Question:
My OB said not to get a flu shot this year, but my highly recommended
pregnancy book says I should.
Any up-to-date info on this?
Answer:
The flu shot is contraindicated during pregnancy I'd appreciate seeing references or more details on this. My OB seemed to
think the flu shot was fine for me. (I'm due in December, if that makes any
difference.) I believe there is some lack of data regarding the absolute safety of the
flu shot. However, vaccines in general, although there is theoretical
risk, generally are not teratogenic. The flu shot is probably recommended
for women in high risk occupations/situations, such as nurses, other
health care practitioners, women with poor immune systems or chronic
illness, or day care workers. It probably would not be a good idea to
routinely recommend it for all pregnant women, since if absolute safety
isn't proven, and there's not a huge benefit to getting it, might as well
wait. It IS often routinely offered to women in the third trimester. (as
opposed to the first trimester when exposures should be kept to a minimum) By who? All three of my doctors (OB, primary care, allergist)
recommend that I have one. From the Nursing Drug Handbook
entry on the flu vaccine:
"This vaccine is considered safe in pregnant patients.
Vaccination shouldn't be postponed, regardless of the
stage of pregnancy, in patients who have high-risk
conditions and who will be in the first trimester of
pregnancy when the flu season begins."
"Strongly recommended for anyone over 6 months; for
patients with chronic disease, metabolic disorders, or
medical conditions that put them at risk for complications
from influenza; for health care workers, especially doctors,
nurses, employees of nursing homes, volunteer workers,
and other personnel in both hospital and outpatient
settings; and for household members who may contact
persons at high risk for medical complications of influenza.
Also recommended for anyone who wishes to reduce the
chance of infection."
I actually asked my OB about this today. Origanally, I had assumed I
should not get the shot, but then our local news station was talking about
the flu shot and recommended it for pregnant women, among others. My doc
said it was just fine to get the shot. My OB said I could and SHOULD get a flu shot, because pregnancy is rough
on the immune system and getting the flu would be rough. I've never gotten
one before. I wonder what your OB's reasons were?
Mine said that if I worked in a place where the chances of getting the
flu were greater (health care profession, child care, etc.) then he would
recommend getting one - otherwise he didn't want me to. My OB is recommending flu shots to all women who will be in their third
trimester during flu season (including me). In fact, they are even offering
them in their office.
Could whoever posted that flu shots during pregnancy are contraindicated
please cite your references? I would like to discuss this further with my OB
if there is some valid research to that effect.
Also, FWIW, my husband got his flu shot last week (for my sake :)), and they
told him that this year's shot is made up of dead viruses rather than live
ones (he asked about giving shots to pregnant women, they said they would with
a dr's OK). Not sure what the implications of dead vs live viruses are, but I
thought it was interesting.
