Influenza and pregnancy
20 Apr 2009

A recent study in Bangladesh showed that if mothers are immunised against influenza during pregnancy, their babies are less likely to develop influenza as babies. When babies develop influenza in the first few months of life they are likely to become quite ill. The death rate for children with influenza is highest for infants under 6 months of age, but this group is not recommended for vaccination under the current universal childhood influenza vaccine recommendations.

For more information about immunisations and pregnancy have a look at the topic 'Pregnancy – immunisation'.

Reference
Zaman K, Roy E, Arifeen SE, et al 'Effectiveness of Maternal Influenza Immunization in Mothers and Infants' New England Journal of Medicine 2008;359:1555-1564

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