Flu Shot During Pregnancy Shows Unexpected Benefits in Large Study

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120522134946.htm

Flu Shot During Pregnancy Shows Unexpected Benefits in Large Study

ScienceDaily (May 22, 2012) — Getting a flu shot during pregnancy provides unanticipated benefits to the baby, according to the authors of a large population-based study examining the issue. Specifically, the study showed that H1N1 vaccination during the pandemic was associated with a significantly reduced risk of stillbirth, preterm birth and extremely small babies at birth.

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The study shows that, compared to pregnant women who were not immunized against H1N1, mothers who received the H1N1 vaccination were:

34% less likely to have a stillbirth, 28% less likely to deliver before 32 weeks, and 19% less likely to give birth to a child with a birth weight for gestational age in the bottom third percentile.