Pig flu

Great. Just seen a slightly hysterical ITN news report regarding Swine Flu and pregnant women, and how Swine Flu has just killed two pregnant women. The report urged all pregnant women to get vaccinated when the vaccination programme starts next week. However, I'm still not convinced. They completely glossed over the controversy surrounding the vaccine and pregnant women as many aren't convinced the vaccine is safe, as it has not been tested on pregnant women. I found this on the BBC News website:

"What is the evidence that it is safe for pregnant women?

This is complicated and - as a result - has stoked up some controversy.

The clinical trials that have tested the two vaccines have not included pregnant women - they never do.

However, there is a wealth of evidence from seasonal flu vaccine programmes - it is routinely given to pregnant women in the US - that immunisations, such as the Baxter one, are safe.
It is a slightly different story for the GSK vaccine - and that is the one that most pregnant women will end up being offered in the UK.

Unlike Baxter's vaccine, it contains an adjuvant - a chemical to boost the immune system response.

There is not as much evidence on adjuvanted vaccine use in pregnant women - although there is nothing to suggest it is unsafe.

Indeed, Professor David Salisbury, the government's director of immunisations and one of the World Health Organization's key advisers on vaccines, has sought to reassure women that the GSK jab is a better option.

He has pointed out that as it is effective with one dose, it offers better protection than the Baxter version which requires two doses several weeks apart and, therefore, longer without protection against the virus."

I'm still not convinced. The vaccine that is being recommended is Pandemrix. However, when I googled 'Pandemrix' and 'pregnant', the first article returned is from Sky News, claiming that the World Heath Organisation have actually advised against pregnant women taking this vaccine.

That's: "Inactivated non-adjuvated vaccines similar to most seasonal inflenza vaccines are considered the preferred option given the extensive safety data on their use in pregnant women." Why is the British Government and the NHS going against the advice of the World Health Organisation? Until I know the answer to that, I'm not going anywhere near an untested vaccine. It stands a good chance that the vaccine is harmless, but mistakes have been made before and I'm not taking any chances that this could be the next Thalidomide.

I'm going to do some more research over the next few days, but as it stands, I'll take my chances with the pig flu!