Mums wary of immunisation
Manawatu rider among the medals
False information and a lack of recent flu epidemics have made pregnant women complacent about immunisation, warns a nursing expert.
Massey University School of Nursing professor Dr Jenny Carryer said there had been persistent misinformation.
‘‘Parents have a false sense of security because of the lack of recent epidemics or they may have read literature making false claims about the dangers of immunisation.’’
Carryer said it could be confusing and distressing.
‘‘Many people find it difficult to negotiate sources of knowledge and determine whom they can safely trust.’’
But not everyone agrees, with one Feilding mother saying women make responsible decisions after doing their homework and they won’t be ‘‘patronised’’ into making uninformed choices.
Immunisation against influenza and whooping cough during pregnancy is recommended by the Ministry of Health, and free.
However, immunisation rates are only 13 per cent, according to Dr Thomas Breuer, the chief medical officer of GSK Vaccines, who is visiting New Zealand.
The ministry estimates the vaccination rate is about 17 per cent but the real figure could be higher.
Concern about whooping cough also follows a cluster of cases in the Wellington region.
Carryer said influenza could affect pregnant women more severely than non-pregnant women.
‘‘They have a fivefold risk of complications of influenza. In addition, there is a risk of complications to the baby if the mother contracts influenza while pregnant.’’
The ministry states that mothers pass some of their immunity along to their babies during pregnancy. This provides some protection to newborn babies during the first few weeks of life until they immunised.
Carryer said there was still a ‘‘significant level of unawareness’’.
‘‘Pregnant women are constantly exhorted to avoid a range of substances and exposures during pregnancy and thus may find the notion of immunisation while pregnant frightening.’’
Erin Evis, of Feilding, recently are able to be gave birth, but was firmly against vaccination.
She said people who chose not to vaccinate were typically displayed in a bad light, yet she made her decision based on reading publicly available medical information. Evis did not believe vaccination rates were low due to complacency or misinformation.
Mothers had a strong sense of responsibility and were capable of doing ‘‘sound medical research’’ to decide it was not for them.
‘‘They are doing their own research and not on dodgy online websites, like [vaccination advocates] would have you believe.
‘‘We won’t be patronised into making uninformed choices.’’
Samantha Mason, of Feilding, is 33 weeks’ pregnant with her second child. She got immunised for whooping cough with her first child and now her second, but did not get influenza injections.
Mason said she had not got the flu for 10 years and so decided not to get the vaccine. She was aware of the risks. ‘‘I have had a good serious think about it.’’
She had heard a lot of tales about vaccines. ‘‘I’ve heard them all, from vaccines causing autism to seizures.’’
She said there was some lack of public knowledge on the issues.
‘‘If you have got a good midwife they can answer questions, but if you don’t know the right questions to ask, the information isn’t there by virtue of not asking the right questions.’’