Get H1N1 vaccine if you're pregnant, but only certain kinds, doctors say

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Centers for Disease Control says pregnant women may be especially vulnerable to the H1N1 virus and doctors are urging them to be among the first in line for the vaccine.

Federal health officials said that between April and August of this year 100 pregnant women were hospitalized with the H1N1 flu, and of them, 28 died. They said obstetricians around the country have never seen this kind of thing before, and some of the women who died were young, healthy and had a low-risk pregnancy.

Doctors said the vaccine will strengthen the immune system that naturally slows down during pregnancy.

“The data suggests those women exposed to flu or Swine Flu come down with more serious complications and more likely to die of the flu,” said Dr. Susan Payne an OB-GYN at Providence St. Vincent.

Doctors said that pregnant women should also get the regular flu shot in addition to the H1N1 shot.

Some of the pregnant women who’ve died of the H1N1 flu were like Katie Flyte from Washington. She was young, healthy and had a low-risk pregnancy.

Doctors said if a pregnant woman comes down with symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, stomach cramps, diarrhea, fatigue, or muscle aches she can get treatment if she acts fast.

“She should call her provider immediately,” said Payne. “The recommendation for pregnant ladies is to receive, within 48 hours of those symptoms, a medication called Tamiflu.”

Tamiflu won’t cure the flu but it will reduce symptoms.

In fact, the 28 women who died of the H1N1 flu did not receive antiviral medication soon enough, according to the CDC.

It’s not just women who need to take note. Payne said the husband or partner of a pregnant woman should also get the H1N1 shot to keep from passing on the virus.

The shots also have an added benefit for the baby. A newborn whose mother got vaccinated may be protected from the H1N1 flu for six months.

Expectant mothers will have to wait another week or two for the injectable vaccine, because the nasal spray cannot be used by pregnant women. Unlike the shots, the spray contains a live but weakened virus.

Web note: Some vaccines contain low doses of mercury. To learn how to ask for the one without it, watch this video from KATU Problem Solver Shellie Bailey-Shah. The nasal mist could be another option.

Additional resource: General Questions and Answers on Thimerosal, from the Center for Disease Control