Is it safe to get a flu shot during pregnancy?

If you’ve ever had a cold, you know how bad it can be. You probably also know that the flu can be serious. But did you know that catching a cold during pregnancy can be very harmful?

Getting the flu shot during pregnancy is not only safe – it’s a great way to protect you and your baby from getting sick.

“Being pregnant can be difficult, but adding a vaccine-preventable illness to the mix can make things difficult, or worse, dangerous,” said Chandani DeZure, MD, a pediatrician at the Infant and Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board. “The flu vaccine is safe during pregnancy, and protects mothers and babies from getting sick.”

Why should I take the flu during pregnancy?

You can take precautions – like washing your hands and staying away from people who are sick – but when it comes to reducing the risk of getting the flu during pregnancy, getting a flu shot is the best way to protect yourself.

Professional medical organizations – including the American College of Obstetricians and GynecologistsIt will open a new window (ACOG), Society for Maternal-Fetal MedicineIt will open a new windowand the American Academy of PediatricsIt will open a new window – acceptance.

This is because pregnant women are more susceptible to colds, including pneumonia, which can be dangerous for both mother and child. Research showsIt will open a new window that pregnant women who get the flu shot are 40% less likely to be hospitalized for the flu.

“I’m glad I did because the flu has been bad this year,” said BabyCenter Community member jetergirl620, a nurse who gave her a flu shot in her first three months. “High temperature around 104/105! That’s not good for a growing baby, so I’m glad to have a little extra protection!”

Note: The nasal flu vaccine is not recommended for pregnant women because they have a weakened immune system.

Want more information about health and wellness during pregnancy and what vaccines are recommended for you? Find articles and advice from experts, as well as advice from other parents, in the BabyCenter appIt will open a new window.

Can the flu protect my child from the flu?

A flu shot can protect your child from the flu. When you get the flu, your body makes antibodies to fight the virus, and those antibodies are passed on to your baby through the placenta. And if you’re breastfeeding, your baby will get antibodies to the flu through breast milk.

Those antibodies will provide protection against the flu for several months after birth. That protection may be important because babies younger than six months are at the highest risk of complications, but they are too young to be vaccinated against the disease.

Another study foundIt will open a new window that babies born to mothers who received the flu vaccine had a 63% lower risk of contracting the disease before the age of 6 months compared to babies born to mothers who did not receive the flu vaccine. A recent study of more than 2,000 children foundIt will open a new window The vaccine is 58% effective in preventing the flu in the first three months of life when mothers receive the flu vaccine during pregnancy.

Is it safe to get a flu shot during pregnancy?

Yes, the flu vaccine is safe for pregnant women and their babies. According to ACOGIt will open a new window“Vaccines are manufactured to the highest safety standards. … They have been used for many years in millions of pregnant women and are not known to cause problems with pregnancy or birth.”

Researchers continue to prove the safety of the vaccine. One lessonIt will open a new window for example, more than 117,500 pregnant women, confirmed that receiving the flu vaccine during pregnancy is not associated with miscarriage, even if given early in pregnancy.

Is there a risk of getting the flu from the flu vaccine?

No – no chance. The flu shot does not contain the virus that causes the flu, which is the only thing that causes the flu.

The flu shot contains fragments of the flu virus, which stimulate your body to make antibodies that protect you from the virus. But the flu virus in the flu shot doesn’t work, so it can’t infect you.

The nasal flu vaccine, FluMist, contains live viruses, but they are weakened and cannot survive the heat in your lungs. However, as a precaution, it is recommended that you take the shot instead of the spray during pregnancy.

How does the flu work?

The effectiveness of the flu shot can vary from year to year. That’s because the vaccine (which is changed every year) has to match the flu virus that’s most common that season. So a little guesswork is involved.

Another study foundIt will open a new window that getting the flu during pregnancy reduces the risk of being hospitalized with the flu by 40%.

When should I get the flu shot?

You should get a flu shot every year, even if you’ve had it years ago, because different types of flu come out every year. Flu season runs from October to May, so ACOG recommends getting it early in the fall — preferably in late October. That way, you are protected before it starts.

If you are in July/August and the vaccine is available, you may choose to get vaccinated early. And if you miss the shot in the fall, you should also get vaccinated later because the flu season lasts until May.

“I got mine at eight weeks, I got mine again when I was pregnant,” said BabyCenter Community member karmadw23. “No problem, and I had the flu last year and was soooooo sick. I can’t imagine getting pregnant while I’m pregnant.”

Is it safe to take the flu at the pharmacy when you are pregnant?

Yes. Although you can get a shot from your health care provider during pregnancy, you can get a flu shot anywhere that is given to adults, including pharmacies and drive-thru clinics.

Vaccines.govIt will open a new window can help you find a pharmacy that offers flu shots near you (just enter your ZIP code).

You can also call your local health department to find out where the flu is available in your area. You do not need a referral or special permission from your health care provider to get the flu vaccine during pregnancy.

So if it’s more convenient for you to go to the pharmacy than the doctor’s office to get the shot, that’s fine.

What are the side effects of the flu vaccine?

The effects of the flu are usually mild. Common symptoms may include:

Some people are fine with the flu.

“I got the COVID and flu shot at the same time, like, 10 weeks. I had a little sore arm from the COVID shot, but nothing like the flu shot,” says BabyCenter Community member FirstTimeMommaat40. “I’ve never had a flu shot before, so I didn’t know what to expect, but I had zero results. Easy peasy.”

If you have side effects, they usually start right after the shot and last a day or two.

BabyCenter Community member neurodivergentmama got her flu shot at about 17 weeks pregnant. “My arm hurt for 2 days, but no icky symptoms or complications. I did it because I work with babies who put their mouths on everything.”

As with any vaccine, severe itching is rare but possible. Major allergic symptoms may include:

• Breathing problems
• Hoarseness or shortness of breath
• Hives
• Paleness
• Weakness
• Rapid heartbeat
• Dizziness

The worst happens minutes or hours after the shot. Call 911 if you start having symptoms of a serious reaction.

Remember, the side effects of the flu vaccine are rare, and the complications associated with the flu during pregnancy can be very serious.

Does the flu vaccine contain thimerosal?

Some flu vaccines that are stored in multi-dose vials before being taken for single-dose flu shots contain thimerosal (a mercury-based preservative) to prevent contamination of the vial. Most single-dose vials and pre-filled syringes of flu vaccine and nasal spray flu vaccine do not contain preservatives, as they are intended for single use.

The CDC considers thimerosal to be safe for pregnant women and developing babies, but if you want to get a thimerosal-free vaccine, it is often available. Just ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Who should not get a flu shot?

Do not get the flu vaccine if you have had a severe flu in the past.

If you are allergic to eggs, talk to your doctor. (Chicken eggs are used as a culture to grow the flu virus that is used in many vaccines.) If you get a rash (not a serious reaction) after being exposed, you can get the flu. If you have a serious problem with eggs, you have two options:

• You can get this vaccine under medical supervision (that is, at a doctor’s office).
• You can ask for a flu vaccine that does not contain eggs. Two of these “cell” vaccines are now available.

Before you get the flu, make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other health problems, or if you have Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Where can I find more information about the flu during pregnancy?

For the latest flu season information, check the CDC’s flu siteIt will open a new windowor call CDC at (800) CDC-INFO or (800) 232-4636.