This flu season will be a lot different than what we are accustomed to predominantly because we've never had the winter flu season while being in the throes of a pandemic. Add to that the overlap of symptoms that COVID-19 and the seasonal flu share, and you've got a recipe for a stressful and confusing season.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states it's likely that flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will both spread this fall and winter. Healthcare systems could be overwhelmed, treating both patients with the flu and patients with COVID-19. This means getting a flu shot during 2020-2021 is more critical than ever. Not only have flu vaccines been shown to reduce the risk of flu and hospitalization, but it can also save healthcare resources to care for patients with COVID-19.
Can pregnant and postpartum women get the flu vaccine?
Pregnant women have received millions of flu vaccines over several decades with a good safety record. CDC studies show that the flu shot can be administered during any trimester of pregnancy. Those same studies advise that pregnant women should get the flu shot, not the live vaccine or nasal spray. Postpartum women can receive either form of the vaccine, even if breastfeeding.
Why is it important for pregnant women to get the flu shot?
Influenza is more likely to cause severe illness in pregnant and postpartum women than in women who are not pregnant. Changes in the immune system, heart, and lungs during pregnancy make women more prone to severe influenza. The vaccine reduces the chance of getting the flu, and while the flu vaccine does not protect against every strain of the influenza virus, it can also reduce the severity of the infection if you do get it. If vaccinated, a pregnant woman's risk of hospitalization with the flu is reduced by 40 percent. The benefits extend beyond the expectant mother and helps protect their baby from the flu for their first several months of life when they are too young to be vaccinated.
Are there side effects of the flu vaccine?
Anyone who gets the flu vaccine can experience side effects, whether they’re pregnant or not. The CDC states common side effects of the flu vaccine are: soreness, redness, and/or swelling where the shot was given, headache, fever, nausea, muscle aches, and fatigue. Flu vaccine side effects are generally mild and go away on their own within a few days.
It takes a village.
The COVID-19 virus has been on the front page for the past ten months. A concept that we have grown familiar with during the COVID-19 pandemic is that our health practices can impact the broader population. Getting vaccinated may protect people around you, including those who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness, like pregnant women. Other at-risk groups for the flu are babies and young children, older people, and people with certain chronic health conditions.
To further protect themselves, pregnant women can encourage their friends and family members to get vaccinated. Despite the many benefits of the flu vaccination, only about half of Americans get an annual flu vaccine. The flu continues to cause millions of illnesses, hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations, and tens of thousands of deaths. Many more people could be protected from flu if more people got vaccinated.
Disclaimer: PerkinElmer and ViaCord do not endorse or make recommendations with respect to research, medications or treatment. All information is provided for informational purposes only.
Resources:
CDC. What are the benefits of flu vaccination? https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccine-benefits.htm
CDC. Influenza (Flu) Vaccine and Pregnancy. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pregnancy/hcp-toolkit/flu-vaccine-pregnancy.html#:~:text=Flu%20vaccination%20is%20safe%20during%20pregnancy.&text=Pregnant%20women%20should%20get%20a,given%20to%20women%20during%20pregnancy
CDC. Seasonal Flu Shot. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/flushot.htm
