Tomatefarcie, as you are near Kent, I would suggest going to Dover and getting ferry to France.

Thay have just had Panenza approved, which seems to be safest vaccine of all. It's the only clinically tested vaccine. And it doesn't contain squalene or mercury.

Though I suspect pregnant English women won't be at the top of their list for who they are giving it too!

I probably could have had Celvapan as nurse asked me if allergic to egg without even looking at my records but had other one as kicks in quicker. Had it weds have sore arm but baby still kicking like mad. Had it at 19+5 btw.
Good luck deciding

Right. I have been stalking talking to both my pct and gp, they refuse to let me have Celvapan. My surgery hasn't even ordered any apparently. My pct simply says that Pandemrix is safe, so I shouldn't question it.

If anyone has any ideas as to how I could get my hands on Celvapan in Kent or London, please let me know!

<beyond frustrated emoticon>

26 weeks and have had it.

Sorry can't help you decide

I am due to have my vaccine tomorrow and thought I had made my decision and was happy with it but all I have done today is worry and stress about if I am making the right decision. Did anyone else feel like this?

I've been booked in to get the first dose of Celvapan on Friday. I'm 32wks pregnant.

Here's the Times article - I agree that it's weighted towards the benefits, but I personally found the link to MHRA given by Jeff Green on the comments below quite useful - eg updates on any ill-effects reported (albeit voluntarily) by individuals, health professionals etc.

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/Swine_flu/article6916621.ece

Good luck everyone in your decisions. I think I've finally decided to go for it, tho like most people I'd hold out for Celvepan if I could (but probably won't get much choice).

Stormfly I don't think there is any data about how quickly it starts to work other than that maximum immunity is reached after 21 days in 98% of people.

My doctor said that the body starts producing antibodies immediately the same day as the vaccine and protection increases until the point where you can be considered to have as full protection as you're going to get.

So, every day you're better protected than the day before basically but you might get very very very unlucky and still catch the virus in the early days after the vaccine.

I've read that the unborn baby is protected by the mother's antibodies directly through the placenta within 7 days, and this continues to be boosted via breastmilk where relevant. Sorry can't remember where, I have been suffering from swine flu fatigue since I had the jab myself (20 days ago ).

Impending dilemma is whether to take my 3 year old son for vaccination tomorrow. Gulp.

33 weeks. Just had it. Slightly achey arm. Everything else ok.