Would it be best to get a thimerosol free flu vaccine for a pregnant woman?
I have never gotten a flu vaccine…and in general am opposed to anything that is not medically necessary. I plan on getting pregnant sometime this late winter, and want to know thoughts on whether I should get a flu vaccine now, or wait to see if I actually get pregnant before getting the vaccine. Additionally, any thoughts on whether to get a thimerosol free vaccine?
4 Responses
Lisa
04 Feb 2010
dressup_bears
04 Feb 2010
I wouldn’t do it. The safety of vaccines is really controversial, and not just because of the thimerosol/mercury issue. Also, the flu vaccine is basically just a "best guess" as to what strains are going to be most virulent this season — you aren’t really guaranteed protection. It’s a shot in the dark. Read up on vaccine safety/controversy. There’s a lot of fishy stuff and unanswered questions. When it comes to your health and the health of your baby, I wouldn’t take any chances.
Serena
04 Feb 2010
I agree. You shouldn’t expose you body and potentially a baby to something that unnecessary. Consider working on building your immune system instead.
<3 RN <3
04 Feb 2010
If you are really concerned about the tymeresol then get the tymeresol free. The Multi dose vials contain 0.01%. If you plan on getting pregnant between now and april I would recommend getting that flu shot. I would personally avoid the flu mist since it is a Live virus.
If you are generally opposed to things that aren’t medically necessary, I don’t understand why you are considering the flu vaccine.
A reason not to get a flu vaccine with thimerosal is because mercury is toxic to everyone, especially fetuses. Why would you even consider injecting yourself with mercury?
If you insist on getting a flu shot, get one without mercury, and get it now, not when you’re pregnant.
Here’s a list of the amount of mercury in each flu vaccine.
Flu vaccines 2008-2009 season
No mercury:
Fluzone single dose vial or prefilled syringe (ages 6 months and above) http://www.fda.gov/CBER/label/fluzoneLB….
Flumist live intranasal spray (ages 2 – 49) http://www.medimmune.com/pdf/products/fl...
Afluria single dose vial (ages 18 and above) http://www.afluria.com/docs/pi.pdf
Less than 1 mcg of mercury:
Fluvirin pre-filled syringe (ages 4 and above) http://www.fda.gov/CBER/label/fluvirinLB...
Fluarix (ages 18 and above) http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_flu...
24.5 or 25 mcg of mercury:
Fluzone multi-dose vial (ages 3 and above) http://www.fda.gov/CBER/label/fluzoneLB….
Fluvirin multi-dose vial (ages 4 and above) http://www.fda.gov/CBER/label/fluvirinLB...
FluLaval (ages 18 and above) http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_flu...
Afluria multi-dose vial (ages 18 and above) http://www.afluria.com/docs/pi.pdf