Flu shots, pregnancy and the unborn child
Categories: Newborns, Just for moms, Babies, Pregnancy & birth, Health & safety, Development, In the news, Playground bureau
Hard to believe but it's already flu season again. Or, to be more accurate, it's really (hopefully) flu PREVENTION season. This week the Center for Disease Control whipped out a new, stronger than ever campaign to get pregnant women and young children vaccinated. This campaign, of course, is not without its controversy. Not so long ago, one of our commenters seemed to think the topic of vaccinations was my high horse, as I write about it frequently, but I can assure you that's not the case. I'm a parent, too, with the same concerns as many of you regarding vaccines and children's health--I'm just interested in getting as much information as possible and seeing how the whole thing turns out.
According to the CDC, children as young as six months of age should be getting flu vaccinations. It strongly recommended vaccinations for kids up to eighteen years old, pregnant women, healthcare workers and anyone over the age of fifty. Seems harmless enough, right? I mean, most of us have gotten at least one flu shot in our lives and for the most part we turned out OK. The problem with the flu vaccine, which contains thimerosal, is that thimerosal contains mercury. Yep, mercury. Rather DANGEROUS. Now, that said, we've all been assured that even if it did contain said mercury, the amount would be no more than that in a small can of tuna. Contrary to that, however, are the findings that the kind of mercury found in thimerosal differs from that found in tuna (methyl mercury) in that it stays in the system, namely the brain, for a lot longer period of time. This is not great news for a developing fetal brain.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists claim that pregnant women should be getting this vaccine and that there isn't any evidence of harmful effects to women or their unborn children. According to some that notion is quite misleading as it implies that tons of tests and research has been done on the subject, when, in fact, it has not. Still, what would my pediatrician say? Well, he'd tell me that the chances of something happening to my child as a result of the flu vaccine are a great deal smaller than what might happen if he remained unvaccinated. When one weighs the odds from that perspective the vaccination wins out.
Clearly, more research is needed and the results well-established before we make any uniform decisions with respect to vaccinating our children--unborn or not. The other side of the argument? Opt for what my pediatrician did--offer flu shots without thimerosal. Hopefully, pregnant women can get that option too.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jan Bay 9-27-2008 @ 9:03PM
You mean it's already flu vaccine DISCUSSION time again? Every year around this time I start my juggling act of the facts where I weigh the pros and cons of vaccinating my girls. The mercury thing is bad enough and searching for thimerosal free vaccines is not as easy as it should be.
But throw in a little one who is allergic to eggs and has asthma and the decisions get really tricky. Vaccinations as a whole have caused me to have many sleepless nights. The "what if" factor just about drives me insane especially for my youngest.
Jan from http://www.unique-baby-gear-ideas.com/
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Angela 9-27-2008 @ 11:42PM
I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 6 month old girls. My two year old is up to date on her vaccinations but my 6 mth old has never had any and she never will. We will not be giving either of them the flu shot. There are several factors: the mercury and the fact the the drug is produced up north (from TX) where the flu strain is so much different then here in the south. And, people weaken their immune systems when they continually put foreign substances into their bodies. It is a struggle and I have had many sleepless nights worrying about the consequences to my actions. But I am a SAHM, so my girls are not exposed to children on a regular basis and I believe God is watching over us.
Good luck to you other moms out there considering no flu shot; please consider all the information.
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ninainindia 9-28-2008 @ 12:29AM
I don't believe in the flu shot, I think it's completely unnecesary for most people. I also don't know anyone that actually gets it except for some elderly people.
We are overmedicating people! The last time I had the flu is years ago and I stayed in bed a few days to help it pass. No need to medicate.
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melissa 9-29-2008 @ 4:40PM
Two years ago I didn't get a flu shot. My son was 4 months old and I was at home with him so I didn't think it was necessary. But I thought otherwise when I landed in the ER on Thanksgiving because I was soooo sick. Turns out I had the flu and it was a strain the vaccination could have prevented. My son did not get the flu (my breast milk helped him) but he couldn't fight it completely and he got a respitory infection which turned into pneumonia and landed him in the hospital for 2 weeks! It was very scary! We now go every fall do our doctors' and get vaccinated. FluMist (the nasal spray) does not have Thimerosol and that is the route we take. I will never take that chance again!
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kimberly 9-29-2008 @ 8:16PM
I, too, have a six month old who has yet to be vaccinated against anything, and I doubt he ever will. I have two older sons, 23 and 19 -they are fine, Praise the Lord. When they were getting their childhood shots, it was a total of 10 - today that number has climbed to a series of 36.
Having worked in healthcare for 16 years, weighing all options and knowing the drug companies lobby hard FOR vaccines ( not for our protection, but their bottom line), the 'what if' factor and a 1 in 60 chance of Autism is too high. Not a chance I am willing to take. I declined the Flu shot when I was pregnant, refused the Hep B for my son at birth, and have taken him only for his first week check-up. Never sick a day in his life, with the exception of allergy symptoms which we control Homeopathically.
I applaud Jenny McCarthy for standing up and speaking out, and hope moms will at least educate themselves and make an imformed decision before injecting poisens into their children.
Funny - if you go by the Poisen Control Center guidelines, ANY amount of Mercury is too much, and Pregant women are cautioned not to eat certain fish (swordfish, etc.) which may contain levels of mercury, yet the CDC , doctors and drug companies cannot wait to inject this into little bodies and pregnant mommies. Who can you trust? Yourself - with self education.
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