Pregnant Women Need Flu Shots

RELEASE: September 23, 2009
CONTACTS:
Kerri Wade, AWHONN, 202-261-2400
Elizabeth Lynch, MOD, 914-997-4286
Yolanda J. Landon, ANCM 240-485-1822
Susan Martin, AAP, 847-434-7131
Office of Communications, ACOG, 202-484-3321
Pat Stahr, SMFM, 202-863-2476
Janelle Davis, AAFP, 800-274-2237 x5222

White Plain, NY—Pregnant women should be sure to get all their flu shots as soon as the vaccines become available this year to protect them against both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 (swine) flu, according to 8 leading national maternal and infant health organizations.

The 8 organizations—the March of Dimes, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses, the Infectious Disease Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine—today partnered to issue a joint statement because the H1N1 virus has proven to be especially dangerous to pregnant women.

The normal changes of pregnancy make pregnant women at increased risk of the harmful effects of flu infection, the groups say.

Some pregnant women may be reluctant to take these shots. But Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes, says, "We urge every pregnant woman to discuss influenza immunization with her health care provider because the risk of serious illness during pregnancy is substantial. It is important to note that the vaccine has been shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials."

In addition to getting immunized before the flu season for both the seasonal and the H1N1 viruses, the groups urge pregnant women to follow good hygiene habits, such as hand-washing and avoiding others who are sick, to prevent the virus from spreading. Pregnant women who develop flu-like symptoms should quickly contact their health care provider so that they can begin treatment immediately.

H1N1 flu is caused by a virus. In the spring of 2009, many people in Mexico became sick with H1N1 (swine) flu. It spread to several countries, including the US. Now, the US is taking steps to deal with the first influenza pandemic in more than 40 years.

Research published September 11, 2009 in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s journal "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report," which surveyed pregnant women in 2 states, found that women who got a seasonal flu vaccine did so because their health care provider recommended it.

Read the joint statement
Learn more about H1N1

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention also has detailed information available at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu. The public can contact the CDC with questions by calling 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY: (888-232-6348 or emailing cdcinfo@cdc.gov.

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About AWHONN
The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) is the foremost nursing authority that advances the health care of women and newborns through advocacy, research and the creation of high quality, evidence-based standards of care.

AWHONN's 23,000 members worldwide are clinicians, educators and executives who serve as patient care advocates focusing on the needs of women and infants.

A leader in professional development, AWHONN is the first and only association to be awarded the designation Premier Provider by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for innovation and excellence in Continuing Nursing Education.

In 2009 AWHONN celebrates its 40th anniversary of promoting the health of women and newborns. Founded in 1969 as the Nurses Association of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the association became a separate nonprofit organization called the Association of Women's Health and Neonatal Nurses in 1993.

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