Vaccination During Pregnancy Against Influenza (H1N1)
Obie Editorial Team
It is recommended that all pregnant women are immunized during pregnancy against influenza H1N1 (The Flu).
A study published by Pasternak et al. in July 2012 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) confirmed that this vaccination is safe for the fetus.
The researchers looked into 53,432 infants whose mothers were vaccinated during pregnancy. They found no increased risks in adverse outcomes such as preterm birth, birth defects, or small size infants.
They concluded that exposure to an adjuvanted influenza A (H1N1) vaccine during pregnancy was not associated with a significantly increased risk of major birth defects, preterm birth, or fetal growth restriction.
This study should allay women's fears about the potential risks of these vaccinations.
Source: JAMA. 2012;308(2):165-174