title: Influenza vaccination in pregnancy: current evidence and selected national policies.
abstract: In several countries, pregnant women are recommended seasonal influenza vaccination and identified as a priority group for vaccination in the event of a pandemic. We review the evidence for the risks of influenza and the risks and benefits of seasonal influenza vaccination in pregnancy. Data on influenza vaccine safety in pregnancy are inadequate, but the few published studies report no serious side-effects in women or their infants, including no indication of harm from vaccination in the first trimester. National policies differ widely, mainly because of the limited data available, particularly on vaccination in the first trimester. The evidence of excess morbidity during seasonal influenza supports vaccinating healthy pregnant women in the second or third trimester and those with comorbidities in any trimester. The evidence of excess mortality in two previous influenza pandemics supports vaccinating in any trimester during a pandemic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Swiss Tropical Institute, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Tippi K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: Punam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mangtani
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leese
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pfeifer
mesh_terms: D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters; D018570:Risk Assessment; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines