Pregnant women urged to get flu vaccine
Pregnant women in Orkney are being urged to protect themselves against flu by getting the free flu vaccine, after recent figures show that almost half (48 per cent) are still to be vaccinated.
Statistics highlight that flu was the cause of death among one in 11 women who died during, or shortly after, pregnancy. Pregnant women who contract flu are also five times more likely to have a stillborn baby, or for the baby to die in the first week following birth.
The flu vaccine offered this season is a good match for the circulating strains being detected and is expected to provide good levels of protection.
Women can have the flu vaccination at any stage of their pregnancy and evidence shows that the vaccine can help to protect the baby for up to three months after birth.
Director of the Royal College of Midwives Scotland, Gillian Smith said: “It has now become critical we stress to pregnant women that flu is a really serious illness – it is not just a bad cold.
“It can have aserious impact on those expecting a baby. You could experience premature labour, stillbirth, or a miscarriage but also you could become seriously ill yourself, so we are encouraging all pregnant
ladies to get the vaccination.
“If you’ve been pregnant before, remember that a healthy and flu-free pregnancy last time is no guarantee that you won’t catch flu this time. To make sure you get the maximum protection against the strains of flu circulating, you need to get vaccinated again.
“The flu vaccine is free to all expectant mothers in Scotland, is safe to have at any time during pregnancy, and it only takes a few minutes.
“Getting immunised against flu offers the best protection against the virus. It takes about 10 days to be protected after getting the vaccine, so pregnant women are advised to get the vaccination as soon as possible.”
For more information, see www.immunisationscotland.org.