Vaccinate all pregnant women and health care workers against the flu
With the flu season arriving October 1, ACOG reminds ob-gyns about the importance of giving all pregnant women a flu shot if they will be pregnant during any part of the flu season.
ACOG supports the expanded influenza vaccination recommendations issued last year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that include any woman who will be pregnant during the flu season. An intramuscular, inactivated vaccine may be used in all three trimesters.
Immunizing the mother offers some immunity to her infants as well. This is especially important because there is no influenza vaccine or antiviral therapy approved for infants younger than six months.
While the ideal time to vaccinate pregnant women is October and November, it’s important to remember that the flu season often peaks in February and can run until mid-May.
All health care workers need flu shots
It’s also important for all health care workers – physicians and their staffs – to be vaccinated so they don’t infect patients. The CDC is placing special emphasis on the vaccine recommendation for health care workers this year because of the number of patients who become infected by health care workers.
Inactivated vs. live vaccine
The inactivated influenza vaccine is safe for people six months and older, including those with high-risk conditions. The live, attenuated influenza vaccine, marketed as FluMist, is approved for use among healthy people ages 5 to 49, but is not recommended for pregnant women.