance, I will do further research and then decide.

[shaws Administrator in reply to SB75]

I don't have the flu jabs either. I am past retirement age and have only had the 'flu once' and was in bed for three days. So if I had one each year that would be more than 60 'flu injections.

[Joyia in reply to shaws]

Me neither shaws, there is some hoo ha going on at the moment about the latest flu jabs being inefficient anyway.

[eeng]

I wouldn't take anything I did't absolutely need while I was pregnant. Why take the risk? However you should be monitored by an endo for your hypothyroidism while pregnant because you will need extra thyroxine. If your TSH goes above 2ish you may have an increased risk of miscarriage.

[Girlpower]

Hi - read the original message about the whooping cough vaccine for pregnant ladies - it's not about bumping up figures, it's because newborn babies get most immunity from their mums - and that newborn babies do not get their first immunisations until they are 8 weeks old, there has been an increase in numbers of babies dying/ ending up with brain damage from whooping cough. When I had my son 2 1/2 years ago this was not available and as a consequence spent more or less his first 8 weeks at home for fear of going out, there was at the time an outbreak in our local area including 2 of our friends who we had to exclude from seeing him - their coughs lasted for months! I am speaking as a parent and a recently qualified health visitor. I would not hesitate to he vaccinated, it's a risk on a life that I wouldn't want to take.

Hope all goes well with your pregnancy xx

[SB75]

Thank you for all the messages and I appreciate what you're saying Girlpower; as a Health Visitor, I believe you would advise getting vaccinated.

I am lucky to be closely monitored by my Endo and the midwife and to date, I've felt much better than I have in years. My main concerns are that the vaccine has only been recently introduced, that it's combined, and is it really necessary? It's a 'prevention' and not 100% guaranteed ( depending how Whooping Cough is contracted).

Like Shaw's, I do not have the Flu Vaccine either, for similar reasons.

There are so many people who now have the flu vaccine, (not just the 'vulnerable') this is worrying and should be a huge concern for medical professionals - it's like over prescribing antibiotics to patients for years and now realising that many are either immune or like myself, allergic!

I won't even start on Pharmaceutical companies who create these drugs/vaccines and the politics involved... I believe in choice for the patient, transparency of information, and providing the best care possible, I know, very idealistic. This is why I joined organisations like TUK and PA Society - fighting for patient rights.