Is it safe to take flu shots during pregnancy or could it lead to miscarriage?

Research on Flu Shots and Miscarriage
There have been some recent viral articles about flu shots causing miscarriage, leading a lot of women to refuse getting the vaccine in fear that they might lose their babies. While there had really been a study that checked into the safety of flu vaccine on pregnant
women, the authors made it clear that the study could not establish whether the flu shots had actually caused the miscarriage in the subjects they observed for their research. Based on the study published on the scientific journal “Vaccine” available via ScienceDirect, the case-controlled study checked the records of over 900 women exposed to flu shots during pregnancy.

The researchers found no significant association between receiving the flu shots and miscarriage. However, they found that women who received the flu vaccine the previous year had a slightly higher risk of miscarriage within 28 days of taking the second flu shot.
“[Spontaneous abortion] was associated with influenza vaccination in the preceding 28 days. The association was significant only among women vaccinated in the previous influenza season with pH1N1-containing vaccine. This study does not and cannot establish a causal relationship between repeated influenza vaccination and SAB, but further research is warranted,” the study
concluded.

Benefits of Flu Shots During Pregnancy

“Did you know that pregnant women are more likely to experience complications from flu than other ladies their age who are not pregnant?”
The benefits outweigh the risks when taking flu shots during pregnancy, whether during the first, second, or even third trimester. It is important to take note that there are a lot of large scientific studies that show the safety of flu shots during pregnancy. These studies also show better outcomes for both the mother and the baby, including lower risk of stillbirth and complications. Changes in a woman’s body, including her immune system, makes pregnant women more prone to infections and severe forms of various diseases, including the flu. Aside from the pregnant woman experiencing more severe symptoms of flu, it could also be more harmful to her developing baby.

Fever is a very common symptom of flu. But fever in pregnant women could lead to neural tube defects and other adverse outcomes, especially if this is experienced in the early stages of pregnancy. Such could lead to permanent, irreversible medical conditions in the unborn child or might even lead to stillbirth.

Keep This in Mind

To protect you and your child from the harmful effects of flu during pregnancy, take those flu shots regularly – even if you are already pregnant! Flu shots are effective for up to 1 year. Aside from avoiding these complications during pregnancy by taking the flu shots, the pregnant woman also provides protection to her baby for several months after birth as the antibodies are passed on to the unborn child. Babies are generally too young to receive vaccines, even for flu.

But women who receive flu shots during pregnancy pass on the immunity to their children, providing protection for the child in the months that the baby is still too young to get the vaccine on his own. Remember, flu shots have been administered to millions of pregnant women over many years, with a good safety record, the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) confirmed.

Take note, however, that some pregnant women might experience side effects to the vaccine and could even show flu-like symptoms. But these side effects are generally mild and usually lasts for just 1-2 days. Researchers maintain that getting flu shots during pregnancy still has more benefits than risks for the pregnant woman and her baby.

For complete and affordable vaccination, contact (02) 814.8488 or visit us at the 6th Floor, Angelus Plaza, 104 V. A. Rufino St. Legaspi Village Makati City Philippines to get vaccinated now.