24
Feb
The flu shot is made from an inactivated virus so its safe for both you and your baby. Flu shots have been given to millions of pregnant women over several decades with a good safety record.
Is the flu vaccine safe in pregnancy.
Flu vaccine while pregnant. Flu vaccination is safe during pregnancy. Flu shots have been given to millions of pregnant women over several decades with a good safety record. Pregnant women should get a flu shot.
NOT the live attenuated vaccine LAIV or nasal spray. Postpartum women even if they are breastfeeding can receive either type of vaccine. Is the flu vaccine safe in pregnancy.
Studies have shown that its safe to have the flu vaccine during any stage of pregnancy from the first few weeks up to your expected due date. Women who have had the flu vaccine while pregnant also pass some protection on to their babies which lasts for the first few months of their lives. If you are pregnant it is best to get the vaccine early in the flu season October through May as soon as the vaccine is available.
You can get the shot at any time during your pregnancy. If you are not vaccinated early in the flu season you still can get the vaccine later in the flu season. If you have a medical condition that further increases the risk of flu complications such as asthma or heart disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC and other government health agencies the flu shot has been proven safe and effective for pregnant women and their babies at all stages of pregnancy including the first trimester. Not only is getting a flu shot safe during pregnancy. Getting the flu shot and Tdap vaccine while youre pregnant causes your body to create protective antibodies proteins produced by the body to fight off diseases and you pass on some of those antibodies to your baby.
This immunity can protect your baby from some diseases during the first few months of life before your baby can get vaccinated but immunity decreases over time. Skipping your flu shot while pregnant is not recommended for many reasons. Pregnant women have a weakened immune system heart and lungs and are more vulnerable to catching viruses like the flu.
If you re pregnant and get the flu your symptoms may be more serious and could require a hospital visit. When should a pregnant woman get a flu shot. The vaccine is the number one way to prevent.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC recommends that all expecting women get the flu vaccine if theyre pregnant during the cold and flu season preferably toward the beginning of the season or ideally by late October. The flu season can last from October through April or even May. The influenza vaccine is free for pregnant women as part of the National Immunisation Program NIP.
The influenza vaccine is recommended during every pregnancy and at any stage of your pregnancy. Further information on why pregnant women should receive the influenza vaccine is available in the Protecting your baby against influenza starts when youre pregnant brochure. If you are trying to become pregnant now or want to get pregnant in the future you may receive a COVID-19 vaccine when one is available to you.
There is currently no evidence that any vaccines including COVID-19 vaccines cause fertility problems. CDC does not recommend routine pregnancy testing before COVID-19 vaccination. HealthDayPregnant women commonly refuse vaccines including influenza vaccine and tetanus toxoid reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis Tdap vaccine according to research.
You can get the influenza vaccine and pertussis vaccine at the same time during your pregnancy. You can also get them at different visits. This year due to the COVID-19 pandemic it is advised to get the influenza vaccine as soon as it is available regardless of what trimester of pregnancy you are in.
In addition to protecting you and your unborn baby getting the flu shot during pregnancy makes it less likely that newborns will get the flu for several months after theyre born and that lowers their risk of serious complications like pneumonia lung infection. Two when pregnant women receive a flu vaccine its actually a flu shot for two. The vaccine confers important antibodies against flu to babies whose moms receive it during pregnancy.
These protections are especially vital for newborns who arent able to. Vaccination against influenza flu during pregnancy is recommended for all women especially during flu season November to April. This is because flu is more likely to cause severe illness in pregnant women than in women who are not pregnant.
Vaccination with an inactivated flu vaccine lowers the risk for complications from flu during pregnancy and after your baby is born. The flu shot is recommended for women who are pregnant during flu season. The flu shot is made from an inactivated virus so its safe for both you and your baby.
Avoid the influenza nasal spray vaccine which is made from a live virus. All women who will be pregnant any trimester during the flu season should be offered this vaccine. Talk to your doctor to see if this applies to you.
Rosa Moreno explains why the flu vaccination is especially important for pregnant women and answers common flu vaccine questions. Seasonal flu vaccines have been given to millions of pregnant women in the last ten years. Reactions are generally mild and serious side effects are very rare.
Your baby cant get a flu shot until 6 months of age. However if you get the flu vaccine during pregnancy you will pass antibodies to your baby that will protect him or her from the flu in the first few months of life. This is especially important for babies that will be born during flu season between October and May.