HHS HealthBeat (October 15, 2012)

Flu shots for safer pregnancies

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Pregnant women have special risks in flu season. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Denise Jamieson says influenza can increase the risk of miscarriage, and increase the risk that the baby may be born too early or too small. And she says pregnant women have their own risks if they get sick:

“Once they do get the flu, they’re more likely to have severe complications, including hospitalization and death.”

So Jamieson advises pregnant women to get flu vaccination. She says the vaccination is safe for the mother and the unborn child, and decades of experience back that up. She says women can be vaccinated at any time in the pregnancy, and the best time to get vaccinated is the soonest the vaccine is available in the woman’s area.

Learn more at healthfinder.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: October 17, 2012