Seasonal flu kills thousands each year
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Pregnant women in the UK
should be given jabs to ward off seasonal flu, government
advisers say.
The flu subgroup of the Joint Committee on Vaccination
and Immunisation (JCVI) said the vaccine would help protect
women and their unborn babies.
The subgroup said mothers-to-be should get the jab in
their second and third trimesters if they are due to give
birth during the flu season.
The move still has to get the agreement of JCVI leaders
and then ministers.
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FLU
Flu is estimated to kill several thousand
people in the UK each year
10-15% of the population develop flu each
year
100,000 flu particles can be projected into
the air with just one sneeze
In 12 hours, the flu virus can invade 1
million nose and throat cells
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The flu vaccine is currently offered to all over 65s and
certain at risk groups such as people with diabetes and
respiratory disease.
The experts also recommended extending the at risk group
to people with degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.
If the recommendations are ratified later this year, the
vaccine will be made available in 2007.
In previous years there have been shortages of flu
vaccine for those who are already eligible.
The subgroup, led by Simon Kroll, professor of
paediatrics and infectious diseases at Imperial College,
London, said: "The majority of published work showed that
pregnant women are at higher risk of mortality and morbidity
in influenza pandemic years.
"In addition to the risk of influenza infection to
pregnant women, there may be potential benefits in maternal
vaccination to the foetus or newborn."
The sub group noted there was a risk of side-effects, but
analysis in the US where pregnant women are given a flu
vaccine showed this was small.
Kill
It recommended women who are over three months pregnant
and due to give birth between November and March should get
the jab.
Flu is estimated to kill several thousand people in the
UK each year and affects 10 to 15% of the population each
year.
Rosie Dodds, of the National Childbirth Trust, said:
"Pregnant women are at greater risk of contracting
infections because there immune system is compromised by
being pregnant.
"But I think if this does happen the risks of side
effects will need to be fully explained to women so they can
make a choice as there are some vaccines pregnant women are
advised not to have."
A Department of Health spokesman said it was still
awaiting the JCVI decision, which is expected later this
year
