Three Reasons Why Pregnant and Postpartum Women Should Get the Flu Shot

• Posted on: Oct 20 2022
• By: Vizium360 Marketing

Flu season isn’t in full swing yet but it is predicted that the flu will be bad this year. Should pregnant and postpartum women get the flu shot?

As cooler weather is approaching, so is flu season. Women who are pregnant, in the early postpartum stages, or breastfeeding may question whether or not it is safe to get the flu shot. The answer is yes! Researchers and healthcare professionals agree that pregnant and postpartum women should get the flu shot.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women should get their flu shot. Numerous research studies have proven that:

1. The flu is more likely to cause severe illness in pregnant and postpartum women
2. Getting the flu shot reduces the risk of respiratory infection from the flu by approximately 50% and of hospitalization due to the flu by 40%
3. Pregnant women who get the flu shot help protect their babies from the flu for the first several months after birth¹

Many people question the safety of the flu vaccine during pregnancy or breastfeeding. It has been proven that flu shots are safe during pregnancy. Millions of pregnant women have gotten the flu shot and time has proven that the flu shot is safe for these women and their babies. The CDC recommends that pregnant women can get the flu shot at any time during their pregnancy.

National health professionals are urging people to beware of the flu this year and to get their flu shot early. They are predicting a high flu season because oftentimes what happens in the southern hemisphere is a predictor of what the United States (US) can expect. Australia just had its worst flu season in five years.²

The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Rochelle Walensky stated, “With a potentially challenging flu season ahead, I urge everyone to protect themselves and their families from flu and its potentially serious complications. Schedule your flu vaccine today.”³ The flu shot can be administered at any time during the flu season but the CDC recommends getting the flu shot before the end of October. It takes about two weeks for the vaccine’s protection to set in.³ If you get your flu shot before the end of October this will help protect you during the holidays.

If you’d like to schedule an appointment with one of our physicians, contact us here today!

Resources

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, September 13). Flu vaccine safety and pregnancy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 14, 2022
2. It’s time to get your flu shot and your covid-19 booster – get both in one appointment. It’s Time To Get Your Flu Shot and Your COVID-19 Booster – Get Both in One Appointment – NYC Health. (2022, October 3). Retrieved October 13, 2022
3. Tillman, R. (2022, October 10). Study: 49% of U.S. adults plan on flu shot amid potentially severe season. Study: 49% of U.S. adults plan to get flu shot. Retrieved October 13, 2022

Posted in: Women's Health