Considering the on-going pandemic and flu season, question vaccination safety is probably normal. While it is safe for healthy people to get their regular flu shots, health experts recommend pregnant women to get their yearly flu vaccination too, without worrying about anything.
Irrespective of their trimester, pregnant women can take their yearly flu vaccination. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, every woman who is pregnant right now should get her flu shot without worrying about the side effects, because there are none.
Also read- New Study Shows Cardiovascular Health May have links to Bone Diseases
Having yearly flu vaccination during pregnancy is actually beneficial for the mother and unborn baby. It not only prevents the flu but also saves from a number of other complications in the mother.
Surprisingly, flu is a major risk factor for pregnant women and it can lead them to severe health outcomes as compared to non-pregnant women having flu. There is plenty of research data that shows that having yearly flu vaccination reduces the risk of being hospitalized which is up to 40%.
It also saves the fetal health risks caused by the flu. Flu often results in fever, especially if the woman is in her first or second trimester. Persistent fever or high-grade fever may also cause a high risk of stillbirth and birth defects in the baby.
Newborn babies are the easiest targets for the flu virus and it affects them more severely than adults. Unlike adults, newborn babies are not vaccinated against the flu unless they reach 6 months of age. So from birth to six months, all newborn babies are at high risk of flu.
On the other side, if the mother receives her flu shot during the pregnancy, she develops antibodies against the virus. These antibodies somehow pass through the placenta and reach the baby’s body. after birth, if the newborn baby is on breastmilk, these antibodies transfer to the baby and reduce his chances to get sick from the flu.
Some people confuse the flu shots with the coronavirus vaccine. Although these diseases may look similar by symptoms, COVID-19 and flu are caused by two different viruses. For this reason, vaccination for one doesn’t provide any protection against the second.
Still, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t get the flu vaccine because you are spending time at home and the disease may not be much threatening because of the on-going pandemic. Despite the current pandemic, the risk of flu persists which is why health experts recommend everyone to get their yearly flu shot without waiting anymore.
Also Read: People with Lower Body Fat are at Reduced Risk of Hypertension- American Heart Association Report
There are chances that the flu vaccine will help to ease the signs associated with all flu-like diseases. It will also reduce the risk of hospitalization, easing the burden on healthcare units so that they can focus more on severe COVID-19 patients.
It is better to get the flu shot along with other vaccinations during pregnancy. The nasal spray vaccine may not help to protect from the flu virus. There are no side effects of flu vaccination for pregnant women and the fetus. the nasal spray vaccine is not suitable or recommended for pregnant mothers. For more questions on flu vaccination during pregnancy, consult your nearest healthcare services provider.
