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Pregnant Women and Flu Shots

posted by Dr. Brent Sep 24, 2008 7:00 am
Pregnant Women and Flu Shots
10 comments

Q: Are flu shots safe for pregnant women or not?

A: As long as there is no history of allergic reaction to flu vaccine after prior vaccinations, it is OK for pregnant women to get the vaccine during the flu season. There is no evidence to suggest that the vaccine will harm the infant, and, in fact, recent studies suggest that the vaccine actually protects the baby from contracting the flu during the first few months of life.

Dr. Brent Ridge is the health expert for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. You can call and ask him a question live every Tuesday at 2 p.m. Eastern on Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 112 (1.866.675.6675). You can also follow along as he learns to grow his own food and raise goats on his farm in upstate New York by visiting www.beekman1802.com.

Got a health question for Dr. Brent? E-mail him at drbrent@care2.com.

More on Ask Dr. Brent (122 articles available)
More from Dr. Brent (127 articles available)

10 comments

10 comments

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10 comments add your comment
Marissa H.

I was pushed to get a flu shot when pregnant in 2004. It was the first year they recommended for women in their first trimester to get it: prior to that the CDC had not recommended it in the first trimester. When the shot became available locally, I was still two weeks shy of the end of the first trimester and I asked the local health department if they would hold a shot for me for two weeks, but they refused. Additionally, when I expressed concerns about mercury, they told me the shot *might* contain trace amounts. I got it anyway, since the doctor was really pressuring me. I know this is merely anecdotal and not scientific, but my son at age 3 weeks developed colic and terrible eczema. He cried every day from 6 PM to 2 PM. He has allergies and cold-triggered asthma. I have always wondered if the shot had anything to do with it.

Now I am pregnant again and faced with the choice of whether to get the regular and swine flu shots this year or not. I have a school-age child and a pre-schooler and so feel my risk of getting swine flu is high. As of right now, it seems the swine flu vaccine has not been tested on that many people. I am scared of both options! But I am leaning toward not getting any flu shots. I am not convinced they are safe.

Vural K.

thanks...
Kabin
Konteyner

Jay Bird

Dr. Brent Ridge "health expert" for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia = R U A QUACK or an ASS?! You should tell your jokes on hee haw

Jay Bird

"There is no evidence to suggest that the vaccine will harm the infant"

supposedly there's no EVIDENCE that immunizations cause it either but mY SON WAS NORMAL BEFORE THE SHOTS followed by 3 days of screaming crying rash followed by total regression followed by AUTISM DIAGNOSES. So at LEAST give your UNBORN baby a chance, THEN YOU MAY CONSIDER RISKING HIM LATER _ at least then you will SEE the potential he had, "BEFORE SHOTS". PLEASE READ TAKE HEED & TAKE CARE!

Jamie Clemons

My best friend from High school's daughter got Autism from a vaccine. The dr's want you to believe they are safe, because they make big bucks off of getting everyone vaccinated. Vaccines contain nasty stuff like the stuff they use to embalm people and murcury.

Anne S.

There is no reason to believe shots during pregnancy are safe. There is data showing these shots have caused spontaneous abortions in pregnant women. My obgyn pushed me to get the shot while pregnant, and my child has autism (the shot has mercury and aluminum and other toxins).

Anne S.

There is no reason to believe shots during pregnancy are safe. There is data showing these shots have caused spontaneous abortions in pregnant women. My obgyn pushed me to get the shot while pregnant, and my child has autism (the shot has mercury and aluminum and other toxins).

Jas Rees

Please don't get flu shots when you are pregnant or any other shots unless life or death.

From my research only people who are at high risk aged care, respiratory problems, chronic health problems etc. are urged to consider.

And please do your own research of course, but it is questionable David I agree - I refer to your story also - whether vaccinations in infants and toddlers is in fact causing autism and aspurges at an alarming rate.

Everyone knows or has heard of someone's child who has had side effects - some serious e.g. autism, aspurges - and other debilitating problems.

Hilary S.

In the study you refer to, did the authors look at the impact on cognitive functioning in the babies who were exposed to the shot? What about the incidence of asthma in those children? And was the control shot another shot or was it a real placebo without a vaccine or the additives usually included? Finally, was the shot the mercury free version of the flu vaccine?

David W.

My Wife thoroughly believes that the Tenuous shot that she got when she was pregnant cause autism in her youngest child, and they are linking shots to many ailments in infants

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Disclaimer: Care2.com does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided in this newsletter or on Care2.com. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician or other health care provider.

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