Flu & Pregnancy

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Influenza is more likely to cause severe illness in pregnant people than in people of reproductive age who are not pregnant. Changes to the immune system, heart, and lungs during pregnancy make people more susceptible to influenza severe enough to cause hospitalization throughout pregnancy and up to two weeks postpartum. Influenza also may be harmful for the developing baby. A common influenza symptom fever may be associated with neural tube defects and other adverse outcomes for a developing baby. Parental vaccination also can help protect a baby from influenza after birth (because antibodies are passed to a developing baby during pregnancy).

A Flu Vaccine is the Best Protection Against Flu

Getting an influenza (flu) vaccine is the first and most important step in protecting against flu. Pregnant people should get a flu shot and not the nasal spray flu vaccine. Flu shots given during pregnancy help protect both the pregnant parent and the baby from flu. Vaccination has been shown to reduce the risk of flu-associated acute respiratory infection in pregnant people by up to one-half. A 2018 study showed that getting a flu shot reduced a pregnant person’s risk of being hospitalized with flu by an average of 40 percent. Pregnant people who get a flu vaccine also are helping to protect their babies from flu illness for the first several months after their birth, when they are too young to get vaccinated. A list of recent studies on the benefits of flu vaccination for pregnant people is available.

September and October are generally good times to be vaccinated. Early vaccination also can be considered for people who are in the third trimester of pregnancy, because this can help protect the baby after birth during their first months of life (when they are too young to be vaccinated). Some children need 2 doses given at least 4 weeks apart (children 6 months through 8 years of age who either have never received flu vaccine, or who have not already received a total of at least 2 doses in their lives). These children should get their first dose soon after vaccine is available, so that they can receive the second dose (which has to be given at least 4 weeks after the first) by the end of October.

Pregnant? Here's what you need to know about:

Flu Vaccines
Flu Vaccine Safety
Flu Illness
Antiviral treatment
When to Seek Emergency Medical Care

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Vaccinating Pregnant People Protects Pregnant Parents and Their Babies

Find Out How

A Long Record of Safety for Flu Shots during Pregnancy

Seasonal Flu Vaccine Safety and Pregnancy

Flu shots have been given to millions of pregnant people over many years with an excellent safety record. There is a lot of evidence that flu vaccines can be given safely during pregnancy. CDC and ACIP recommend that pregnant people get vaccinated during any trimester of their pregnancy. It is very important for pregnant people to get the flu shot.

Pre-Existing Conditions

Note: There is no recommendation that pregnant people or people with pre-existing medical conditions need to get special permission or written consent from their doctor or health care professional for influenza (flu) vaccination if they get vaccinated at a worksite clinic, pharmacy, or other location outside of their physician’s office. Pregnant people should not get nasal spray vaccine. For more information, visit Misconceptions about Seasonal Flu and Flu Vaccines.

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Other Preventive Actions

In addition to getting a flu shot, pregnant people should take the same everyday preventive actions CDC recommends for everyone, including avoiding people who are sick, covering coughs, and washing hands often. In addition, breastfeeding also has many benefits, including helping to protect infants from infections like flu.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, local governments or public health departments may recommend additional precautions be taken in your community. Follow those instructions.

Symptoms and Treatment

If you get flu symptoms call your health care provider right away. There are flu antiviral drugs that can treat flu illness and prevent serious flu complications. CDC recommends prompt flu antiviral treatment for people who have confirmed or suspected flu infection and who are at higher risk of serious flu complications, such as pregnant people. Early treatment of flu in hospitalized pregnant people has been shown to reduce the length of the hospital stay.

Symptoms

Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people may also have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than in adults. People may be infected with flu and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.

Treatment

Influenza antiviral drugs are medicines that fight against flu by keeping flu viruses from making more viruses in your body.
Antiviral drugs can make your flu illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious health problems that can result from flu illness.
Treatment with an influenza antiviral drug should begin as soon as possible because these medications work best when started early (within 48 hours after symptoms start).
You need a prescription from a health care provider for an influenza antiviral medication.
There are four FDA-approved flu antiviral drugs recommended by CDC this season that can be used to treat the flu.