Not that it was required, but there’s even more evidence that flu shots are safe and efficacious for pregnant women, neonates and fetuses. A study published recently in Obstetrics & Gynecology, Effect of influenza vaccination in the first trimester of pregnancy, investigated the effects of influenza vaccinations on fetal and neonatal outcomes.
Over a 5 year study period, a total of 8,690 women received a seasonal trivalent inactive influenza vaccine during the first trimester, and delivered babies at the study institution. Some of the key results were:
- Women vaccinated during pregnancy were significantly older with more pregnancies than women who declined vaccination.
- About 2 percent had a baby with a major birth defect, such as a malformation in the heart or a cleft lip, identical to the rate among almost 77,000 pregnant women who did not get the vaccine.
- Women who were vaccinated had lower stillbirth (0.3% compared with 0.6%, P=.006).
- Women who were vaccinated had lower neonatal death (0.2% compared with 0.4%, P=.01).
- Women who were vaccinated had lower premature delivery rates (5% compared with 6%, P=.004). Continue reading “Flu shots are safe for pregnant women”