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The Flu Vaccine and Pregnancy

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control recommends that, with a few exceptions, women who will be pregnant during flu season (October through mid-May) receive the influenza vaccine.  Those exceptions include women who are allergic to eggs or have had a severe reaction to the vaccine in the past.  If you have a moderate to severe illness with fever, you should wait until you’ve recovered to get immunized. In the unlikely case that you’ve ever had Guillain-Barre syndrome (a temporary neurological disorder), you should discuss this with your provider before getting the vaccine. 

The injectable form of the vaccine (the “flu shot”) uses killed virus and is safe to receive any time during pregnancy.  In fact, the sooner you receive it, the better since it takes a few weeks for the vaccine to achieve maximum effectiveness. The inhaled form of the vaccine contains live virus and should not be used by pregnant women.

Pregnant women are at increased risk for serious complications of the flu such as pneumonia.  A flu shot will help protect you and your newborn for the first six months of life.  So ask your midwife or other health care provider about getting one at your next visit – if not sooner.