Vaccine Recomendations for Pregnant Women

Safety of swine flu vaccine during pregnancy - CDC recommendations vs. vaccine package insert info

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that all pregnant women receive the swine flu vaccine, in order to prevent infection with the H1N1 virus. The manufacturers of the various formulations of H1N1 vaccine, however, disagree. The only instance in which there is agreement between the CDC and the manufacturers is in the case of the live virus nasal spray H1N1 vaccine.

The CDC says H1N1 vaccines are safe for pregnant women

The CDC has emphasized the necessity for all pregnant women to receive an H1N1 vaccination, stating that it is perfectly safe for both mother and fetus. The CDC also claims that an H1N1 vaccination will protect the unborn child against potential infection after birth, in the period when the infant is too young to be vaccinated.

Manufacturers of the swine flu vaccine do not recommend vaccination for pregnant women

There are several manufacturers of the swine flu vaccine licensed to produce a swine flu vaccine in the United States. Each of them is careful to note, in the package insert, that the vaccine has not been tested on pregnant women, and there is no information about the effect that the vaccine might have on the mother or infant. None of the manufacturers of the H1N1 vaccine for the United States recommend use of their product on pregnant women, provide correct dosage for a pregnant woman, or suggest that the use of their product during pregnancy is safe.

MedImmune, LLC live nasal spray vaccine for H1N1

The nasal spray vaccine made with a living virus, produced by MedImmune, LLC, is not recommended for use in pregnant women by either the CDC or the manufacturer. This is the only vaccine that the CDC does not recommend for pregnant women.

Safety of vaccines in pregnant women

The safety of flu vaccines in pregnant women has not been thoroughly studied. The CDC quotes a >2000 women study from the 1970's when it states the safety of vaccines during pregnancy. This study concluded that influenza vaccines did not result in an "excess of malignancies", but did show that women who received vaccines in the first four months of pregnancy were more likely to have babies with brain tumors. No other adverse effects were studied.