According to WebMD, pregnant women who get a flu vaccine are less likely to have low birth weight babies and reduced risk of premature birth. A new study has shown that women who receive a flu vaccine during pregnancy were less likely to have a premature birth than unvaccinated mothers. The study found that influenza and pneumonia increase the risk of premature birth and low birth weight. Vaccinations during pregnancy protect the mother and the infant from the most common viruses that cause respiratory infections.
The study, published in PLoS Medicine, looked at the relationship between flu vaccination and the risk of premature birth before 37 weeks gestation and babies born small for gestational age. Researchers studies 4,168 women who gave birth between 2004 and 2006. The study found that vaccinated mothers were 40% less likely to have a premature birth. During the eight weeks of the most widespread flu activity, the risk of premature birth was about 70% lower among vaccinated mothers than among mothers who did not receive the flu vaccine during their pregnancy.
Mothers who received the flu vaccine during pregnancy were 69% less likely to give birth to a low birth weight infant. This research did not indicated if a flu vaccine during pregnancy could lead to birth defects. The study was observational only that found an association between flu vaccination during pregnancy and reduced risk of premature birth and low birth weight. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings. A birth injury attorney can answer your questions about birth defects caused by medications.
