Flu Shots Help Unborn Babies

By Julie Stachowiak, PhD
Multiple Sclerosis Guide; Guest blogger

A recent study shows that pregnant women who get the flu shot are doing something great for their babies - reducing risk of prematurity and low birth weight.

The US study from Emory University showed that during the whole flu season (October to May), babies born to vaccinated moms were 40 percent less likely to come early. Babies born during the months when the most flu was reported (usually between late November and early March) were 70 percent less likely to be born prematurely.

Other benefits of maternal flu shots to babies include:

• Higher birth weight - babies born to moms who had the shot weighed half a pound more than those born to unvaccinated mothers.
• Protection from flu - babies born to vaccinated moms were less likely to get the flu in their first year of life.

Unfortunately, less than 25 percent of pregnant women get the flu shot in any given season. There are a number of reasons for this - typically, pregnant women are reluctant to get shots or take medicine. Additionally, obstetricians often do not get the vaccine or do not know how to store it properly, according to some experts.

While the above studies looked at seasonal flu vaccines, it is even more important that pregnant women get vaccinated against H1N1 (swine flu), as that virus has proven deadly for pregnant women. Pregnant women are in the highest priority category for receiving the H1N1 shot.

For more information, read this article on About.com's Pregnancy site: What Pregnant Women Need to Know about the H1N1 Flu