Flu Shots Okay for Pregnant Women, Study Shows

Flu shots are still a hotly debated issue, but the results from a new study indicate that moms-to-be shouldn’t worry about taking the plunge – in fact, it may even be good for the baby.

The study, published in PLoS Medicine, monitored 4,200 births in Georgia between June 2004 and September 2006. It found that when pregnant women had received the flu shot, there was a significantly reduced risk of their baby being born premature (56 to 72 percent, to be exact).

Further analysis of the data showed that women who received the shot and gave birth during January or February (flu season peak) were nearly 70 percent less likely to have a baby that was “small for gestational age”, which means its birth weight, length or head circumference are in the bottom 9 percent.

The study is certainly not conclusive, as no other factors regarding the mothers’ health were considered – for example, diet and exercise. These other factors may also play a role in lowering the likelihood of preterm birth.

Still, the study does add even more evidence indicating that the flu shot is safe for pregnant women. According to Dr. Gilbert Ross of the American Council on Science and Health, it’s the responsibility of every doctor to ensure patients receive this information.

“It is a myth that the vaccine can pose a health threat to babies if administered during pregnancy,” he says. “What is more, there is ample evidence that the flu can be especially severe in pregnant women. The bottom line is that pregnant women should get a flu shot.”