Take the Flu and H1N1 Shots or Not???

V., during both of my pregnancies I go tthe flu shot with no complications. The shot protects you from the respiratory flu not the stomach flu, which it sounds like the other woman had. If you have certain allergies (to eggs) you are not allowed to get the shot. I too work in a school setting (high school), and to me the risk did not outweigh the benefit. As I am sure you have been reading pregnanat women are the most at risk. You should be first in line to get the H1N1 as well. Hospital workers are getting the manditory shots now, and OB workers are to be first, because the risk is so high. Each year the seasonal flu virus vaccination is different, they take the 3 most common viruses for that season and put them in the vaccination. So, every year it is a different combination of viruses. In essense it is just as new as the H1N1 shot every year. Just in this case they are singling out the H1N1 virus. Soon they will probably do a combination shot of seasonal flu that contains the H1N1 vaccine as well. I was nervous at first about all of it, but I have a 3 month old that can't get any of the shots, so we must protect him as a family. I work in a high school, my husband in a college, and my daughter goes to preschool. So, as a family we are going to take every chance we can to protect my son who is most vulnerable. Hope this helps, and stay well!

Hi V.,
I have never had a flu shot until last Friday. My ob/gyn recommended I get one since I'm pregnant and due in April. He was very frank with me and said he too, has never had a flu shot and that he was pretty skeptical about all of the hype around H1N1. That being said, he feels that he'd rather I get the vaccines (both seasonal and h1n1) than to see me get sick. My son's pediatrician was pro-flu shot so he has had them since he was 6 months old and I think it's helped him. I commute on a train daily and my son is in daycare full time so it's a must as far as I'm concerned. I have had zero adverse affects since getting the flu shot last Friday. In fact on Friday I wasn't feel great and since the shot I somehow have felt better. I think this is a touchy subject and people have a lot of opinions but the flu shot has been around for some time and I think it does more good than harm. Good luck with your decision and congrats on your pregnancy!
L.

I too am a teacher and also have a child in daycare.

I will definitely be getting both shots, provided I can figure out where to get the H1N1 shot.

There are risks to everything we do. However, in this case the risks from getting the illnesses are way greater than the risks from getting the vax.

Kudos to you for working in elementary computer science - I can't imagine the germ factory that those keyboards are!

Just say No to H1N1 and the flu shot! Look into prenatal chiropractic instead. Most doctors will not be giving the h1n1 vaccine to their own children... Why should you give it to your developing fetus?

Get informed and look at the risk and benefits. I personally will never get the flu shot again, I got it when I was pregnant and I had a reaction to it that I went to labor and was so sick I had to be in isolation for a week. I didn't meet my baby for a whole week and he was sick because he came early. But everyone is different, before that incident when I got the flu shot I would get sick right after. As far as the H1N1 I wouldn't do it due to the lack of studies on it and we don't really know anything on it. Good Luck and congrats on the pregnancy.

I would not take the H1N1 shot. Most physicians don't even take it. They came out with that vax in 5 months. So there has been very little research done. The mercury level is extremely high. I would google & do lots of research before even taking a flu vax. I've never gotten the flu vax, & have never had the flu. I'm 41 yrs. old. Even people who get the flu vax still catch the flu, so why even take the risk? A lot of vaccines here in the U.S. are banned in other countries. I wonder why?? Do your own research so you can know the facts for yourself.

V.,

I only had a flu shot one time in my life. I was pregnant with my first. Of course, they are considered to be high risk and they want you to get one. Also, I was doing in home day care on top of that which put me at a greater risk. I did the shot. I became sicker after that shot than I ever was in my entire life. I will never forget that. I became so sick for so many straight hours, I thought that I was going to loose the baby. I am not a dramatic person, it really was that bad. This is not a normal reaction for most people, but I will never again get a flu shot nor do I allow any of my kids to get flu shots. They tell you that you can't get the flu from the shot, but after what happened to me, no one will ever convince me that is true. I am a big fan of lots of hand washing and Lysol the house (knobs, phones, toys) every day during this season. Last year (knock on wood) a cold was the only thing the kids & my husband had & I did not get sick once. Keep you keyboards clean in your classroom... Congrats on the new baby!