How many of you have had the flu?  Probably all of you at one point or another...  Or you could be like me and have had the privilege of multiple encounters with my influenza virus friends - that is, until the last few years when I gave in and got....

 The Flu Shot. 

Three simple words that at the same time inspire feelings of joy (I don't have to feel like I've been beaten with a stick and dumped in freezing water at the same time.) and feelings of trepidation. (What effect can the vaccine have on me and my baby?)  The word "vaccine" has become a flashpoint for supporters and detractors alike.  Celebrities rant and rave at each other trying to rally folks to one side or the other.  (On a side note, why do we care whether our celebrity of choice supports one thing or another?  As a society, we really should look at ourselves in the mirror when Lindsey Lohan can influence people...yikes)  While the childhood vaccination debate will rage on and on, I'm just going to discuss the flu shot. 

"What's the big deal anyway?"  Well, flu during pregnancy is far worse than flu outside of pregnancy.  A pregnant woman already has an immune system that is less effective.  Flu leads to pneumonia much more often during pregnancy.  All of that can lead to preterm delivery or even death of your baby.  Though maternal death is thankfully now rare, it is certainly still a possibility.  Not good.  The Center for Disease Control strongly recommends pregnant women as one of the groups that should get the flu vaccine every year.

"Well, what's the downside?"  Here's where the controversy resides.  The whole issue of whether preservatives in the vaccine effects fetal brain development is the same debate that rages for childhood immunizations.  There has never been any question whether the vaccine itself is safe, just the preservatives in the vaccine.  There is one difference, though.  With the flu vaccine, you only need to get one while your baby is in your body.  There are multiple childhood vaccines of which most require multiple doses.  Either way whether you come down on the side of vaccince vs. no vaccine, the flu shot is just one shot.  Also, the flu shot is now commonly available WITHOUT preservative.  So the whole issue of fetal brain development isn't an issue at all.

In other words, there really is no downside.  Sure, there are some rare reactions that are possible as with any medicine, but you'd more likely die in a traffic accident going to get the vaccine than from the vaccine itself.  Yet, the idea of a flu shot scares us while driving to Fred Meyer is accepted without question.

In my practice, all women are strongly recommended to get a flu shot.  The benefit far outweighs the risk.  We do recommend checking to get the form of the shot that does not include the preservatives, though, to remove all doubt as to the overwhelming safety of this important ounce of prevention.

Update: in response to questions by members, here is some more information about H1N1:

Pregnant women are at increased risk for H1N1 for a variety of reasons (see the article at http://www.yourbabyyourway.com/content/view/688/19/, which includes CDC recommendations). For that reason, the CDC recommends that pregnant women should get the vaccine to protect against the H1N1 flu. The CDC has posted a list of recommendations for hospitals that you can review at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidelines_infection_control.htm. The recommendations include some recommendations on restriction of movement of some hospital visitors.