Unvaccinated pregnant women are at higher risk from the flu, even when they are fit and healthy. Flu during pregnancy increases the risk of premature birth, low birth weight, miscarriage stillbirths or birth defects.
The World Health Organisation recommends flu vaccination of pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy and says that pregnant women are given the highest priority to receive the vaccine.
Flu vaccine during pregnancy provides "two for one" protection, helping reduce the risk of catching flu for mum and their baby during the first six months after birth.
There is also a vaccine for pertussis (whooping cough) which protects mum against the disease and also really helps protect baby. This vaccine should be given between 28-38 weeks in the pregnancy. Recent research shows that more than 90 per cent of babies whose mothers were vaccinated against pertussis in pregnancy are protected against the disease for the first few months of life, the health board said.
Pertussis or whooping cough, is most dangerous in the very youngest babies (less than one year of age). Among babies admitted to intensive care with whooping cough, about one in six will die or be left with permanent damage.
Pregnant women can receive these two vaccines free through their GP or antenatal care.
Ask your midwife or doctor for more information or visit: http://www.fightflu.co.nz/ http://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/conditions-and-treatments/diseases-and-illnesses/influenza http://www.immune.org.nz/resources/written-resources/recommended-and-funded-vaccines-during-pregnancy
