Swine flu vaccine: just one dose needed for pregnant women
The H1N1 vaccine is safe and effective in pregnant women and just one dose appears to offer adequate immunity against the virus, according to preliminary findings from NIH studies of the vaccine.
Pregnant women are among groups at greatest risk of complications from the swine flu and have been placed to the front of the line for vaccination against it. The virus has caused 28 deaths in pregnant women and least 100 hospitalizations, according to the CDC.
The initial results come from trials that began in September with 120 healthy women ages 18 to 39 in their second and third trimesters. Of 25 women who received one standard 15-microgram dose of the vaccine, 92 percent of them showed an immune response, researchers found. Similar results were found for 25 women who received a 30-microgram dose of the vaccine -- 96 percent showed an immune response.
Perhaps most important to women eyeing the results, the vaccine is being tolerated well by pregnant women and there have been no safety concerns, so far.
The findings are not unexpected, since the response is similar to what researchers find with seasonal flu shots, which have been found to be safe and effective for pregnant women. A review article in last week's American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found the benefits of getting flu vaccines outweigh any potential risks. Still, with some expectant mothers reluctant to get the H1N1 vaccine, worried it could harm their babies, the news offers a boost to public health officials hoping to convince women otherwise.
Comments
I'm 27 weeks pregnant and i am pretty concerned about the effects it mite have on my unborn baby, my GP just keep tellingme thats its up to the individual themselves, which isn't good enough, it feels like if there are any side effects there not takin any responsiblity for it.
Posted by: Yvonne McGuinness | November 4, 2009 4:41 AM