What is influenza (the flu)?

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to hospitalization or even death.

How does the flu spread?

The flu spreads mainly through droplets made when people with the flu cough, sneeze, or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less often, a person might get the flu by touching a surface or object that has the flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes.

What are the symptoms of the flu?

Common symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people may also have vomiting and diarrhoea, though this is more common in children than adults.

How can the flu be prevented?

The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year. Other preventive measures include washing your hands often, avoiding close contact with sick people, and covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow when you cough or sneeze.

Can I get the flu from the vaccine?

No, the flu vaccine contains an inactivated virus or proteins that cannot cause infection. It helps your immune system recognize and fight the virus effectively.

How can I protect myself from the flu?

The best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated annually. Additionally. practice good hygiene: wash hands frequently, avoid close contact with sick individuals, and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

How often should I get the flu shot?

You should get the flu vaccine every year since flu viruses constantly evolve, and the vaccine is updated annually to protect against new strains.

What are the common side effects?

Common side effects include soreness, redness, and swelling at the injection site, as well as low-grade fever, headache, and muscle aches. These side effects are usually mild and go away on their own.

Who needs the flu shot the most?

While everyone above 6 months should get vaccinated, it’s especially crucial for young children, elderly individuals, pregnant women, and those with chronic illnesses.

Can healthy adults skip the flu vaccine?

No, even healthy adults can get the flu and spread it to vulnerable individuals. The vaccine reduces your chances of getting sick and helps protect your community.

Who should NOT take the flu vaccine?

People with severe allergies to any flu shot ingredients or those who had a serious reaction to a previous dose should consult a doctor before getting vaccinated.

Can I take the flu shot if I have a cold?

If you have mild cold symptoms, you can still get vaccinated. However, if you have a fever or feel very unwell, it’s best to wait until you recover.

Can we take other brand flu vaccines?

Yes, you can get the other brand FLU vaccine. WHO’s plays an important role in maintaining uniformity in Influenza Vaccine Strains with all the manufacturers. So, all the flu vaccines contain same strains, you have to choose the latest influenza vaccine available in the marketplace.

Why Pregnant Women Should Get the Flu Vaccine

Q: Is the flu vaccine safe?

Yes, the flu vaccine is extensively tested and recommended by global health organizations like WHO and CDC. Most people experience only mild side effects, if any.

Pregnancy is a time of excitement, anticipation, and careful planning for both the mother and her baby. Along with regular prenatal check-ups, balanced nutrition, and healthy lifestyle choices, protecting against infectious diseases is an important part of ensuring a healthy pregnancy. One such preventive measure is getting the flu vaccine during pregnancy.

Many expectant mothers naturally have questions about the flu vaccine during pregnancy. Is it safe? Will it protect the baby? What are the benefits of a flu shot during pregnancy? The good news is that decades of research and recommendations from leading health organizations continue to support flu vaccination for pregnant women as a safe and effective way to protect both mother and baby.¹ Recent research also shows that maternal influenza vaccination can reduce the risk of influenza infection and influenza-related hospitalization in infants during their first six months of life.²

Why Are Pregnant Women More Vulnerable to Influenza?

Pregnancy brings several changes to the body that help support a growing baby. However, these changes can also make expectant mothers more susceptible to infections like influenza.

During pregnancy:

The immune system adapts to support the developing baby.
The heart and lungs work harder to meet increased oxygen demands.
Respiratory changes can make viral infections more difficult to recover from.

As a result, pregnant women are at a higher risk of developing severe illness from influenza compared with women who are not pregnant.¹

This is one of the key reasons why healthcare professionals recommend the flu vaccine during pregnancy.

Is the Flu Vaccine Safe During Pregnancy?

One of the most common concerns among expectant mothers is, "Is the flu vaccine safe during pregnancy?"

The answer, according to global health authorities, is yes.

The World Health Organization, WHO, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, recommend influenza vaccination during pregnancy because it has been extensively studied and shown to have a reassuring safety profile for both mother and baby.

Like any vaccine, mild side effects such as soreness at the injection site or a low-grade fever may occur, but these are generally temporary and resolve within a day or two.³

Understanding if the flu vaccine is safe during pregnancy is important because misinformation can sometimes discourage women from receiving a vaccine that offers meaningful protection.

How Does the Flu Vaccine Protect Both Mother and Baby?

One of the unique advantages of flu vaccination for pregnant women is that it protects two people at the same time.

When a pregnant woman receives the influenza vaccine, her body produces protective antibodies against the virus. These antibodies cross the placenta and are passed on to the developing baby before birth.²

After delivery, breastfeeding also provides additional antibodies that continue to support the baby's developing immune system.²

This passive immunity is especially valuable because babies younger than six months are not yet eligible to receive the influenza vaccine themselves.¹

What Does the Latest Research Show?

A recent population-based cohort study provides encouraging evidence about the benefits of a flu shot during pregnancy.

Researchers found that infants born to mothers who received the influenza vaccine during pregnancy had:

A lower risk of influenza infection during the first six months of life.
A reduced risk of influenza-related hospitalization during early infancy.²

The study also found that vaccination later in pregnancy, after 28 weeks of gestation, was associated with greater protection against both influenza infection and hospitalization in infants.²

These findings reinforce the importance of flu vaccination for pregnant women as a strategy to help protect newborns during the months before they become eligible for their own influenza vaccination.

Benefits of the Flu Shot During Pregnancy

The benefits of a flu shot during pregnancy extend beyond simply reducing the risk of influenza.

Some important benefits include:

Helping reduce the risk of influenza infection during pregnancy.
Lowering the likelihood of severe illness and hospitalization.
Passing protective antibodies to the baby before birth.
Helping protect infants during their first six months of life.
Supporting healthier pregnancies and healthier newborns.

These benefits of a flu shot during pregnancy make influenza vaccination an important part of preventive maternal healthcare.

Why Protecting Newborns Matters

Newborn babies have developing immune systems, making them more vulnerable to respiratory infections.

Because infants younger than six months cannot receive the influenza vaccine, they depend largely on antibodies received from their mother and on the people around them to help reduce exposure to infection.

The recent study showed that maternal vaccination provides meaningful protection during this vulnerable period, helping reduce both influenza infection and influenza-related hospitalization.²

Common Myths About Flu Vaccination During Pregnancy

Myth: Healthy pregnant women don't need vaccination.

Even healthy pregnant women are at increased risk of developing severe influenza because pregnancy naturally changes the immune, heart, and respiratory systems.¹

Myth: The vaccine only protects the mother.

In reality, one of the biggest benefits of a flu shot during pregnancy is that protective antibodies are transferred to the baby before birth, offering protection during the first few months of life.²

When Should Pregnant Women Get Vaccinated?

Healthcare providers generally recommend influenza vaccination during pregnancy regardless of the trimester when the influenza vaccine is available and indicated for the season.

The recent study found greater protection for infants when vaccination occurred after 28 weeks of pregnancy, but vaccination should follow the advice of a healthcare provider and should not be delayed unnecessarily.

If you have questions about the right time for flu vaccination for pregnant women, your obstetrician or healthcare provider can guide you based on your stage of pregnancy and local vaccination recommendations.

Protecting Yourself Is Also Protecting Your Baby

Pregnancy is a time when every health decision is made with both mother and baby in mind.

Choosing the flu vaccine during pregnancy is one such decision. It helps reduce the mother's risk of influenza while also giving the baby valuable protection during the first few months of life, when they are most vulnerable.

This dual protection is one of the reasons why influenza vaccination continues to be recommended by healthcare professionals around the world.

Final Thoughts

Influenza can pose serious health risks during pregnancy, but vaccination offers an effective way to help reduce those risks. Growing scientific evidence continues to support the safety of the flu vaccine during pregnancy while highlighting its important role in protecting both mothers and their babies.

The benefits of a flu shot during pregnancy go beyond the pregnancy itself, helping provide newborns with early protection until they become eligible for their own influenza vaccination. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, speak with your healthcare provider about flu vaccination for pregnant women and how it can support a healthier pregnancy for both you and your baby.

By making informed decisions and prioritizing preventive healthcare, expectant mothers can take an important step towards protecting not just themselves, but also their little ones from the very beginning.