Vaccines for family members of newborns

Post date: 2020-01-26 13:22:53

I'm pregnant and due around early June, which is winter in Australia. Just wondering what I should do in regards to other family members and vaccinations. More details inside

I'm really confused about this topic, as it seems like attitudes vary so much between the US and Australia. A lot of people in the pregnancy groups I follow are very adamant about any visitors being fully vaccinated for pertussis and flu, otherwise they aren't allowed to visit. But I feel like this approach might be extreme and not necessarily based on evidence. Can you please help me with finding an evidence based approach to this issue? I just want my child to be healthy and safe, and don't want to ask things of family members if there's no reason to.

Things I will already be doing:
* I'll be getting the pertussis vaccine in the third trimester. It seems like this is very effective at providing protection for the baby until he is old enough to get his own shot for it. My partner will be getting the pertussis vaccine as well.

* I'm planning on getting the flu vaccine while I am still pregnant, as long as it is released early enough for me to do so. Partner will also be getting the flu shot, hopefully at least two weeks before baby is born.

* I will ask my mother and my partner's parents to highly consider getting the flu vaccine as well. Though I am not sure how much I need to worry about this.

* I hope to be able to breastfeed most of the time (mentioning in case it makes a difference for health and immunity of the baby)

Things I'm unsure about:
* Should I ask my partner's parents to get the pertussis vaccine? My mother had her booster done within the past 4 years, so I think she is covered.

* Should I ask my partner's parents to get MMR boosters or at least get checked for measles immunity? They travel a few times a year to visit relatives in South-East Asia. We've had a few small outbreaks here from people travelling, and it seems like one issue is that some adults have had their immunity wear off.
In case it matters: I got an MMR booster about a year before conceiving, because my immunity to Rubella had dropped too much.

I've never read anything about the MMR vaccine for preparing for having a newborn around, so is it a non-issue?

Thank you in advance

Please click Here to read the full story.