Flu shot for pregnant women can bring positive results to both the mother and her child. A recent study revealed that getting this immune booster will reduce the risk of stillbirth.
The Week said that the research published in the Clinical Infectious Diseases Journal found that among more the 58,000 vaccination records of pregnant women in Australia from 2012 to 2013, those of got a flu shot had a 51 percent lower risk of delivering a stillborn infant. It explained that the study also covered the flu season in the country.
Though still unsure about the exact "cause and effect" of the results, population and time of the year, experts encouraged pregnant women to get flu shots.
"We hope that these results show not only pregnant women but also their providers that flu vaccination is safe during pregnancy and has major benefits for both mother and infant," lead author Annette Regan told The Week. She noted that a lot of women do not get the flu shot because they do not recognize its importance and are afraid that it could harm their baby.
According to Medical News Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended pregnant women to get flu vaccines yearly. It explained that women who are conceiving need flu shots more than anybody else since they are at high risk to acquire pneumonia, bronchitis and sinus infection.
It was also indicated in the same report that these health problems can often lead to "poor pregnancy," premature birth and even fetal death. "I'm hoping results like these can convince more pregnant women to get vaccinated each year," added Regan.
The lead researcher explained with Medical Daily that taking this precaution cannot only prevent respiratory diseases but can also save a mother from having a stillbirth. She shared that stillbirth now accounts for about 70 percent of infant deaths in developed countries.
