Among the countless number of things a woman must consider before, during and after her pregnancy, vaccination is currently one the most controversial. Unfortunately, because of the efforts of the anti-vaccination movement, vaccination has become a dirty word and even dirtier when contemplated during pregnancy. Despite what these groups claim and what is reported in the media, vaccination against certain pathogens—especially during pregnancy—is a potentially life-saving action.
Influenza and pregnancy: A deadly combination
Medically speaking, pregnancy is considered to be a state in which the body’s immune system is suppressed. This is why pregnant women are given warnings against eating certain cheeses that may harbor specific bacteria, for example. This immunosuppressive state makes the pregnant woman more susceptible to a whole host of viral and bacterial pathogens, especially if she has underlying medical conditions (i.e. diabetes) that may further complicate the pregnancy. In addition, pregnancy affects the maternal respiratory system to compensate for the developing pregnancy. For respiratory infections in particular, changes in the breathing patterns of a pregnant woman also decreases her ability to compensate for infections that affect breathing. Furthermore, if a pregnant woman has asthma, she is even further susceptible to complications of a respiratory infection.
The combination of the immunosuppressive nature of pregnancy and the changes that occur in the respiratory system during pregnancy illustrate why pregnancy and influenza, or the “flu”, are a combination that every pregnant woman should want to avoid.
The concerns with influenza and pregnancy are not just theoretical. During the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, for example, though pregnant woman made up just 1% of the population infected with H1N1, they accounted for 5% of deaths from H1N1. In addition, the complications of the H1N1 influenza virus didn’t just fall upon the pregnant women; infants born to mothers with a severe influenza infection during pregnancy were more likely to experience complications after birth.
Despite these sobering facts, only about 52% of pregnant women were vaccinated against influenza during the last season.
So why the disconnect?
The disconnect stems from the false belief that influenza vaccination is not safe during pregnancy. However, the facts tell a different story. Multiple studies have shown no increased rate of miscarriage or other pregnancy complications in those who have been vaccinated during pregnancy. Unfortunately, some physicians have fallen prey to the same belief that vaccinations are unsafe and do not offer their pregnant patients vaccinations or counsel against it, sometimes forcing the patient to make their own decisions regarding vaccinations.
Protection for Mother and Baby
Along with all the nutrients that traverse the placenta from mother to the developing fetus are antibodies. Antibodies are developed when the mother is exposed to certain illnesses and can offer protection to the developing fetus when passed on from the mother. Antibodies induced by the influenza vaccine, which is 60% effective at preventing influenza, reach the developing fetus and provide protection that carries over into infancy. So, accepting the influenza vaccine not only keeps you healthy, but also your developing fetus and infant. Finally, its is important for anyone who is in direct, regular contact with the neonate/infant to be vaccinated against influenza as well.
Another Emerging Threat: Whooping Cough
In addition to influenza, pregnant woman should also be vaccinated against pertussis, or whooping cough, during the 3rd trimester of each pregnancy. Long thought to be a disease of the past, and with its characteristic cough followed by vomiting, pertussis has made a major comeback in the US due to the existence of pockets of unvaccinated individuals. In 2012, close to 50,000 cases were reported. While whooping cough may not sound so threatening, it can be, especially in infants.
Vaccination of the mother against pertussis is essential for protection of the newborn. Approximately half of infants less than 1 year old who have pertussis will require hospitalization. Of neonates/infants who are hospitalized, 2/3 have episodes in which they stop breathing and 1.6% of those hospitalized will die. Although pertussis in adults does not lead to death, it can cause such serious complications as broken ribs and fainting.
The strategy for protecting infants from pertussis, whose immune system is too immature to respond to the vaccine on their own, is to provide a protective cocoon of immunity around them (parents, siblings, grandparents, friends, etc.). A key component of the cocoon is the mother, who will have the most contact with the newborn. Vaccination of the mother, similar to the scenario with influenza, will allow protective antibodies to pass to the developing fetus via the placenta and the post-birth protective cocoon will limit exposure to pertussis in the world. Finally, as with influenza, it is also important to consider the vaccination of anyone who is in direct, regular contact with the newborn.
Vaccinations: An absolute good
The war against infectious diseases has been long and is never ending. The chief reason why the residents of industrialized countries live relatively free from the fear of infectious diseases is because of the power of vaccination. This is a fact that unfortunately needs to be retaught and reconsidered, especially for pregnant women.
For more information on influenza in pregnancy click here. For more information on pregnancy and pertussis click here.