Flu vaccination for pregnant women

Pregnant women are a high-risk group for the adverse course of respiratory infections, among which influenza is the leading disease, often ending tragically for the pregnant woman herself. Deaths in pregnant women have been reported during the period of intensive circulation of the so-called "swine" flu, or influenza type A (H1N1). This strain continues to be registered annually on all continents and in countries around the world.

Anatomical and physiological changes that occur during pregnancy create conditions for severe flu course and complications in pregnant women.

The World Health Organization calls on all countries to vaccinate all pregnant women against influenza during the epidemic season. Vaccination can reduce the number of flu-related hospitalizations and deaths among pregnant women, and reduce the likelihood and severity of influenza in children younger than six months of age, for whom there are no flu vaccinations and specific antiviral treatment.

Influenza vaccination is carried out in accordance with the developed safe technologies that completely eliminate the impact on the body of live viruses and their analogues. The vaccine contains only synthesized parts of the virus particles. During the pre - epidemic period, persons from risk groups are subject to vaccination at the expense of the federal budget: children from 6 months, students of grades 1-11; students in professional educational organizations and educational organizations of higher education; adults working in certain professions and positions (employees of medical and educational organizations, transport, and public utilities); pregnant women; adults over 60 years of age; persons subject to conscription for military service; persons with chronic diseases, including lung diseases, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and obesity.

Pregnant women are recommended to be vaccinated against influenza at the beginning of the second trimester, especially if the pregnancy occurs during the seasonal period of epidemics. Vaccination is preferred 1 month before the beginning of the increase in the infectious activity of the virus, most often in September-early October. All vaccines offered for the development of immunity in pregnant women from the most common strains of influenza are inactivated, that is, the live virus does not enter the body, which eliminates both the negative impact of the infectious agent on the expectant mother and the teratogenic effect on the fetus. All people who have direct contact with a pregnant woman (especially children of the first 5 years of life) should be vaccinated against influenza. This requirement reduces the risk of epidemiological contact of a pregnant woman with a sick person and increases the reliability of general and specific influenza prevention in the family.

An analysis of the epidemic increases in the incidence of influenza in previous seasons showed that:

• vaccination against influenza reduces the risk of infection – the incidence of influenza vaccinated was 9 times lower than unvaccinated, including among children – 25 times;
• vaccination reduces the risk of death - all deaths from influenza have been reported only in unvaccinated patients.;
• modern inactivated vaccines are safe for pregnant women and highly effective: every year more than 2000 pregnant women are vaccinated against influenza in the Lipetsk region – none of them have any adverse events after vaccination, and none have fallen ill with influenza.

Procedure for vaccination of pregnant women

The obstetrician-gynecologist of the women's consultation is obliged to offer flu vaccination to every pregnant woman who is more than 12 weeks old (II and III trimesters of pregnancy). A pregnant woman who is subject to vaccination against influenza, independently decides on the vaccination and necessarily gives consent to immunization. The district therapist in the polyclinic at the place of residence evaluates the health status of the pregnant woman, issues an admission to vaccination and issues a referral for vaccination. Vaccination is carried out in the vaccination office of the polyclinic.

The vaccine protects both the pregnant woman and her child. Since the developed antibodies of a woman are transmitted through the placenta to the newborn and can maintain a protective effect in his body for up to 6 months. Also, during the epidemic season, the so-called "cocoon vaccination" should be observed, when in order to prevent infection of the mother and the newborn, all the immediate environment of relatives will be vaccinated against influenza.

Having received immunity, your body will be able to resist the flu virus, and there will also be no risk of developing serious complications.

Chief freelance epidemiologist
health departments of the Lipetsk region,
Candidate of Medical Sciences Andrey Nikolanvich Filatov

Source: Flu vaccination for pregnant women