Should I get a flu shot?
Penny cited the following
5 peer-reviewed research articles
12 professionally-backed sources
2 articles from healthcare institutions
Overview
It’s strongly recommended that you receive a flu shot during pregnancy. The flu shot is safe at any stage of pregnancy and provides important protection for both you and your baby. Pregnant people are at higher risk for severe illness from the flu, and vaccination reduces this risk, as well as the risk of complications for your baby.
Key Points
Why the Flu Shot Is Recommended During Pregnancy
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Higher Risk During Pregnancy: Pregnancy changes your immune system, heart, and lungs, making you more likely to get seriously ill from the flu. This can lead to complications such as pneumonia, hospitalization, preterm birth, and, in rare cases, stillbirth or death for both mother and baby.
1ArticleInfluenza Vaccine Safety Considerations during Pregnancy or while Breastfeeding | Influenza (Flu) | CDCDuring pregnancy you should get ... vaccine (shot) and not the nasal spray influenza vaccine. Health care providers play a vital role in advising their patients on how to protect themselves and their developing babies against many threats during pregnancy, including influenza. Influenza (flu) duringpregnancy ...→
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2ArticleWhat You Need to Know About Flu Vaccination During Pregnancy - Families Fighting FluIf you are concerned about allergies or other medical conditions, it’s always a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider before getting the flushot. One of the amazing benefits of getting the flu vaccine during pregnancy is that it helps protect your baby after birth.→familiesfightingflu.org
3ArticleFlu & Pregnancy | Influenza (Flu) | CDCFlu also may be harmful for a ... and other adverse outcomes for a developing baby.) Getting the flu shot during pregnancy can protect against flu and flu related hospitalizations....→4ArticleFlu Vaccine Safety and Pregnancy | Influenza (Flu) | CDCInfluenza (flu) during pregnancy ... get a flu shot and not the nasal spray flu vaccine. Flu shots given during pregnancy help protect both the pregnant mother and the baby from flu....→5ArticleThe flu jab in pregnancy - NHSPregnant women should have the flu jab. Find out why it’s needed, where to get it and the risks of flu. The vaccine is safe to have at any stage of pregnancy.→nhs.uk
6ArticleDownloadable Infographic: Pregnant? Top 3 Reasons Why You Need the Flu Vaccine | ACOGThe flu vaccine is a safe way to help keep you and your baby healthy. When you get the flu vaccine during pregnancy, it helps protect your newborn until his or her first flu vaccine at age six months. The vaccine also is effective at preventing serious flu illness in pregnant women.→American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
7ArticleFlu Shots for Pregnant Women: It's Not Just Safe, It's Necessary | American Lung AssociationSo, what is keeping mothers away? Traci Gonzales, pediatric nurse practitioner with Texas Children’s Hospital and spokesperson for the American Lung Association, helped debunk some of the biggest misconceptions about the pregnancy and the flushot.→lung.org
8ArticleFlu shots during pregnancy - Harvard HealthNewborns, like pregnant women, ... of age. However, if you get the flu vaccine during pregnancy you will pass antibodies to your baby that will protect him or her from the flu in the first few months of life....→Harvard Health
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Protection for Baby: Babies cannot get the flu vaccine until they are 6 months old. When you get vaccinated during pregnancy, you pass protective antibodies to your baby, helping protect them for the first several months of life.
2ArticleWhat You Need to Know About Flu Vaccination During Pregnancy - Families Fighting FluIf you are concerned about allergies or other medical conditions, it’s always a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider before getting the flushot. One of the amazing benefits of getting the flu vaccine during pregnancy is that it helps protect your baby after birth.→3ArticleFlu & Pregnancy | Influenza (Flu) | CDCFlu also may be harmful for a ... and other adverse outcomes for a developing baby.) Getting the flu shot during pregnancy can protect against flu and flu related hospitalizations....→4ArticleFlu Vaccine Safety and Pregnancy | Influenza (Flu) | CDCInfluenza (flu) during pregnancy ... get a flu shot and not the nasal spray flu vaccine. Flu shots given during pregnancy help protect both the pregnant mother and the baby from flu....→5ArticleThe flu jab in pregnancy - NHSPregnant women should have the flu jab. Find out why it’s needed, where to get it and the risks of flu. The vaccine is safe to have at any stage of pregnancy.→8ArticleFlu shots during pregnancy - Harvard HealthNewborns, like pregnant women, ... of age. However, if you get the flu vaccine during pregnancy you will pass antibodies to your baby that will protect him or her from the flu in the first few months of life....→9ArticleInfluenza Vaccine Given to Pregnant Women Reduces Hospitalization Due to Influenza in Their Infants - PMCThe CDC and the American College ... data on safety and the potential benefit to both mother and infant, rates of vaccinationwithinfluenzavaccine among pregnant women are poor and vary widely for different health care providers and regions [26]. In spite of the ACOG's recommendation of influenzavaccination for pregnant women as a means of protection for women against severe infection, in 2003 only onethird of obstetricians offered this vaccine to their patients during pregnancy [27]. In our ...→
PubMed Central
10ArticleThe benefits of influenza vaccine in pregnancy for the fetus and the infant younger than six months of age - PMC12.Tamma PD, Ault KA, del Rio C, Steinhoff MC, Halsey NA, Omer SB. Safetyofinfluenzavaccinationduringpregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2009;201(6):547–52. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2009.09.034.→11ArticleFlu Vaccines and Pregnancy - NFIDInfants cannot be vaccinated against flu until they are age 6 months or older, but they are particularly vulnerable to severe complications from flu. Make sure that everyone who comes in close contact with your baby is vaccinated against flu.→nfid.org
12ArticleInfluenza vaccination in pregnancy | Influenza vaccination in pregnancy | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and AgeingA flu vaccination during pregnancy not only protects you, it also protects your newborn for their first 6 months. It's free for pregnant women under the National Immunisation Program (NIP). ... Influenza vaccination is safe, free and recommended for pregnant women in each pregnancy.→Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
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Reduces Hospitalization: Studies show that the flu shot reduces the risk of being hospitalized with the flu by about 40% for pregnant people and by up to 72% for newborns under 6 months.
1ArticleInfluenza Vaccine Safety Considerations during Pregnancy or while Breastfeeding | Influenza (Flu) | CDCDuring pregnancy you should get ... vaccine (shot) and not the nasal spray influenza vaccine. Health care providers play a vital role in advising their patients on how to protect themselves and their developing babies against many threats during pregnancy, including influenza. Influenza (flu) duringpregnancy ...→3ArticleFlu & Pregnancy | Influenza (Flu) | CDCFlu also may be harmful for a ... and other adverse outcomes for a developing baby.) Getting the flu shot during pregnancy can protect against flu and flu related hospitalizations....→4ArticleFlu Vaccine Safety and Pregnancy | Influenza (Flu) | CDCInfluenza (flu) during pregnancy ... get a flu shot and not the nasal spray flu vaccine. Flu shots given during pregnancy help protect both the pregnant mother and the baby from flu....→7ArticleFlu Shots for Pregnant Women: It's Not Just Safe, It's Necessary | American Lung AssociationSo, what is keeping mothers away? Traci Gonzales, pediatric nurse practitioner with Texas Children’s Hospital and spokesperson for the American Lung Association, helped debunk some of the biggest misconceptions about the pregnancy and the flushot.→12ArticleInfluenza vaccination in pregnancy | Influenza vaccination in pregnancy | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and AgeingA flu vaccination during pregnancy not only protects you, it also protects your newborn for their first 6 months. It's free for pregnant women under the National Immunisation Program (NIP). ... Influenza vaccination is safe, free and recommended for pregnant women in each pregnancy.→13ArticleInfluenza Vaccine Effectiveness in Preventing Influenza-associated Hospitalizations During Pregnancy: A Multi-country Retrospective Test Negative Design Study, 2010–2016 | Clinical Infectious Diseases | Oxford AcademicMark G Thompson, Jeffrey C Kwong, ... W Svenson, Rebecca V Fink, Sarah W Ball, Allison Naleway, InfluenzaVaccineEffectiveness in Preventing Influenza-associated Hospitalizations During Pregnancy: A Multi-country Retrospective Test Negative Design Study, 2010–2016, Clinical ...→
Oxford Academic
Safety of the Flu Shot in Pregnancy
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Extensive Safety Data: The flu shot (inactivated influenza vaccine) has been given to millions of pregnant people over more than 50 years and is considered very safe. Large studies and systematic reviews have found no increased risk of miscarriage, birth defects, preterm birth, or other adverse outcomes.
1ArticleInfluenza Vaccine Safety Considerations during Pregnancy or while Breastfeeding | Influenza (Flu) | CDCDuring pregnancy you should get ... vaccine (shot) and not the nasal spray influenza vaccine. Health care providers play a vital role in advising their patients on how to protect themselves and their developing babies against many threats during pregnancy, including influenza. Influenza (flu) duringpregnancy ...→2ArticleWhat You Need to Know About Flu Vaccination During Pregnancy - Families Fighting FluIf you are concerned about allergies or other medical conditions, it’s always a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider before getting the flushot. One of the amazing benefits of getting the flu vaccine during pregnancy is that it helps protect your baby after birth.→4ArticleFlu Vaccine Safety and Pregnancy | Influenza (Flu) | CDCInfluenza (flu) during pregnancy ... get a flu shot and not the nasal spray flu vaccine. Flu shots given during pregnancy help protect both the pregnant mother and the baby from flu....→5ArticleThe flu jab in pregnancy - NHSPregnant women should have the flu jab. Find out why it’s needed, where to get it and the risks of flu. The vaccine is safe to have at any stage of pregnancy.→6ArticleDownloadable Infographic: Pregnant? Top 3 Reasons Why You Need the Flu Vaccine | ACOGThe flu vaccine is a safe way to help keep you and your baby healthy. When you get the flu vaccine during pregnancy, it helps protect your newborn until his or her first flu vaccine at age six months. The vaccine also is effective at preventing serious flu illness in pregnant women.→7ArticleFlu Shots for Pregnant Women: It's Not Just Safe, It's Necessary | American Lung AssociationSo, what is keeping mothers away? Traci Gonzales, pediatric nurse practitioner with Texas Children’s Hospital and spokesperson for the American Lung Association, helped debunk some of the biggest misconceptions about the pregnancy and the flushot.→8ArticleFlu shots during pregnancy - Harvard HealthNewborns, like pregnant women, ... of age. However, if you get the flu vaccine during pregnancy you will pass antibodies to your baby that will protect him or her from the flu in the first few months of life....→12ArticleInfluenza vaccination in pregnancy | Influenza vaccination in pregnancy | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and AgeingA flu vaccination during pregnancy not only protects you, it also protects your newborn for their first 6 months. It's free for pregnant women under the National Immunisation Program (NIP). ... Influenza vaccination is safe, free and recommended for pregnant women in each pregnancy.→14ArticleThe safety of inactivated influenza vaccines in pregnancy for birth outcomes: a systematic review - PMCPregnant women are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality from influenza and are recognized as a priority group for influenza vaccination. Despite this, uptake is often poor and one reason cited for this is concerns about safety. The objective ...→15ArticleInfluenza in Pregnancy: Prevention and Treatment | ACOGIt is also safe for lactating individuals to receive the influenzavaccine if they did not receive it during pregnancy. Numerous studies, including clinical trials and observational studies, as well as data from safety-reporting systems, have consistently demonstrated the safetyofinfluenza ...→16ArticleShould you get a flu shot while pregnant? | HealthPartners BlogYes. Flushots are considered safe for pregnant women, and they have been for some time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has done a lot of work to examine the safety of the flu vaccine during pregnancy.→
healthpartners.com
17ArticleFlu & Pregnancy - Rhode Island Department of HealthIf you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during flu season, you should get the seasonal flu vaccine. The flu shot will protect you from flu-related complications and will help protect your newborn from the flu.→health.ri.gov
18ArticleEffectiveness of influenza vaccine during pregnancy in preventing hospitalizations and outpatient visits for respiratory illness in pregnant women and their infants - PubMedThe Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends influenzavaccination for women who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during the influenza season. We analyzed hospital admissions with principal diagnoses of influenza ...→PubMed
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Type of Vaccine: Only the inactivated flu shot is recommended during pregnancy. The nasal spray version (live attenuated vaccine) is not recommended for pregnant people.
1ArticleInfluenza Vaccine Safety Considerations during Pregnancy or while Breastfeeding | Influenza (Flu) | CDCDuring pregnancy you should get ... vaccine (shot) and not the nasal spray influenza vaccine. Health care providers play a vital role in advising their patients on how to protect themselves and their developing babies against many threats during pregnancy, including influenza. Influenza (flu) duringpregnancy ...→2ArticleWhat You Need to Know About Flu Vaccination During Pregnancy - Families Fighting FluIf you are concerned about allergies or other medical conditions, it’s always a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider before getting the flushot. One of the amazing benefits of getting the flu vaccine during pregnancy is that it helps protect your baby after birth.→4ArticleFlu Vaccine Safety and Pregnancy | Influenza (Flu) | CDCInfluenza (flu) during pregnancy ... get a flu shot and not the nasal spray flu vaccine. Flu shots given during pregnancy help protect both the pregnant mother and the baby from flu....→5ArticleThe flu jab in pregnancy - NHSPregnant women should have the flu jab. Find out why it’s needed, where to get it and the risks of flu. The vaccine is safe to have at any stage of pregnancy.→17ArticleFlu & Pregnancy - Rhode Island Department of HealthIf you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during flu season, you should get the seasonal flu vaccine. The flu shot will protect you from flu-related complications and will help protect your newborn from the flu.→19ArticleACOG Releases Updated Maternal Immunization Guidance for COVID-19, Influenza, and RSV | ACOGWashington, D.C.—Today, the American ... vaccinationduringpregnancy against COVID-19, influenza, and RSV. The three guidance documents, all of which recommend maternal immunization, lay out the full body of current scientific evidence that underscores the safety and benefits ...→
Effectiveness and Timing
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Best Timing: You can get the flu shot at any point in pregnancy. It’s best to get vaccinated as soon as the flu vaccine becomes available for the season, ideally before flu activity begins in your community.
2ArticleWhat You Need to Know About Flu Vaccination During Pregnancy - Families Fighting FluIf you are concerned about allergies or other medical conditions, it’s always a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider before getting the flushot. One of the amazing benefits of getting the flu vaccine during pregnancy is that it helps protect your baby after birth.→4ArticleFlu Vaccine Safety and Pregnancy | Influenza (Flu) | CDCInfluenza (flu) during pregnancy ... get a flu shot and not the nasal spray flu vaccine. Flu shots given during pregnancy help protect both the pregnant mother and the baby from flu....→5ArticleThe flu jab in pregnancy - NHSPregnant women should have the flu jab. Find out why it’s needed, where to get it and the risks of flu. The vaccine is safe to have at any stage of pregnancy.→11ArticleFlu Vaccines and Pregnancy - NFIDInfants cannot be vaccinated against flu until they are age 6 months or older, but they are particularly vulnerable to severe complications from flu. Make sure that everyone who comes in close contact with your baby is vaccinated against flu.→16ArticleShould you get a flu shot while pregnant? | HealthPartners BlogYes. Flushots are considered safe for pregnant women, and they have been for some time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has done a lot of work to examine the safety of the flu vaccine during pregnancy.→17ArticleFlu & Pregnancy - Rhode Island Department of HealthIf you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during flu season, you should get the seasonal flu vaccine. The flu shot will protect you from flu-related complications and will help protect your newborn from the flu.→
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Additional Benefits: Vaccination in pregnancy is associated with a lower risk of preterm birth and low birth weight.
14ArticleThe safety of inactivated influenza vaccines in pregnancy for birth outcomes: a systematic review - PMCPregnant women are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality from influenza and are recognized as a priority group for influenza vaccination. Despite this, uptake is often poor and one reason cited for this is concerns about safety. The objective ...→
Summary
Getting a flu shot during pregnancy is safe and highly recommended. It helps protect you from serious illness and complications, and it also protects your baby before and after birth. The inactivated flu shot can be given at any stage of pregnancy, and there is strong evidence that it does not increase the risk of miscarriage or birth defects. If you have specific concerns or medical conditions, you might want to discuss them with your OB/GYN, who can work with you on your personal course of care.
1
Article
Influenza Vaccine Safety Considerations during Pregnancy or while Breastfeeding | Influenza (Flu) | CDC
During pregnancy you should get ... vaccine (shot) and not the nasal spray influenza vaccine. Health care providers play a vital role in advising their patients on how to protect themselves and their developing babies against many threats during pregnancy, including influenza. Influenza (flu) duringpregnancy ...
2
Article
What You Need to Know About Flu Vaccination During Pregnancy - Families Fighting Flu
If you are concerned about allergies or other medical conditions, it’s always a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider before getting the flushot. One of the amazing benefits of getting the flu vaccine during pregnancy is that it helps protect your baby after birth.
4
Article
Flu Vaccine Safety and Pregnancy | Influenza (Flu) | CDC
Influenza (flu) during pregnancy ... get a flu shot and not the nasal spray flu vaccine. Flu shots given during pregnancy help protect both the pregnant mother and the baby from flu....
6
Article
Downloadable Infographic: Pregnant? Top 3 Reasons Why You Need the Flu Vaccine | ACOG
The flu vaccine is a safe way to help keep you and your baby healthy. When you get the flu vaccine during pregnancy, it helps protect your newborn until his or her first flu vaccine at age six months. The vaccine also is effective at preventing serious flu illness in pregnant women.
7
Article
Flu Shots for Pregnant Women: It's Not Just Safe, It's Necessary | American Lung Association
So, what is keeping mothers away? Traci Gonzales, pediatric nurse practitioner with Texas Children’s Hospital and spokesperson for the American Lung Association, helped debunk some of the biggest misconceptions about the pregnancy and the flushot.
17
Article
Flu & Pregnancy - Rhode Island Department of Health
If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during flu season, you should get the seasonal flu vaccine. The flu shot will protect you from flu-related complications and will help protect your newborn from the flu.
19
Article
ACOG Releases Updated Maternal Immunization Guidance for COVID-19, Influenza, and RSV | ACOG
Washington, D.C.—Today, the American ... vaccinationduringpregnancy against COVID-19, influenza, and RSV. The three guidance documents, all of which recommend maternal immunization, lay out the full body of current scientific evidence that underscores the safety and benefits ...