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Experience over the summer has shown that pregnant women are 6 times more likely to end up in the hospital with complications from the H1N1 flu than the average person.
Couple that with a steady barrage of news stories questioning the safety of the pandemic vaccine, and many women – and even some doctors – are in a quandary as to what to do.
Today the BMJ has a news report on the UK’s DOH (Department of Health) urging doctors to reassure their pregnant patients over the safety of the H1N1 vaccine, and the need to get vaccinated.
Published 9 November 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b4642
Reassure pregnant women over swine flu vaccine, health officials urge
Jacqui Wise
London
England’s Department of Health has urged GPs to reassure pregnant women who are worried about being vaccinated against swine flu.
In a letter to GPs and practice nurses David Salisbury, director of immunisation, says, "It is critical that clinicians are well placed to offer appropriate reassurance to pregnant women, their families, and friends. We recognise that a few recent media stories have caused anxiety and apprehension in some pregnant women about receiving the swine flu vaccine."
Dr Salisbury states, "There is good and increasing evidence that pregnant women are at higher risk of the serious consequences of swine flu. This evidence suggests that pregnant women are more likely to develop serious complications from swine flu, and the World Health Organization has stated that 7-10% of all hospitalised patients with swine flu are pregnant women in their second or third trimester."
The department has developed a question and answer sheet to support GPs in their consultations with pregnant women who may be anxious about the new vaccine(www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/Dearcolleagueletters/DH_107824).
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation advises that Pandemrix should be given to pregnant women as it gives adequate levels of antibodies after a single dose, rather than Celvapan, which requires a two dose schedule given three weeks apart. Both vaccines are licensed at any stage of pregnancy.
