H1N1 Flu Vaccine and Pregnancy

Answers to Your Questions About Vaccinations if You Are Pregnant

Oct 30, 2009

You may have heard mixed advice on whether or not it is safe to be vaccinated if you are pregnant. What do the experts say about the flu, H1N1 and how to stay healthy?

From October through March, the seasonal viruses and flu can wreak havoc with families with children and pregnant women. In addition, the H1N1 virus is a newer threat to contend with if you are expecting or you have children. If you are pregnant and uncertain about whether or not it is safe for you to be vaccinated with a seasonal flu or H1N1 flu vaccine, find out the what the experts have to say.

Should You Get the Seasonal Flu Vaccine if You are Pregnant?

According to the CDC, pregnant women should receive the seasonal flu vaccine. The reality is that pregnancy increases the risk for more serious complications of the flu such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Some research also indicates that pregnant women may be more likely to get sick enough to require hospitalization if they get the flu during pregnancy.

Since the flu shot does not include a live virus, it is safer to take during pregnancy than the nasal spray version of the vaccine. The CDC recommends that the seasonal flu shot can be safely taken at any stage of pregnancy. Please be sure to talk to your own care provider about whether or not any vaccine is safe for you if you are in your first trimester of pregnancy.

Should You Get the H1N1 Flu Vaccine if You Are Pregnant?

Even though it is a relatively new vaccine, the CDC recommends that all pregnant women receive the H1N1 flu vaccine as well as the seasonal flu vaccine.

When Pregnant Women Should Avoid the Flu/H1N1 Vaccine

Your care provider may recommend that you avoid the H1N1 or seasonal flu vaccine if you have a severe allergy to eggs or you have had a previous severe reaction to a flu vaccine.

H1N1 Statistics Across Ages and Regions of the World

H1N1 is rapidly spreading across many parts of the world and remains a more significant threat to children in the 5-18 and adults in the 25-49 year age groups. Expectant mothers will often fall into both of these age groups.

No age group or part of the world is immune from H1N1. It has been found in many parts of the world and is now present in 46 of the 50 states in the US. The countries that have been affected the most from H1N1 include the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, Thailand, Chile and Canada. Although the H1N1 vaccine is new, most experts agree that the benefits and protection provided by the vaccine generally outweigh the risks from getting the vaccine.

Why Pregnant Women are at Risk if They Contract H1N1

We have been able to learn about more about the effects and increased risk for pregnant women with H1N1 by observing what has happened in past pandemics of 1918-19 and 1957-58. Case reports from those pandemics have indicated that both pregnant women and their babies are at greater risk due to complications such as pneumonia, preterm delivery and birth difficulties.

In fact, the CDC recommends that if a pregnant woman shows symptoms of contracting H1N1 (coughing, fever, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, body aches, fatigue), that the mother begin antiviral treatment without delay since treatment will be most effective if started early.

What about Thimerosal in the Seasonal and H1N1 Flu Vaccines?

Due to concern about the preservative contained in many flu vaccines, known as thimerosal, both seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines are available in shots that are thimerosal-free. Whether you take your flu vaccine at a pharmacy, doctor's office or clinic, if you want to avoid thimerosal or other preservatives, be sure to ask the medical staff that you are interested in receiving the "preservative-free" vaccine.

New research presented in October 2009 in Philadelphia showed that when mothers received flu vaccines during pregnancy, it provided protection not only for them, but also for their babies. The study also found that mothers who received a flu vaccine had bigger babies.

Researchers found that "flu vaccine given to women during pregnancy is 85 percent effective in preventing hospitalization in their infants under six months of age."

Since babies under six months of age cannot be given a flu vaccine, protecting your baby this way is another reason to get vaccinated during your pregnancy.

References:

Neuzil KM, Reed GW, Mitchel EF, Simonsen L, Griffin MR. "Impact of influenza on acute cardiopulmonary hospitalizations in pregnant women." Am J of Epidemiol 1998;148(11):1094-102.

The copyright of the article H1N1 Flu Vaccine and Pregnancy in Prenatal Health is owned by Brenda Lane. Permission to republish H1N1 Flu Vaccine and Pregnancy in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.