Julie Shakib, DO, MS, MPH, Medical Director at the Well Baby Nursery at the University of Utah, talks about a recent study regarding influenza shots and pregnancy.
Interview conducted by Ivanhoe Broadcast News in June 2016.
Tell me a little bit about flu study in pregnant moms.
Dr. Shakib: We looked at a large data set nine influenza seasons of moms and babies to determine what the outcomes were for babies if moms received the flu shot during pregnancy. What we found was there was a seventy percent reduction in lab confirmed influenza if a mom reported she received the vaccine during pregnancies compared with mothers who did not reported receiving the vaccine, and also an eighty one percent reduction in hospitalizations for babies born to moms who received the influenza vaccine during pregnancy.
Like hospitalization for anything?
Dr. Shakib: Hospitalization specifically due to influenza.
How long have you – tell me a little bit more about how you did the study?
Dr. Shakib: We looked at deliveries in Utah and Idaho over nine influenza seasons so more than two hundred and fifty thousand mother/infant pairs. We looked for evidence of laboratory confirmed influenza in the babies depending on what their mother’s immunization status was, and then analyzed the difference between the two groups.
How dangerous is the flu is it a huge threat to infants?
Dr. Shakib: Yes, infants younger than six months are at the highest risk for influenza and the biggest problem is that they’re too young to be adequately protected by immunization themselves. They rely on their mothers for protection by the mom getting the influenza vaccine during pregnancy.
How bad is it for an infant to get the flu?
Dr. Shakib: There are very serious outcomes from influenza in infants including hospitalization, pneumonia, sometimes even death.
Is it something that would if they get the flu something that affect them for the rest their life?
Dr. Shakib: If there is respiratory illness and potential damage to their lungs it could be something that affects them later on in life as well.
There’s more and more debate over vaccines in general, have you run into any of that with the moms and vaccines?
Dr. Shakib: I think mothers are looking for good information about what they should do during pregnancy and I think it is understandable that they do worry about what they do during pregnancy. What this study demonstrates is that there is true benefit from receiving the vaccine during pregnancy. Instead of causing harm it actually benefits the baby, and that’s really what we want moms to take away from the study.
What are the side effects?
Dr. Shakib: For any vaccine there are some potential local reactions but compared with the outcome of influenza and the complications related to flu they are very minimal.
Have you run into anything- how about the babies I mean the fetuses is there any harm?
Dr. Shakib: No, actually all the studies that have been done demonstrate that is beneficial to the babies and not harmful.
Then they wouldn’t get sick or –?
Dr. Shakib: Mothers can feel very comfortable that by getting a flu vaccine they’re actually doing something to protect their babies.
if a mom came and said I really don’t want to do it. I don’t believe vaccines I’m afraid I might hurt my baby what do you tell them?
Dr. Shakib: You actually help your baby by getting a flu shot rather than hurting your baby. That’s, what the study demonstrates. That’s why we’re excited to spread this message to pregnant women so they understand the benefit.
I heard you say that you’ve worked on the flu season nine years so in the very beginning you must have been somewhat confident that this was going be a helpful step.
Dr. Shakib: This specific study was a retrospective study. We’ve done previous studies that have demonstrated benefit from maternal immunization during pregnancy. This is just more evidence that it’s the right thing to do during pregnancy.
Are there other immunizations that maybe might help as well, mumps, rubella, anything like that?
Dr. Shakib: Yes. The other immunizations that are very beneficial to moms during pregnancy are the pertussis immunization or whooping cough vaccine called Tdap.
Because that would help the infant it as well?
Dr. Shakib: Maternal Tdap during pregnancy also benefits the infant. It provides protection to the infant before the infant is born. It’s basically a 2-for-1 protection..
What else haven’t I asked you that you think is important to include?
Dr. Shakib: I think those are the main points.
Is the study finished now?
Dr. Shakib: This study is finished. We’re doing other studies to further evaluate the benefits of maternal influenza immunizations and breast-feeding during pregnancy. We’re excited about those studies as well.
END OF INTERVIEW
This information is intended for additional research purposes only. It is not to be used as a prescription or advice from Ivanhoe Broadcast News, Inc. or any medical professional interviewed. Ivanhoe Broadcast News, Inc. assumes no responsibility for the depth or accuracy of physician statements. Procedures or medicines apply to different people and medical factors; always consult your physician on medical matters.
If you would like more information, please contact:
Suzanne Winchester
801-581-3102
Suzanne.winchester@hsc.utah.edu
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