Pregnancy and 2009 H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Information
Published October 30, 2009
Pregnant women are among the highest risk groups for H1N1 disease, with a risk six times greater than that of a non-pregnant woman for severe disease. It’s important for women who are pregnant to be vaccinated against both H1N1 and seasonal flu.
A recent survey shows that only one in four pregnant women and mothers of young children plan on getting the H1N1 vaccine, despite strong recommendations from the CDC and public health groups. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology is urging pregnant women and new mothers to get both the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccine to protect their newborns and themselves.
Some pregnant women are concerned about the safety of the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines. Both vaccines are safe and getting both vaccines is important to protect you and to protect your baby. An infant under 6 months cannot get a flu shot, so it is important to get vaccinated while you are pregnant and to have other family members or caregivers vaccinated as well.
Seasonal flu vaccine has been given safely to pregnant women for many years. The H1N1 vaccine was made the same way as the seasonal flu vaccine. Neither vaccine is a risk to a pregnant mom or her baby. The mercury derivative, thimerosal, used in some forms of the vaccines, has been shown to be safe for a pregnant woman and her unborn baby. There is no need to worry about this preservative in flu vaccine – it’s no greater than the amount in a tuna sandwich! Thimerosall does not cause autism; repeated studies have verified this. The risk of a pregnant woman and her unborn baby getting the flu and having severe disease is far greater than any risk from the vaccine.
If you did not get your flu vaccines during pregnancy, you should still get them even if you are breastfeeding. This will help protect you and your baby from getting the flu.
Where can I get the flu vaccines?
Contact your OB/GYN or family physician for both vaccines. Pregnant women are among the highest risk groups and are being given 1st priority for the H1N1 vaccine. This is the flu that is being seen now in our community and throughout the country so it is strongly recommended to get this vaccine as soon as it is available at your physician’s office.
Still have concerns about the vaccine?
Talk to your OB/GYN to get any additional questions answered. It is better to make a decision knowing all the facts than to make the decision not to get the vaccine based on unanswered concerns or misinformation from an uninformed source. If you have additional questions, please contact us and we will respond to you the next business day.