Risk of Premature Birth Drops with Flu Shot

Many prominent organizations, including the March of Dimes, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians, recommend that women receive flu vaccinations while pregnant. In support of this recommendation, a recent study conducted by U.S. researchers has found that the risk of delivering prematurely, or before 37 weeks gestation, is significantly lowered when a woman receives a flu shot during flu season.

For the study, researchers analyzed data on more than 4,000 deliveries in Georgia from June of 2004 to September of 2006. Of the women involved in the study, roughly 15 percent had received a flu shot while pregnant.

Researchers found that for vaccinated women who gave birth during flu season, which is generally from October to May, the risk of premature delivery dropped by 40 percent. Women who had received a flu shot and delivered during peak flu season (January and February) were 72 percent less likely to give birth prematurely.

A link was also found between flu vaccination and a decreased risk of delivering a baby with a low birth weight during flu season, although no association was found outside of flu season.

Babies born prematurely have a significantly higher risk of complications at birth. If your child has suffered a birth injury that may have been preventable, call or email the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos today for a free evaluation. We have helped clients with Queens birth injury, Brooklyn birth injury, Bronx birth injury, Manhattan birth injury and Long Island birth injury cases.