With temperatures dropping this week across Macarthur and Liverpool, health experts are reminding pregnant women about the importance of getting their influenza vaccination before the full force of winter hits.
SWSLHD Public Health Unit Director, Dr Stephen Conaty said influenza could be dangerous for pregnant women.
“Women in their second and third trimester of pregnancy in particular, are at greater risk of very severe illness which can put both mother and baby at risk,” Dr Conaty said
“Pregnant women who get influenza are at greater risk of developing serious complications, such as pneumonia, which may result in their hospitalisation.
“The risk of premature labour and delivery is also increased in pregnant women with influenza.
“Influenza vaccines are not available for children less than six months of age so protection can only be achieved by vaccinating a mother during pregnancy.
“Children born to vaccinated mothers also have a reduced risk of contracting influenza in the first six months of life.
“In a survey conducted in 2012 of mothers who had given birth in south western Sydney only 18 percent of mothers had the influenza vaccine during pregnancy.
“More recent data from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), shows that overall the uptake of influenza vaccination has improved from about one in five pregnant women (23 per cent) in 2013 to almost one in three (32 per cent) in 2014,” Dr Conaty said.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“The influenza vaccine can be given at any stage of pregnancy. It’s safe and free for pregnant women so speak to your GP today,” he said.[/social_quote]
For more information on protecting yourself from influenza during pregnancy visit:
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/Influenza/Pages/influenza_and_pregnancy.aspx
