The short answer is that not only can pregnant people get flu shots, but it’s a good idea. During pregnancy, the flu is more likely to cause a severe illness than it is outside of pregnancy because of changes to the immune system during pregnancy, as well as other physical changes. In addition to being more likely to be dangerous to moms-to-be during pregnancy, the flu can also be a danger to babies in the womb. The influenza vaccine, or flu shot, is the best-known way to prevent the flu and the dangers it brings with it.
The flu shot is likely covered as preventive medicine by your health plan. This means that you’ll probably pay nothing out-of-pocket to receive this protection.
When should I get the flu shot?
The CDC and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists both recommend that pregnant women get flu shots during flu season, no matter what trimester of pregnancy they’re in. Women who are trying to conceive and postpartum women should also get flu shots during flu season if they haven’t yet that year; the influenza vaccine, and specifically the flu shot, since the nasal spray vaccine is not recommended during pregnancy, are a key part of flu prevention.
And it’s not just moms-to-be who can help protect newborns by getting the flu shot during flu season. Since babies under six months old can’t get the flu vaccine, but are at risk for being hospitalized if they get the flu, the CDC recommends that family, friends, close caregivers, and anyone else who will be spending a lot of time with a newborn also get the flu shot.
What does the flu shot do?
The flu shot is one of the most important lines of defense against the flu. This means that it does a few important jobs in the body during pregnancy:
- Prevents flu and complications: The flu is more likely to cause a dangerous illness during pregnancy than outside of pregnancy, and during pregnancy there’s an increased risk of being hospitalized for the flu. In addition, having a fever caused by the flu early on in pregnancy can increase the risk of birth defects.
- Protects baby during pregnancy and after birth: Not only does the flu shot protect developing babies from the complications the flu can have on a pregnancy, but it also continues to protect the baby from the flu after birth. Like with the DTaP vaccine, which protects against whooping cough and is also important for moms-to-be to have during pregnancy, after the flu shot antibodies that protect the baby from getting the flu are passed on in the placenta and in breast milk. This is especially important because babies under six months old can’t get the flu shot themselves, so they depend on this borrowed immune system protection, as well as herd immunity, to protect them.
Where should I get a flu shot?
You can get a flu shot at a clinic, a primary care provider’s office, and at some pharmacies.
If you would like to review or have questions about your health plan benefits, call the number on the back of your member ID card.
