tetanus/diphteria vaccine for pregnant women?

[mnieto 2]

Hi all...is there anybody who has received a tetanus/diphteria vaccine while being pregnant?

The doctor who did my medical check-up is insisting on it even though I'm 12 weeks pregnant, and he says that he won't send my medical to the embassy before I haven't gotten this vaccine.

The last time I got a T/D-vaccination was maybe 15 years ago.

I have read that the tetanus/diphteria shot is ok for pregnant women but I'm still worried and I just hate the thought of doing it right now. I know, there's no way out...otherwise he won't send out the medical.....but just wanted to hear your opinions about the whole matter.....

Anybody who got that vaccine while expecting a baby???

[mnieto 2]

well, just found this old thread : http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=79849

But still, I just dislike the fact that the doc is forcing me to do it, like all the other vaccines I could have done it after having given birth..., I'm just scared...

sorry, guys, just venting....

[YuAndDan 153]

Vaccinations are not required for NON-Immigrant visas. K-Visas are NON-Immigrant. You can get the vaccinations done later for adjustment of status in the USA.

Perhaps the US CS doing the vaccination supplement for adjustment of status will waive the vaccination requirement, or you could file the I-485 to adjust without the supplement and supply it to USCIS when they ask for it either by RFE or at AOS interview.

[sib 7]

Hi,

I found that for you on the internet. Actually some sites recommend!! being vaccinated for TD if no booster done during the last 10 years.

Diphtheria-Tetanus

The combination diphtheria-tetanus immunization should be given if the pregnant traveler has not been immunized within 10 years, although preference would be for its administration during the second or third trimester.

Hepatitis A

Pregnant women without immunity to hepatitis A virus (HAV) need protection before traveling to developing countries. HAV is usually no more severe during pregnancy than at other times and does not affect the outcome of pregnancy. The effect of these inactivated virus vaccines on fetal development is unknown and is expected to be low.

Hepatitis B

The hepatitis B vaccine may be administered during pregnancy and is recommended for pregnant women at risk for hepatitis B virus infection. Exposed newborns need to be vaccinated and receive immune globulin as soon as possible.

Influenza

Because of the increased risk for influenza-related complications, women who will be beyond the first trimester of pregnancy (>14 weeks gestation) during the influenza season of their travel destination should be vaccinated, when vaccine is available.

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella

The measles vaccine, as well as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines in combination, are live-virus vaccines and so they are contraindicated in pregnancy. However, in cases in which the rubella vaccine was unintentionally administered, no complications have been reported.

Meningococcal Meningitis

The meningococcal meningitis vaccine can be administered during pregnancy if the woman is entering an area where the disease is epidemic. Studies of vaccination during pregnancy have not documented adverse effects among either pregnant women or neonates and have shown the vaccine to be efficacious.

Pneumococcal

The safety of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine during the first trimester of pregnancy has not been evaluated, although no adverse fetal consequences have been reported after accidental vaccination during pregnancy. Women with chronic diseases (such as asplenia, or metabolic, renal, cardiac, or pulmonary diseases), smokers, and immunosuppressed women should consider vaccination.

Poliomyelitis

The pregnant traveler must be protected against poliomyelitis. Paralytic disease can occur with greater frequency when infection develops during pregnancy. Fetal damage has also been reported, with up to 50% mortality. If not previously immunized, a pregnant woman traveling to an area where polio still occurs should be advised to have at least two doses of vaccine one month apart before departure.

Typhoid

No data are available on the use of either typhoid vaccine in pregnancy. The injectable preparation is the vaccine of choice during pregnancy because it is inactivated and requires only one injection. The oral typhoid vaccine is not absolutely contraindicated during pregnancy, but it is live-attenuated and thus has theoretical risk. With either of these, the vaccine efficacy (about 70%) needs to be weighed against the risk of disease.

Varicella (Chickenpox)

Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should not receive the varicella vaccine.

Yellow Fever

The safety of yellow fever vaccination during pregnancy has not been established, and the vaccine should be administered to a pregnant woman only if travel to an endemic area is unavoidable and if an increased risk for exposure exists.

If you feel healthy, I would get the shot and done.

Hope everything is working out for you!

Sibylle

[mnieto 2]

Thanks, Sib.....well, I guess I'll just go ahead and have it done, seems to be safe enough, and even recommended...

[chris and lorie 0]

im on k1...i also didnt get my vaccinations at philippines coz i told them that i will just get it here at the US...I was 8 weeks pregnant when we went to civil surgeon to get my shots but he didnt give me one instead he signed on the waiver and put a note that im pregnant and i will just get my shots after i give birth...i had my aos interview last november 2007 and got my green card on same month.I just give birth last january 22, 2008...so there'll be no need for me to get the shots coz i already got my green card

[calamitka 0]

MNIETO

those are only my sugestions- if you haven't done your vaccines already.

You may determine level for TD antibodies first and then decide if you need only a booster or all new TD vaccine.

Also maybe try to avoid doing TD vaccine AND (HAVaccine+HBVac.) in the same week just for not "overwhelming" organism.

And of course CONGRATULATIONS