Hellobee Boards

Just a note that "stomach flu" is a bit of a misnomer. Influenza = a respiratory infection (that sometimes has vomiting as a side effect, but not usually), spread by respiratory droplets. The flu vaccine WILL protect you against the dominant strain(s), but it's not 100% like any vaccine. It will NOT protect you against gastrointestinal illness (spread by fecal matter) like norovirus and rotavirus, nor is it intended to. Influenza is the one that's particularly dangerous to old people, babies, and pregnant women, as is whooping cough like you said. People often get those two types of illness confused so just clarifying

That being said, I'm getting my flu shot today and DH and I will get Tdap, but it hadn't crossed my mind to ask our families... my EDD is May so we'd likely ask them to get the Tdap only. My dad is a pulmonologist though so I imagine he'd insist they all do the same.

I got my tDap booster a couple of weeks ago because I was over due for the Tetanus shot. DH got one a couple of years ago so there is no need for him to get one.

I am required to get the flu vaccine for work, other wise I would not get one. DH did not get the flu vaccine. My DDs have never gotten the flu vaccine and are up to date on all of their other vaccines.

I wouldn't ask family/visitors to do this.

We all got vaccinated. DS has been vaccinated this year and I get mine next week. DH will be getting his shortly.

Never even heard of the pertussis shot till that thread. Never gotten a flu shot in my life and didn't plan to during pregnancy either. My OB never brought it up so I didn't ask either.
My mom stayed with us for 2.5 months and my ILs for a week and BIL for a week. Never asked them to get vaccines.

My mom got sick towards the end of her visit. Not a big deal. She just was extra careful about washing her hands and not talking directly to her face.

I'm generally lax about medications though.

Now that M is actually here and from her peds recommendation my husband and I will be getting the flu shot for her protection.

My husband and I are vaccinated and get the flu shot.

Most of my family is because of their careers / they have kids. My mom is vaccinated and got a flu shot because she cares for my son one day a week (she got it without me asking). I suggested it to my MIL because I think it's a good idea since she's around my son - I wouldn't require it of her or of any family member, though.

I probably wouldn't ask my family to, unless there was a outbreak in the area. DH and I both will get the vaccines. I usually get the flue shot anyway, and my hospital gives the pertussis one to moms and dads in the third trimester. Not pregnant though, so I won't vote since who knows how my opinion will change!

I do know my sister and her husband didn't ask people to get any vaccines. I even asked her if she wanted me to get the pertussis one, since I babysat for a week (though he was 4 months old by then) and she said it was up to me.

ETA: Actually, if I was due during flu season and someone was coming to stay with me for more than a couple of days, I would probably ask if they would mind getting the flu shot, but not insist on it. I know my dad would balk, but he also wouldn't be staying with us for any amount of time. I bet both our moms would do it, even though my mom might roll her eyes.

I never get the flu shot (haven't had it since I was a teeny child) but DH always does. This is the first year I've gotten it.

I haven't gotten the flu shot in recent years because I don't interact with a ton of people on a daily basis and figure there are people more at risk that need it more than me (children, elderly, medical workers, pregnant ladies.) This year I have gotten the flu shot as has DH.
My parents approached us with their Pertussis vaccinations so that was easy. DH is suppose to be talking about it with him Mom, but she tends to be ornery so I'm not sure how that will go.
My doc is pretty adamant about anyone around the baby being up-to-date with whooping cough shots. We have had a significant outbreak here lately.

My midwives gave me TDAP at my 6-week postpartum appointment. DH hasn't had it even though I've asked him numerous times to get it. We will see about the flu shot, we both haven't had them but we might get it this year. DH is a teacher and I feel like he should because he's around kids so often.

We didn't ask family or close friends to get vaccines.

I got the pertussis shot immediately after giving birth, LO got it on his second day in the hospital, and my SO hasn't gotten it yet -- he really should though! we just keep forgetting.

neither of us have ever gotten the flu shot (no specific reason, maybe b/c neither of us have ever had the flu before... i totally support ppl getting that shot, though!)

we didn't ask our family to get the shots. my mom and dad flew from across the country and stayed with us for 1 month after he was born. i would for sure ask them to get the shots, esp pertussis -- but to be perfectly honest we just forgot in the rush of things! will possibly ask when i have another baby. i know they would be 100% on board.

I got both the tdap and flu shot while I was pregnant. DH got a flu shot for the first time when I was pregnant. He didn't get the tdap until L was born. Didn't realize it was such a huge deal. My parents got the flu shot but I doubt they got tdap. Didn't think to question them and would not have questioned or forced them to get vaccinated.

We didn't ask anyone to get any shots. My parents had both the flu shots and pertussis boosters before LO was born, but not by request or suggestion from us. My husband and I did not have either shot when LO was born, although I would have seriously considered a pertussis booster, had it been recommended to me. I plan to get one in the near future as a safeguard for any future pregnancies; LO has been vaccinated against it now.

I was given the flu vaccine and will have the whopping cough one later in pregnancy when it is recommended to me. My mum got her vaccines done, oh erm, about 30 seconds after I got my BFP. She works in health and so hears a lot about what guidelines there are for pregnant women and those near newborns. I can pretty much leave her to project manage the fams vaccines.

I got both the Tdap and the flu vaccine. DH will just get the Tdap. We are requiring that anyone who is staying with us or spending a lot of time around the baby get the Tdap and only recommending the flu shot. My doctor told us to insist on the Tdap, so we're following her advice.

@bluestriped bee: If it's been more than 5 years, you might look into getting it again (if you're interested). Plus a lot of the tetanus boosters are just Td and don't include pertussis.