from March of Dimes and CDC
Flu season is near and among those who are urged to get flu shots are pregnant women. Dr. Edward McCabe, chief medical officer for the March of Dimes notes only about one-half of all pregnant women in the United States get a flu shot, leaving thousands of moms-to-be and their babies at increased risk of serious illness. Even women planning to become pregnant are urged to make a flu shot a priority. Studies that looked at thousands of pregnant women showed immunized moms did not have a higher risk of babies being born too soon or with a birth defect compared with babies born to women who did not get a flu shot. While the focus of this story is on protecting pregnant women against the flu, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everybody over six months of age get an annual flu shot.