Pregnant women urged to get flu vaccine by Kazi
Accoucheurs and woman’ses doctor are urging pregnant women and those who have by today given birth to get the seasonal flu vaccine.
Last week, the HSE launched its seasonal flu vaccine campaign, urging all at risk groups to get vaccinated as soon as possible. These groups include pregnant women and those who have given birth within the last six weeks.
Now the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is urging women not to neglect this advice and get vaccinated.
The flu virus changes every year and that is why a new flu vaccine has to be given annually. Based on advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO), this year’s seasonal flu vaccine contains three common flu virus strains, including the swine flu strain (H1N1), which is still circulating this year and is expected to be the most common strain this winter.
Accoriding to the institute, during the 2009 swine flu pandemic, pregnant women and those who had given birth within the previous six weeks were at a higher risk of complciatiosn from the virus.
Pregnant women who contracted swine flu were also more likely to require hospitalisation and admission to intensive care units. There was also a risk of adverse perinatal outcomes and delivery complications.
“Based on international evidence, we expect that pandemic H1N1 will be the predominant virus to circulate in the forthcoming influenza season. The 2010/2011 seasonal flu vaccine contains the pandemic virus strain and will provide protection against the pandemic H1N1 2009 virus,” the institue explained.
It pointed out that the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, as well as similar advisory committees in the UK and US, has recommended the administration of the vaccine to pregnant women and women up to six weeks after giving birth.
“Pregnant women who have had the pandemic H1N1 vaccine and who have no other medical complications do not require the vaccine. Pregnant women who have a long-tem condition such as diabetes or heart or lung disease need to get the seasonal flu vaccine, even if they have already had the pandemic H1N1 vaccine. Vaccination can be carried out at any stage during pregnancy,” the institute explained.
It added that these recommendatons have also been endorsed by the Pregnancy Subgroup of the Pandemic Influenza Expert Working Group, which advises on issues surrounding influenza in pregnancy.
Meanwhile pharmacy chain, Boots, has announced that from today (October 11), it is providing the seasonal flu vaccine in its pharmacies for â