According to a recent announcement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the vaccine currently being developed to prevent "swine flu," or the H1N1 virus, will be recommended and safe for pregnant women and parents with young children.
Why Should Pregnant Women Get the Flu Shot?
Pregnant women are encouraged to receive both the seasonal influenza vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine once it is made available. This is because pregnant women are typically more susceptible to illnesses and infections while pregnant.
In addition, although pregnant women make up only 1% of the general population, they have accounted for about 6% of deaths caused by confirmed swine flu cases.
Women who come down with influenza while pregnant are at a much greater risk of serious complications; the number of pregnant women hospitalized for flu-related illnesses is out of proportion with their prevalence in the general population.
The Type of Flu Vaccine Pregnant Women Should Avoid
According to the CDC, the nasal spray version of seasonal flu vaccines should not be given to pregnant women.
This spray version, a live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), contains a weakened but living flu virus, and will not cause the flu in healthy individuals ages 2 to 49. The LAIV nasal spray flu vaccine is not approved for use in pregnant women, however.
Pregnant women should get the flu vaccine given as an injection into the arm, containing an inactivated flu virus. This vaccine uses a dead strain of the virus; it has been approved for use in pregnant women and is highly recommended.
There is no need to avoid vaccine doses with the preservative thimerosal, as they have been safely used in vaccinations for pregnant women in the past, but the CDC has announced that thimerosal-free H1N1 vaccinations will also be available.
Avoid Getting H1N1 or Seasonal Flu
Because pregnant women are at a higher risk for getting the flu and for having complications, they should take preventive measures seriously to avoid contracting the virus.
Parents with babies or young children should also be sure to get vaccinated and follow these preventive rules to help keep their children safe. Infants younger than 6 months old cannot be vaccinated, so new parents should be vaccinated.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Wash hands frequently.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick, or ask a doctor about taking a preventive medicine if contact with sick people is necessary.
- Call the doctor if experiencing flu-like symptoms, and take Tylenol if feverish.
The CDC website has additional information on pregnancy and swine flu, including when to call a doctor and whether to breastfeed a baby if the mother has flu-like symptoms.
Information on Pregnancy and Swine Flu
"2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine and Pregnant Women." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. September 3, 2009.
"Swine Flu and Pregnancy." Brenda Lane, Suite101.com. May 14, 2009.
" Swine Flu Vaccine to Combat Pandemic." Katherine Brind'Amour, Suite101.com. June 29, 2009.
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