Posted: Sep 28, 2009 8:19 PM by Michael Marsh
Updated: Sep 28, 2009 8:35 PM
Source: Associated Press
About one in seven pregnant women get flu shots even though health experts encourage them to be the first in line every flu season.
Many obstetricians don't vaccinate and pharmacists and other providers are wary of giving the shots to moms-to-be. Experts say any kind of flu is risky during pregnancy, but their reluctance to take medication during pregnancy is part of the reason for low vaccination rates.
Swine flu presents particular risks to pregnant women, since the CDC says pregnant women make up 6 percent of the confirmed deaths from H1N1. Pregnant women are at least four times as likely to be hospitalized as other flu sufferers. Vacinnation can not only protect the pregnant mom, but can protect the baby too, for the first few months of life.