How Does a Mother’s Flu Shot Protect a Newborn Baby?

We know that pregnant women are supposed to get a flu vaccine.

Although recommendations on exactly when to get it have changed over the years, it has been a universal recommendation since at least the 1994-95 flu season.

But why?

How Does a Mother’s Flu Shot Protect a Newborn Baby?

One obvious way that a flu shot provides protection during pregnancy is that it reduces your risk of getting the flu while you are pregnant.

That’s good, as having the flu while you are pregnant can lead to preterm labor, a premature birth, birth defects, or a miscarriage. And of course, the flu can be life-threatening for pregnant women.

Getting a flu shot while you are pregnant can also help to make sure that you don’t get the flu after your baby is born, which not only keeps you healthy, but decreases the chance that your baby will be exposed to the flu. After all, if you get the flu, no matter how much you try to cover your cough and wash your hands, there is a good chance that you will give it to your baby.

And since babies can’t get flu shots of their own until they are at least six months old, a flu shot during pregnancy helps to make sure that your baby gets some of antibodies to protect them from the flu.

“When you get a flu shot, your body makes antibodies that also pass to your fetus. This means your baby has protection against the flu after birth. This is important because infants less than 6 months of age are too young to get the flu shot.”

Frequently Asked Questions for Patients Concerning Influenza (Flu) Vaccination During Pregnancy

Do you have to wait until late in your pregnancy to make sure that the most antibodies get passed to your baby?

While that might seem like a good idea, especially since that’s what we do for the Tdap vaccine and protection against pertussis, there are several reasons that we don’t do that with the flu vaccine, including that:

1. pregnant mothers need the protection before flu season hits, so waiting would not be safe and could mean that you get sick with the flu before getting your shot
2. protection from the flu vaccine shouldn’t wane or wear off so quickly that you need to get it later, after all, the earliest that you can get vaccinated is when flu vaccines first become available in August or September and that should provide good protection past the peak of flu season

When you get your flu shot while pregnant is going to have more to do with when you got pregnant in relation to the start of flu season more than anything else.

“The flu shot can be safely given during any trimester. Pregnant women can get the flu shot at any point during the flu season (typically October through May). Pregnant women should get the shot as soon as possible when it becomes available. If you are pregnant, talk with your obstetrician–gynecologist (ob-gyn) or other health care provider about getting the flu shot.”

Frequently Asked Questions for Patients Concerning Influenza (Flu) Vaccination During Pregnancy

Most importantly, remember that flu shots are considered an “essential component of prenatal care.”

While everyone should get a flu vaccine each year, since pregnant women are in a high risk group for flu complications, you should especially make sure that you get vaccinated and protected if you are pregnant. Everyone around you should get vaccinated too!

More on Flu Shot Protection During Pregnancy

• A Pregnant Woman’s Guide To Preventing the Flu
• Flu Facts
• ACOG – The Flu Vaccine and Pregnancy
• ACOG – Maternal Immunization Tool Kit
• ACOG – Frequently Asked Questions for Patients Concerning Influenza (Flu) Vaccination During Pregnancy
• ACOG – Influenza Vaccination During Pregnancy Committee Opinion
• Mothers’ Flu Vaccination In Pregnancy Protects Newborns, Even The Second Time Around
• CDC – Pregnant Women & Influenza (Flu)
• Influenza (flu) and pregnancy
• CDC – Flu Vaccine Safety and Pregnancy
• Study – Effectiveness of Maternal Influenza Immunization in Mothers and Infants
• Making a strong vaccine referral to pregnant women
• A Flu Shot Is ‘Essential’ For Pregnant Women, Obstetricians Say
• Flu shot lowers odds for preemies; study highlights dangers of confusing anecdotes with data
• NHS – The flu jab in pregnancy
• Pregnancy and influenza – new data shows death rate of 25% for those who get critically ill
• Flu vaccine during pregnancy – protects the infant
• The real story on the flu vaccine during pregnancy
• Flu shots are safe for pregnant women
• Safety of Flu and Pertussis Vaccines in Pregnancy Assessed
• A Flu Shot During Pregnancy Protects Babies From Flu Up To 6 Months Later
• Flu vaccine causes miscarriages – the real evidence says otherwise
• If I Had Gotten the Flu Shot
• Vaccine Considerations for New and Expectant Moms
• The Flu Vaccine and Pregnancy