One flu shot, double protection.

Expecting? Then please seriously consider getting vaccinated for the flu. Your newborn can be also be protected from the influenza virus if you get yourself a flu shot. A study shows that mothers who were vaccinated during pregnancy had newborns with significantly less chances of getting the flu – along with other serious respiratory illnesses like pneumonia.

The study was conducted by the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and is the first to demonstrate that the influenza vaccine protects both the mother and baby. Results were published just this month by the New England Journal of Medicine.

What researchers discovered may really convince you to get those flu shots.

Researchers saw a 63 percent reduction in influenza among babies born to mothers vaccinated during pregnancy. As for other serious respiratory illnesses, that dropped 36 percent for both mothers and their babies. There is also a trend for catching less cough and cold viruses.

And there’s more reason for vaccination. The inactivated influenza vaccine is not licensed for infants below 6 months. Babies can’t take the nasal flu vaccine either since that is only given to children above the age of 2. Doctors say, if you are pregnant it’s your chance to take the shot for baby – and get her some protection.

And babies could definitely use the protection. Dr. Mark Steinhoff senior author of the Johns Hopkins study says, “infants under six months have the highest rates of hospitalization from influenza among children in the US. These admission rates are higher than those for the elderly and other high-risk adult groups.”

I’ll let Dr. Steinhoff say it: “Pregnant women should be encouraged to be vaccinated for the flu to protect their infants and themselves.”

We’ve talked about this before and I am encouraging you again… please take your flu shot if you are expecting. The vaccine is safe. Even the Obama’s at the White House are taking the H1N1 vaccine. That we’re in the midst of the flu season is all the more reason to do it ASAP.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that this October, rates for lab-confirmed flu are higher than expected for this time of year. The proportion of deaths due to pneumonia and influenza is also higher than usual. Remember that babies are in the high risk group.

Last thing you need when you’re caring for a newborn is to be sick, or for your new baby to be sick. Knock on wood. Better yet, get that shot.

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