Poll:
Will you get the H1N1 vaccine?
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(WHAS11) - The nasal mist swine flu vaccine arrives in Louisville Tuesday and healthcare workers will be? the first to get it.
Pregnant women and children are high on the list to get the vaccine but we've found some pregnant women concerned about its safety.
The doctor we talked to said flat out, pregnant women shouldn't be concerned and the CDC and the American College of Obstetrics both encourage pregnant women to get the vaccine.
Yvonne Cifuentes is six weeks pregnant with twins and has no concerns about getting vaccinated this flu season.
"I already got my flu vaccine and we're just waiting on the H1N1 and I will get it," Cifuentes said.
But Dr. Heath Brown says he's had quite a few patients express concern about getting the H1N1 vaccine but ask him about it and he says, "categorically, all pregnant women should be given the H1N1 vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccine."
The CDC reported Thursday that 100 pregnant women who've contracted H1N1 have been hospitalized in intensive care, and 28 have died.
Dr. Brown says the benefits of getting vaccinated far outweigh the risks of getting sick.
But, the first batch of H1N1 vaccine is the nasal flu mist, which pregnant women cannot get. They'll have to wait for the shot and that's where he says the concern enters the equation.
"The biggest concern is that the vaccine is packaged in multi-doses and it has a preservative called thimerosal which is based in mercury and that preservative is felt to be safe and harmless to the mom and fetus and the benefits the vaccine infers are way superior to any risk that someone encounters from being exposed to the preservative," said Brown.
He says there are limited amounts of preservative free vaccine, but it will be dispersed later in the season.
But Yvonne's not waiting.
She said, "No, I've gone over all my questions with the doctor and I got all my answers."
The CDC is conducting clinical trials now with pregnant women. It will be a while before those results are known and released. Still, Dr. Brown says the H1N1 vaccine is safe for you and your baby.
Some pregnant women have expressed concern about a rare, and uncommon side effect. It's a paralytic condition called Guillon Barre syndrome.
OB-GYN Dr. Heath Brown said pregnant women should be no more concerned about it than anyone else and it's a side effect that anyone can get with any vaccine or illness.
Again, it is rare and uncommon and not any more prevalent in pregnant women than anyone else.
"Of the 40 million and 28 people got Guillon Barre. And you can get Guillon Barre just from getting the virus. It's a case where your immune system attacks until it passes," Dr. Brown said.
He says the paralytic condition is most always temporary and very rare.
Because many people have a lot of questions about the swine flu and the seasonal flu, the Kentucky Department of Health has set up a new toll-free hotline so you can get answers.
It's administered by Kosair Children's Hospital and nurses are standing by to take your calls right now.
"If you have questions about the vaccine, treatment, symptoms, risk factors, you've heard rumors you're concerned about, we're here to answer your questions and to give you the best information we have to date," said Henry Spiller, Hotline Director:
The number to call is 1-877-843-7727.
Someone will be available to take your call between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. every day.
