Interesting article on flu shots during pregnancy...

[preggers]

I just came across this article and thought I'd share it as food for thought. I don't know much about the man who wrote it, but it may be a good place to start your research if you want to know more about the controversy of getting flu shots while pg.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0503/S00089.htm

[tingzon72]

This is a wonderful article and it's well written. Thank you for sharing.

I am not a fan of the flu shot, especially since my boss just became paralyzed by the Guillaume Barre Syndrome which can happen in 1% of flu shot recipients. Add pregnancy into that mix, and it is just not worth the risk. If you get the flu, the chances of anything bad happening to you or your baby are minimal, as opposed to life threatening or welfare threatening risks that may occur with receiving a flu shot.

The most important flu shot is to properly wash your hands often. that means 20-30 seconds after using the washroom, handling raw meats or other animal products,after handling a shopping cart, your computer keyboard, or your steering wheel. Also, hand sanitizers work if you don't have obvious soil on you like blood, urine, or feces (It can happen, especially when changing diapers for the latter). I know that this sounds a little "medical", but nothing stops the spread of the commom cold or flu as well as hand washing ettiquette.

Have a happy, healthy day,
Veronica

[Dinahk2]

Hi ladies,

Interesting post. I'm a speech-language pathologist who often works with kiddos who have autism. I'm not convinced of the mercury causes autism link, BUT am totally against using the perservative thimerosal (i.e., mercury) in any and all vaccines. If we're not sure yet what the effects, if any, are...why are we injecting it into our children's bodies?

In any case, I wanted to say for women out there who DO want to receive the flu shot and for everyone who wants to vaccinate their kids, you absolutely can request thimerosal-free vaccines. In fact, I was told (though don't quote me on this and please check yourselves) that CA has outlawed the use of thimerosal. Unfortunately, my workplace was unable to offer me a thimerosal free vaccine...LOL, I was told CA had dibs on all of those vaccines b/c of the law! Oh well...I still haven't even gotten a cold, so I count myself lucky.

thanks, dianna