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Flu Shots and Pregnancy
November 6, 2008 |
While everyone is at risk of catching the influenza virus, pregnant women could
face some of the most dangerous side effects from the sickness.
“Having the flu in pregnancy has a high risk of morbidity and mortality to the pregnant
woman. There’s a high risk of cardiopulmonary complications” says Dr. Aparna Elegeti,
an Ob/Gyn with Lee Memorial
Health System.
Those are some of the reasons why physicians
urge pregnant women to get a flu shot. The vaccine could not only save your own
life but also the life of your baby.
“The flu vaccine is highly recommended for any pregnant woman. It’s safe in all
three trimesters of pregnancy. It’s important to remember that it also confers protection
to the infant when it’s born because most infants between zero and six months do
not respond to the flu vaccine so it will protect them. There are no adverse fetal
affects known from the flu vaccine,” says Dr. Elegiti.
The flu is usually most prevalent between November and March. So if you are trying
to get pregnant or anticipating a pregnancy during flu season physicians say it’s
important to get a flu shot.
Because the flu shot is made from an inactivated virus it is considered safe during
any stage of pregnancy. Pregnant women are not advised to use nasal-spray flu vaccine
because it is made with a live, weakened version of the influenza virus.
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