Oct 7, 2009 6:58 pm US/Eastern
HealthWatch: H1N1 Vaccine And Pregnancy
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Many people at high risk for complications from the H1N1 virus, otherwise known as swine flu, will be lining up in the coming weeks to get their vaccine. But for one group, pregnant women, the decision to vaccinate is not always an easy one.
Maria Amaya is three months pregnant and is worried about getting the vaccine. "I do have concerns about it."
Pregnant women are at the front of the line to get the shot because they're at high risk for complications from flu. During pregnancy the immune system is somewhat suppressed and expectant mothers have less lung capacity as the uterus grows.
"They can't fight the virus off as well," said Dr. Ron Wapner of Columbia University Medical Center.
Clinical trials are underway in pregnant women specifically but those results are not yet available. Wapner said it's important to note this vaccine is being made the same way as other flu vaccines.
"We have a long history of vaccinating pregnant women against the flu in which we haven't had any unexpected problems." Wapner said the risks that come with choosing not to be vaccinated for H1N1 can't be ignored.
"It also causes an increased risk of still birth and pre-term delivery. There's no question. Pregnant women should get it," he said.
Expectant moms also have a tough call when it comes to antiviral medications. Large scale clinical trials of the drug have not been conducted on pregnant women.
"There's nothing to suggest that there is any risk to the fetus from the antivirals, again you can never be certain," Wapner said.
All of this uncertainty can be frustrating for pregnant women. For Maria, that means waiting a little longer for more information before getting the vaccine. "The number one priority for me at this moment, it's not me. It's my baby."
The CDC reports about 100 pregnant women in the U.S. have been hospitalized for H1N1 and 28 have died. Both the CDC and vaccine manufacturers have beefed up their safety monitoring process to look for anything unusual in people who get vaccinated against the new flu.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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