There seasonal flu vaccination campaign is about to be launched. From October 26, 2021, all vulnerable people are invited to get vaccinated. Among them, the elderly (over 65), people suffering from an immune disorder or a chronic illness, but also all pregnant women, regardless of the trimester of pregnancy.
Protect mother and child
Why is the flu more dangerous for pregnant women? Because during pregnancy, the future mother’s immune defenses are weakened : it is therefore more susceptible to infections. The probability that a pregnant woman catch the flu is higher than for a healthy adult. She is also at greater risk of developing a severe form which can lead to hospitalization.
But that’s not all: the danger also concerns the unborn child. Thus, like any infection that occurs during pregnancy, the flu is associated with an increased risk of spontaneous miscarriage or premature delivery.
The flu vaccine therefore protects pregnant women from these risks. Even better: a vaccinated mother transmits her anti-influenza virus antibodies to her fetus. After birth, these antibodies persist in children and protect them against influenza for at least their first two months.
No danger to the fetus
But is the vaccine safe for the foetus? Absolutely: the flu vaccine is a so-called “inactivated” vaccine, which therefore has no infective power. Many scientific studies have also shown that the flu vaccine does not increase the risk of fetal malformation, miscarriage or growth retardation.
No risk either for a breastfed baby: a breastfeeding woman can therefore, if she wishes, be vaccinated against the flu without any danger.
In practice, the vaccine during pregnancy, how does it work?
THE flu vaccine is free during pregnancy and can be administered by a doctor, midwife or pharmacist. A 100% reimbursement voucher can be downloaded from the Assurance Maladie ameli.fr website.
Do not delay getting vaccinated, since it takes about 15 days after vaccination for the body to be protected. In the meantime, in the face of all the viruses, barrier gestures such as wearing a mask, ventilating closed places and regular hand washing remain effective.
Sources:
- Reference Center on Teratogenic Agents (CRAT)
- National Council of the Order of Midwives (https://www.ordre-sages-femmes.fr/actualites/vacciner-la-femme-pregnancy-against-la-grippe-proteger-la-mere-proteger-lenfant -to be born/)
- National College of Midwives of France (https://www.cnsf.asso.fr/grippe-et-grossesse-limportance-de-la-vaccination-pour-proteger-les-meres-et-leurs-enfants/)
- Vaccination schedule, Ministry of Health and Solidarity, July 2021
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