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TMA “Flu Fighters” Recommend H1N1 Vaccine for Pregnant Women

Oct. 22, 2009

Texas Medical Association (TMA) “Flu Fighter” physician leaders have a message for patients, especially women who are pregnant: Get your H1N1 shot as soon as possible ― the vaccine is safe and can protect you from getting sick. “The risk of getting the flu is far worse than the potential side effects of the vaccine,” says Donald Murphey, MD, a member of the TMA Flu Fighters — select members of TMA’s Committee on Infectious Diseases who are monitoring the seasonal and H1N1 flu, which are widespread in Texas.

More than 506,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine have arrived in Texas so far. In the past couple of weeks, doctors and clinics have begun administering the vaccine to patients.

“Our medical offices are packed with patients suffering from H1N1 and seasonal flu,” adds Dr.  Murphey. “Now that physicians are receiving their H1N1 vaccine, we recommend the priority patients get to their doctor and get vaccinated. It’s safe and effective.”

Who should get the H1N1 vaccine. Public health officials urge these priority patients to get immunized against H1N1 flu:

·         Pregnant women,

·         Health care and emergency medical services workers who care for patients,

·         Everyone 6 months through 24 years of age,

·         People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age (e.g., parents, siblings, and day care providers), and

·         People who are 25 through 64 years of age and at higher risk for complications from H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

Pregnant women are advised to get both the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 flu shot. The flu vaccines can protect both the pregnant woman and her baby. The seasonal flu shot has been given to millions of pregnant women over the years, and flu shots have not been shown to cause harm to pregnant women or their babies. Public health officials note that pregnant women who get sick from seasonal or H1N1 flu are more likely to suffer serious illness or death, or need hospitalization, than other people with the flu.

Seasonal flu and H1N1 flu are caused by different viruses. Therefore, the seasonal flu vaccine will not protect patients against the H1N1 flu, and the H1N1 flu vaccine will not protect against seasonal flu. This year’s seasonal flu vaccine targets three strains of flu, while the H1N1 vaccine targets a fourth strain.

Pregnant women should get the flu shot, not the nasal spray version of the vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine is made with a dead flu virus, while the nasal spray vaccine uses a weaker live virus. Flu vaccine nasal spray is not approved for pregnant women. Pregnant women should get the shot version of the vaccine. The nasal spray flu vaccine should be used only in healthy people 2 to 49 years of age who are not pregnant. The nasal spray vaccine is safe for women after they have delivered, even if they are nursing.

Although pregnant women should not receive the nasal spray version of the seasonal or H1N1 flu vaccine, pregnant woman are safe around family members or other close contacts who have received the nasal spray flu vaccine.

There is no evidence that thimerosal (a mercury preservative in vaccine that comes in multi-dose vials) is harmful to a pregnant woman or a fetus. Regardless, as some women are concerned about thimerosal during pregnancy, pregnant women and children can request preservative-free seasonal flu vaccine and 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine in single-dose syringes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises pregnant women to get flu shots, either with or without thimerosal.

The side effects of H1N1 flu shots are typically minor, and similar to those of seasonal flu shots. Most common are feeling sore, red, or swollen where the shot was given. Some people might experience headache, muscle aches, fever, and nausea or feel tired after the shot and possibly for one to two days. Sometimes flu shots can cause severe allergic reactions; however, life-threatening allergic reactions to vaccines are very rare.

People who are severely allergic to eggs or to anything else in the vaccine should not get the shot, even if the patient is a woman who is pregnant. 

Doctors urge anyone who experiences symptoms like difficulty breathing, dehydration, lack of tears, pain or pressure in chest or abdomen, unresponsiveness, or severe vomiting, to seek emergency medical assistance.

TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing nearly 44,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 120 component county medical societies around the state. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.

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Last Published: 10/22/2009