The flu vaccine during pregnancy helps you to prevent seasonal flu. Seasonal flu is an acute respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. Fever in pregnancy is common, but if it exceeds 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or is persistent, then there is a chance that your baby will have some complications. To prevent you and your baby from risk factors it is necessary to have the flu vaccine.
Is it safe to have the vaccine?
There are numerous physiological and immunological changes happening during pregnancy. Pregnant mothers are at increased risk of developing complications to common infections and influenza is not an exception. If you take medicine for a fever, it may initially decrease, but if it rises above a certain point, it may put you and your baby at risk.
The ideal way to protect you and your baby against influenza is to have a flu vaccine during pregnancy. Administration of the flu vaccine can be done in any trimester of pregnancy. Taking flu vaccine during pregnancy is completely safe. Further, there is no proof that the flu vaccine damages the baby, according to studies.
Types of Influenza Vaccines:
When you are vaccinated, your placenta transfers protective antibodies to your baby, thus protecting them from infection during the first few months of life. The various types of influenza vaccines are
*The inactivated influenza vaccination is recommended for pregnant women by WHO since 2005.
*The second one is the trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine. The three influenza virus strains that are covered by trivalent vaccinations are influenza A (H1N1), influenza A (H3N2), and influenza B virus.
*And finally the quadrivalent inactivated vaccine contains two influenzas A strains and two influenza B strains. It protects humans against the B-type lineages that cause infections in humans. This vaccination, when given during pregnancy, not only protects the pregnant mother but also her baby until they are less than six months old.
Which vaccine is preferred for pregnant women?
*WHO, CDC, and ACOG recommend the use of inactivated influenza vaccine to all pregnant women or who will be pregnant during influenza season. It is a part of prenatal care. And, one dose must be given at any time during gestation. Thus, it gives protection to pregnant women, newborns, and infants with less than 6 months against the influenza virus.
*The trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine is also safe in pregnancy.
*And in recent times quadrivalent inactivated vaccine is also used (ACIP). The only contradiction would be severe egg protein allergy or allergy to the previous dose of vaccines.
Why are vaccines least effective against influenza A(H3N2)?
Because of the frequent genetic changes of the virus, the vaccines become less effective against the influenza A(H3N2) virus.
How to improve vaccines?
The techniques to improve vaccines are
*Usage of cell-based vaccine production
* Usage of recombinant flu vaccine
*Usage of advanced molecular techniques
Can breastfeeding mothers take the vaccine?
Yes, breastfeeding mothers also can take the vaccine. And they can get the inactivated vaccine or line alternated nasal spray.
To Conclude:
The influenza virus normally spreads throughout the year, but the peak season is between December and February. Hence, get the flu vaccine during pregnancy to safeguard both you and your baby from the influenza virus.
