Free Flu Vaccine in Pregnancy
Protects mum, protects baby
Why are pregnant women advised to have the flu vaccine?
It has been known for many years that pregnant women and their babies are at risk from
complications if the mother gets flu during pregnancy. While you are pregnant you may be more
susceptible to infections, such as coughs, colds and flu because your immune system is lowered
slightly to prevent your body from rejecting your unborn baby.
There is good evidence that pregnant women have a higher chance of developing serious
complications if they get flu. As the womb increases in size, pressure on the lungs means it is more
difficult to breathe deeply, which increases the risk of pneumonia following flu. Getting the flu
while pregnant can cause premature birth, low birth weight, and can even lead to stillbirth or death
in the first week of life.
It's particularly important to have the jab if you’re pregnant and have asthma, diabetes, or a heart,
kidney, or liver condition, or a disease that affects your nervous system, as flu could be very
harmful to you.
Will the vaccine protect my baby?
The flu jab is doubly beneficial if your baby is due this winter, as the vaccine given to the mother
during pregnancy can protect the baby for the first few months of their little life. This is because
immunity from the vaccine passes across the placenta from the mother to baby in the womb in the
form of antibodies.
Is the flu vaccine safe in pregnancy?
Yes, it's perfectly safe. There is no evidence that the seasonal flu jab will
harm you or your baby at any stage of pregnancy, from the first few
weeks up to your expected due date. The vaccine contains an inactivated
virus, which means you cannot become infected from it.
Published studies involving 1,000s of women have been undertaken to
assess the safety of the influenza vaccine given in pregnancy. There is no
evidence of harm, and there are very clear benefits in protecting you and
your baby against the serious complications of flu. The safety of the flu
vaccine is well established and the changing strains each year don't affect
this.
Are the vaccine ingredients safe?
There is robust evidence that mercury levels in vaccines do not harm the body and it should not be
something to be concerned about. Flu vaccinations generally do not contain mercury anyway – if
they do, it would be miniscule amounts – and you can ask your doctor for a vaccine without
mercury. The different ingredients in vaccines do not stay in the body but are broken down and
discharged from the body in a similar way to other medicines.
How effective is the vaccine?
The flu vaccine can either completely protect you from flu or make it less severe – it can depend on
how well the vaccine matches the strains of flu that are circulating.
Can I have the vaccine if I’m breastfeeding?
The flu vaccine poses no risk to women who are breastfeeding, or to their babies. While
breastfeeding is important for babies' general health, it will not by itself prevent flu infection in
your baby, even if you are vaccinated. The flu vaccine can be given to breastfeeding women free on
the NHS, but only if they are in one of the clinical at risk groups.
The World Health Organisation has declared that the “Influenza vaccine is
considered safe and is recommended for all women during the influenza season. “
When should I have the flu jab?
After the flu jab, your body takes a week to 10 days to make the antibodies that protect you so it’s
advisable to have the vaccine as soon as possible so that you’ll be protected by the time the flu
viruses start circulating this winter. However, if you find that you're pregnant later on in the flu
season, you can have the vaccine then if you haven’t already had it.
How do I get the flu vaccine?
Contact your midwife, GP or local pharmacy to find out where you can get the flu vaccine for free.
If I had the flu jab last year, do I need to have it again now?
Yes, because the viruses that cause flu change every year. Every year the flu vaccine is formulated
to provide protection against the particular flu strains which are likely to be circulating in the
population that season.
Will the flu jab give me flu?
No. The vaccine doesn’t contain any live viruses, so it can’t cause flu. Some people get a slight
temperature and aching muscles for a couple of days afterwards, and you may feel a bit sore at the
injection site.
Can I have the flu jab at the same time as the whooping cough vaccine?
Yes, you can have the flu jab at the same time as the whooping cough vaccine, but don't delay your
flu jab simply so you can have both at the same time.
You'll find more information about flu and the flu vaccine from the Health Protection Agency,
including an alternative vaccine, if you are allergic to hen's eggs.
References:
The Baby Centre: http://www.babycentre.co.uk/x556202/is-it-safe-to-have-the-seasonal-flu-jab-duringpregnancy#ixzz2dBRMpReX
NHS Choices: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/flu-jab-vaccine-pregnant.aspx
MumsNet: http://www.mumsnet.com/qanda/flu-jabs-during-pregnancy