Vaccination during Pregnancy
Pregnant ladies naturally have weakened immune system.
Flu (Influenza) vaccine during pregnancy:
1. Having flu during pregnancy may result to more complications to the mother such as:
– Bronchitis
– Pneumonia
or to the fetus such as:
– Premature birth
– Stillbirth
– Low birth weight
2. The vaccine passes some protection to the fetus that can last to 6 months after delivery.
3. Injection is given in the arm.
4. Flu season starts from October to march. The injection is given starting from September, as the shot takes around 14 days to take action.
5. Women who are planning to get pregnant during the flu season should get the vaccine too.
6. Side effects are mild compared to the disease, include:
– Redness in the site of injection.
– Headache.
– Low fever or tiredness.
7. The vaccine is inactivated virus.
8. The vaccine is safe during pregnancy. And it can be given at any stage of pregnancy.
9. You need to take the vaccine this year too even if you had it last year either you were pregnant or not.
10. The husband is advised to take the shot too.
Influenza is:
A- Viral infection
B- Highly contagious.
C- Affecting the respiratory tract.
Influenza (flu) symptoms:
They are worse than common cold, such as:
1. Muscles and joints pain.
2. Fever and chills.
3. Tiredness.
4. Headache.
5. Loss of appetite.
6. Coughing and sore throat.
7. Sneezing and runny nose.
Once you experience any of these symptoms during your pregnancy:
a- You should visit your doctor to prescribe antiviral medication for you.
b- Take it within 48 hours of symptoms starting for full effectiveness.
c- Medication can still be effective if taken up to 5 days after the symptoms have started.
d- The medication is usually oral.
You may contact your doctor too if you were in contact with people having flu. you might be given antiviral medication also to prevent getting the infection.
The benefits of antiviral medications during pregnancy are higher than its potential risks.
Pertussis (whooping cough):
1. It is highly infectious.
2. It can be serious to babies less than one year old.
3. Usually the baby needs admission to the hospital.
4. It can last for 3 to 4 months.
5. It leads to Pneumonia, permanent brain damage to young babies, and rarely fetal death.
Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine during pregnancy:
1. Timing: between week 26 to 36 of pregnancy, it maximizes the chance of passing the antibodies to the infant.
2. To lower the mother’s risk of infection.
3. You can take it with flu vaccine at the same time, but do not delay it until flu season to take them together.
4. It is safe during pregnancy.
5. You need to be vaccinated again even if you had the vaccine when you were young or in your previous pregnancy.
6. This vaccine is also against diphtheria and tetanus. It is called Tdap.
Other:
– Pregnant lady is advised to get hepatitis B vaccine if the husband is infected.
– It is prohibited to get rubella vaccination during pregnancy. But if the mother has weak immune system, she can get it after delivery with using contraceptive method for a month.
