Vaccination of pregnant women against influenza is safe and effective
Pregnant women are at high risk for the adverse course of respiratory infections, including influenza it is a leading disease, often ending tragically for the pregnant woman herself. Deaths for pregnant women were 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 a severe course and complications of influenza 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 diseases associated with flu-related hospitalizations and deaths among pregnant women, reduce the possibility of occurrence and severity of the course influenza in children younger than six months of life, for whom there are no vaccinations against influenza and specific antiviral treatment.
Influenza vaccination is carried out in accordance with the developed safe technologies that are completely safe. eliminate the impact on the body of live viruses and their analogues. The vaccine contains only synthesized parts of the viral particles. In 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, public utilities); pregnant women; adults over 60 years of age; persons subject to conscription for military service; persons with chronic diseases, including those with 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 common influenza strains are inactivated, meaning that the live virus does not enter the body, which means that eliminates both the negative impact of the infectious agent on the expectant mother and the teratogenic effect on the fetus. Vaccination against influenza should be subject to all people who have direct contact with a pregnant woman (especially children of the first 5 years of life). 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.
The 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 pregnant (II and III trimesters of pregnancy). Pregnant woman, subject to vaccination against influenza, independently decides on the implementation of vaccination and mandatory the patient agrees to be immunized. The district therapist in the polyclinic at the place of residence conducts an assessment the state of health of the pregnant woman, issues an admission to vaccination and issues a referral for vaccination. Vaccination it 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 during the epidemic season, the so-called "cocoon vaccination" should be observed, when in order to prevent after the infection of the mother and the newborn, all the closest relatives will be vaccinated against the flu.
Having received immunity, your body will be able to resist the flu virus, and there will also be no risk of developing serious complications.
