Special Populations
Pregnancy

  • Pregnancy can increase the risk for serious medical complications of influenza.
  • Women who will be pregnant during the influenza season should receive the inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) - pregnancy category C
    • In 2000-2003, 2 million vaccinations of pregnant women with only 20 reported adverse events (17 mild, 3 miscarriages without proof of causality)
  • Inactivated vaccine (TIV) is safe in breastfeeding.
  • Live, attenuated vaccine (LAIV) is contraindicated in pregnancy.
  • Oseltamivir and zanamivir are both "Pregnancy Category C" medications and have not been studied in pregnancy.  They should only be used if the benefits outweigh the risks.

More Details       Back