IDPH: Pregnant Women Should get Flu Vaccines

(Pool Photo/Brian Ray,The Gazette)

Tools

By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Nov 2, 2009 at 12:07 PM CST

Story Updated: Nov 2, 2009 at 12:07 PM CST

DES MOINES- The Iowa Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend both seasonal and H1N1 vaccines for pregnant women.

Now three weeks after the H1N1 influenza vaccine arrived in Iowa, the supply will be allocated to counties on a staggered basis, and until widely available, priority of the vaccine will be given to those facing the highest risk for complications from the H1N1 influenza, public health officials say.

“Compared with people in general who get H1N1, pregnant women with H1N1 flu are more likely to be admitted to hospitals, more likely to have serious illness, and more likely to die from H1N1,” said Iowa Department of Public Health Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk in a press release.

Public health officials said woman can receive flu shots at any stage of pregnancy, but a nasal spray flu vaccine is not recommended for pregnant women.

Officials are recommending if pregnant and postpartum women have flu symptoms, a health provider should be contacted immediately. Women who are breastfeeding and are sick with the flu should continue to breastfeed since babies who are breastfed get sick from infections like the flu less often and less severely than babies who are not breastfed, according to public health officials.

Conversation Guidelines

Be Kind

Don't use abusive, offensive, threatening, racist, vulgar or sexually-oriented language.
Don't attack someone personally. Keep it civil and be responsible.

Share Knowledge

Be truthful. Share what you know and what you are passionate about.
What more do you want to learn? Keep it simple.

Stay focused

Promote lively and healthy debate. Stay on topic. Ask questions and give feedback on the story's topic.

Report Trouble

Help us maintain a quality comment section by reporting comments that are offensive. If you see a comment that is offensive, or you feel violates our guidelines, simply click on the "x" to the far right of the comment to report it.

read the full guidelines here »

Commenting will be disabled on stories dealing with the following subject matter: Violent crime, sexual abuse, Amber Alerts, Operation Quickfinds and suicides.