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What You Need to Know About Flu Vaccination During Pregnancy
Posted on November 20, 2024
When you’re pregnant, taking care of your health is no longer just about yourself but also about the health of your baby. One of the important things to consider during this time is maternal flu prevention. Every year, the flu poses serious health risks, especially for pregnant women and their developing babies, but getting the flu vaccine during pregnancy is a simple, effective way to help protect both you and your child from the potentially severe complications of the flu.
Why Flu Vaccine Is Recommended During Pregnancy
No matter how healthy you are, pregnancy changes exactly how your immune system, heart, and lungs work, making you more vulnerable to severe illness from the flu. We know that the flu can lead to complications like pneumonia, which can be life-threatening for pregnant women. Moreover, it can increase the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and other complications for your baby. That’s why the flu vaccine is one of the best ways to help prevent these outcomes.
Getting vaccinated reduces your chances of getting the flu, and if you do catch it, you’re likely to have a milder illness. The vaccine also provides flu-fighting antibodies that are passed to your baby, giving them some protection after birth.
Flu Shot Safety and Pregnancy
According to experts, the flu vaccine is safe to get at any stage of pregnancy. This has been studied extensively, and health organizations such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend it. Importantly, the recommended flu vaccine is an inactivated vaccine, meaning it doesn’t contain the live virus, so there’s no risk of getting the flu from the shot.
Some women may worry about side effects, but these are generally mild. The most common is soreness where the shot is given, but this usually goes away within a day or two. Serious side effects are very rare, and the benefit of protecting both you and your baby from flu-related complications far outweighs the small risk of side effects.
If you are concerned about allergies or other medical conditions, it’s always a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider before getting the flu shot.
Maternal Flu Prevention and Baby’s Protection
One of the amazing benefits of getting the flu vaccine during pregnancy is that it helps protect your baby after birth. Infants less than six months of age have the highest incidence of flu-related hospitalization and mortality among children, but they can’t get the flu shot until they are six months old. However, when you get the flu vaccine while pregnant, your body makes antibodies that are passed to your baby. These antibodies can help protect your newborn from the flu during those first critical months of life.
Breastfeeding after your baby is born can also pass along some of these protective antibodies, providing another layer of protection against the flu. So by getting the flu shot during pregnancy, you’re not only protecting yourself but giving your baby a head start in flu prevention.
You can get the flu shot at any time during flu season, which usually runs from fall to early spring. It’s recommended to get vaccinated as early as possible, since flu outbreaks can start early, and it takes about two weeks for the vaccine to fully kick in. This way, you and your baby can be protected for the duration of flu season.
Misconceptions About the Flu Shot During Pregnancy
It’s common to hear various concerns about the flu vaccine in pregnancy, but many of these are based on misunderstandings or misinformation. For instance, some worry that the vaccine might harm the baby, but research shows that the flu shot is safe and doesn’t increase the risk of miscarriage or birth defects.
Another misconception is that it’s better to wait until after the baby is born to get vaccinated. This misses the critical point that flu during pregnancy can lead to serious complications for both mom and baby. Waiting to get vaccinated leaves you vulnerable to illness when you are already at a higher risk.
Getting the flu vaccine during pregnancy is a safe and effective way to protect yourself and your baby from flu-related complications. With the flu shot, you reduce your risk of severe illness and provide your baby with some early flu protection that can last for the first several months of life.
This flu season, talk to your healthcare provider about getting vaccinated so that both you and your baby are protected against influenza.
Learn More About Families Fighting Flu
Families Fighting Flu (FFF), a national, nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to honoring loved ones who have suffered serious medical complications or died from influenza, commemorates 20 years of advocacy protecting children, families, and all communities from the flu. Our 20th anniversary is a testament to our dedication and enduring efforts to protect families. It is also a sobering reminder that we are not done yet.
In sharing personal stories, FFF strives to increase awareness about the seriousness of the flu, reduce the number of hospitalizations and deaths each year, drive up vaccination rates for everyone six months and older, and encourage symptomatic individuals to get tested and receive appropriate treatment. Learn more about our mission and resources here so that you can empower your family to stay healthy this flu season.
