Benefits & Risks of Swine Flu Shots in Pregnancy
Health Concerns for Pregnant Women Getting the H1N1 Vaccination
Oct 20, 2009
During pregnancy, women and their babies are vulnerable to both dangers posed by potential infection, and to medications and vaccines created to fight against the infection. Each type of illness or potential infection requires a pregnant woman and her doctor to weigh the benefits of the treatment against the risks posed by the illness. Swine flu, and the swine flu vaccine created to combat the H1N1 infection, are no exception to this rule.
Swine Flu Risks to Pregnant Women
Pregnant women are in an extremely high-risk group for the H1N1 virus, also known as the swine flu, or swine influenza. Pregnant women account for more hospitalizations than the rest of the population. Tragically, pregnant women also account for more fatalities than any other group in the general population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Risk of Swine Flu Infection for Infants
Infants under the age of six months cannot directly receive the H1N1 flu vaccine. In addition to immature immune systems, the lack of a vaccination puts them at an increased risk of infection by the swine flu or seasonal flu. According to a 2008 study called "Effectiveness of Maternal Influenza Immunization in Mothers and Infants," published in the New England Journal of Medicine by K. Zaman, E. Roy, and S. Arifeen, pregnant women who received the seasonal flu vaccine decreased the chances of their infant, under six months of age, contracting the flu by 63%. Clinical trials are currently under way to determine if the H1N1 vaccine has the same benefit.
Risks from Thimerosal During Pregnancy
Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative used in many formulations of the seasonal flu and swine flu vaccines. There have been no clinical findings that thimerosal poses a danger to pregnant women. There are formulations that do not contain thimerosal, available to pregnant women who are concerned about the mercury content during pregnancy. The risk of swine flu complications during pregnancy is so high, however, that the CDC recommends that all pregnant women get vaccinated, even if the only formulations available have thimerosal.
While the inhaled version of the swine flu vaccine does not contain thimerosal either, this type of vaccination contains a live form of the virus, and should not be taken by pregnant women.
Egg Allergies and the Swine Flu Vaccine
The swine flu vaccine, and any other flu vaccine, poses a risk to anyone with an egg allergy due to the fact that the vaccine contains small amounts of chicken egg protein. The CDC recommends that anyone with egg allergies avoid getting the swine flu vaccine, even if they are pregnant.
Manufacturer Recommendations:
None of the three injectable swine flu manufacturers licensed to produce H1N1 vaccine within the United States recommend their product for use in pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Related Articles:
Details about U.S. Approved Swine Flu Injections
Information on Different H1N1 Vaccine Formulations by Manufacturer
There are three swine flu vaccine manufacturers that provide approved H1N1 vaccine to the United States. Each formulation of the injected swine flu vaccine is used differently.
Prevent Swine Influenza Disease in Kids
Recognize H1N1 Swine Flu Symptoms to Avoid Contagious Infection
Swine flu virus symptoms mimic simple colds, but are more dangerous. Prevent serious illness by avoiding contagious infection from those with H1N1 swine flu symptoms
Risks of Swine Flu Shot Containing Thimerosal
Mercury-Based Preservative Used in H1N1 Vaccination May Be Dangerous
Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative, eliminated from most children's vaccines to prevent mercury toxicity, but not from multi-dose formulations of swine flu shots.
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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