Several studies have looked at whether flu vaccine is safe in pregnancy.
Are there serious side effects?
The American Centers for Disease Control VAERS database (2006) contains information about approximately 2 million pregnant women vaccinated between 2000 and 2003. It found no serious adverse effects, either immediately or in infants up to 6 months old. A Bangladeshi study likewise found no nil significant problems.
How common are side effects?
A review of UK ‘Yellow card’ reports from 1994 to 2004 uncovered 1366 adverse reactions of which only 8 occurred in pregnant women.
What about thiomersal?
Traces of the mercury-based preservative thiomersal are found in some Australian flu vaccines. However, an American Institutes of Medicine (IOM) review concluded this did not pose a health risk, including autism.
SOURCE: Dr Nick Wood, Healthed Annual Women’s Health Update, Sydney 2010
Editor Dr Ramesh Manocha