Vaccines are an important part of a healthy pregnancy. Women should be up to date on their vaccines before becoming pregnant and should receive vaccines against both the flu and pertussis (whooping cough) during pregnancy. These vaccines not only protect the mother by preventing illnesses and complications, but also pass on vaccine protection to her unborn child.
Pregnancy is a good opportunity for women to start learning about the safe, proven disease protection that vaccines will provide to their babies once they are born. Pregnant women are at an increased risk for complications from the flu. The flu shot helps to protect a pregnant woman and her unborn child from the flu as well as lessen her symptoms if she does contract it. A flu shot also allows the mother to pass antibodies on too her newborn for some early flu protection. By getting a pertussis vaccine in the third trimester, the mother also develops antibodies and passes them on to her baby so that her baby is born with protection from whooping cough.
It is also important for family members and friends to be up to date on their vaccines. Most newborns who come in contact with pertussis get it from the mother or another family member of friend of the family. Because infants can’t begin the vaccine series until they are 2 months of age, they are at increased risk of becoming ill with vaccine preventable diseases. Therefore, it is very important to vaccinate the people who come in contact with the infant in order to protect it from illness. Vaccine preventable diseases such as pertussis and flu can be devastating to the very young.
During the third week of National Immunization Awareness Month the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department wants to focus on pregnant women and the vaccines they need. To learn more about pregnant women and vaccines call the health department at 325-646-0554, or visit the Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov.
