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Apart from protecting a newborn infant from flu for four months, the flu vaccine does not raise the risk of miscarriage, Kathleen Neuzil, MD, member of the Infectious Disease Society of America’s Pandemic Influenza Task Force explained at their 49th Annual Meeting. Various presentations at the meeting are showing that pregnant mothers are getting the message not only about the flu shot’s importance, but also its safety.
A newborn whose mother was not vaccinated is particularly vulnerable to flu because he/she is more likely not to be born with protective immunity and cannot be vaccinated for at least six months. A newborn who becomes infected with influenza is at a higher risk of complications, and even death, compared to older humans.
Dr. Neuzil, MD, who is also clinical professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Washington, Seattle, said:
“Pregnant women are understandably concerned about protecting their unborn babies, which makes it all the more important for them to understand that getting a flu shot during pregnancy is an important way to protect the baby, as well as themselves. These new data on the safety and effectiveness of these vaccines is reassuring, and the increasing number of pregnant women receiving the vaccine affirms that women are hearing the message about the vaccine’s benefits.”
Influenza Vaccination Protects Newborns
A pregnant mother who is vaccinated protects herself from flu, which has benefits for the baby during pregnancy. The mother also passes on the antibodies caused by the vaccine onto the baby, who is protected during his/her first four months after being born, according to studies carried out at the University of Utah.
27 women were involved in the Utah study. 41% (11) of them had been given the seasonal flu shot while 59% (16) had not. Blood tests immediately after birth showed that all the babies born to the mothers who had been vaccinated had antibodies against flu, compared to just 31% of those born to unvaccinated mothers. At two months 60% of babies born to vaccinated mothers had antibodies compared to none of the other babies. At four months 11% of the babies born to vaccinated mothers had antibodies.
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