2 Reasons You Shouldn't Get the H1N1 Vaccine If You're Pregnant
We've all been hearing a lot of information on the news lately about the H1N1 vaccine.
Pregnant women especially have been being told that they need this vaccine in order to protect themselves and their baby. But do they really?
There is evidence that getting this vaccine if you're pregnant may actually do more damage than good.
Here are the 2 main reasons to reconsider getting the H1N1 vaccine if you're pregnant:
- The H1N1 vaccine contains a preservative called thimerosal which contains mercury. Several states including California have banned the use of this preservative in influenza vaccines, and yet here it is being used in the H1N1 vaccine. Vaccines containing thimerosal have been linked to increased autism rates in children.
- Adjuvants are being considered as an additional ingredient to the H1N1 vaccine -- in order to stretch the number of dosages available. There is conern that without adjuvants, there won't be enough of the vaccine to vaccinate everyone. Adjuvants have been shown to cause auto immune disorders in mice. There is some concern this could also translate to people. Also, some war veterans have claimed that adjuvants in vaccines are what caused the Gulf War Syndrome that so many U.S. veterans suffer from.
read the CDC web site, Regina -
Does the 2009 H1N1 flu shot have mercury in it?
There is no evidence that thimerosal (a mercury preservative in vaccine that comes in multi-dose vials) is harmful to a pregnant woman or a fetus. However, because some women are concerned about thimerosal during pregnancy, vaccine companies are making preservative-free seasonal flu vaccine and 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine in single-dose syringes for pregnant women and small children. CDC advises pregnant women to get flu shots either with or without thimerosal.
Does the 2009 H1N1 flu shot have an adjuvant or squalene in it?
Adjuvants are agents that are sometimes added to a vaccine to make it more effective. There are no adjuvants (such as squalene) in either the 2009 H1N1 or seasonal flu shot used in the United States.
To address your first issue, you can request preservative free to get the vaccine without thimerosal. Also, there have been no concrete studies that have absolutely shown a link between mercury and autism.
Second, the use of adjuvants is NOT being included in this vaccine. You might want to state your source here.
I am 7 months pregnant and will be receiving the preservative free flu shot tomorrow and am positive I am making the right choice for myself and my unborn child.
I agree with Beth, however, i am very weary when it comes to vaccines, especially the H1N1 vaccine. I am a first time mom-to-be, and since have been playing great attention to stories surrounding the H1N1 virus. Still, I believe that as long as you are in tune with your body, and report any abnormalities to your OB, you should be fine. Yes, many pregnant who contract the H1N1 virus are in risk of death, but not so much, if caught early. Id rather take my chances on catching the flu, then ok'ing a vaccine with potentially harmful effects. Best wishes to all in what they decide to do!!!
I appreciate this article, but I think that since your website seems to be an educational site for pregnant women, that perhaps you should also list the reasons to get the vaccine.
I am not a doctor, I am in the midst of a high risk pregnancy and am trying to educate myself in every avenue of this debate. I don't know if I'll the vaccinate or not, but I do know that my VERY EDUCATED and TRUSTED OB/GYN stands behind this vaccine 100%.
6 out of 10 pregnant women who get the flu are at risk of DEATH.
That's important information to share with your pregnant readers, too.