title: Maternal influenza vaccine and risks for preterm or small for gestational age birth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the impact of influenza vaccine administered to pregnant women during all trimesters on the rates of preterm and small for gestational age (SGA) births, evaluating both increased and decreased risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective observational matched cohort study involved 7 Vaccine Safety Datalink sites across the US for the 2004-05 through 2008-09 influenza seasons. Cohort eligibility and outcomes were determined from administrative, claims, medical records, and birth data. In propensity score- and vaccine exposure time-matched analyses, ORs for preterm and SGA births were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 57 554 matched vaccinated and unvaccinated pregnant women, including 16 240 women in the first trimester, maternal vaccination was not associated with increased or decreased risk for preterm birth (OR for delivery at <37 weeks gestation, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.93-1.02]; for delivery at ≤32 weeks gestation, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.86-1.12]; and for delivery at ≤34 weeks gestation, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.88-1.04]) or SGA birth (OR for <5th percentile weight for gestational age, 1.02 [95% CI, 0.96-1.09], and for <10th percentile weight for gestational age, 1.00 [95% CI, 0.96-1.04]). Similarly, first trimester vaccination was not associated with increased or decreased risk for preterm or SGA birth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Receipt of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine during pregnancy was not associated with increased or decreased risk of preterm or SGA birth. These findings support the safety of vaccinating pregnant women against influenza during the first, second, and third trimesters, and suggest that a nonspecific protective effect of the influenza vaccine for these outcomes does not exist.
authors.affiliation: HealthPartners Institute for Education and Research, Minneapolis, MN.
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Nordin
authors.affiliation: HealthPartners Institute for Education and Research, Minneapolis, MN.
authors.forename: Elyse Olshen
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Kharbanda
authors.affiliation: HealthPartners Institute for Education and Research, Minneapolis, MN.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vazquez Benitez
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University, New Haven, CT.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lipkind
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vellozzi
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Destefano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000209:etiology*; D057216:Propensity Score; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated