Midwives encourage pregnant women to have flu vaccine

Midwives are encouraging pregnant women to take up the offer of a seasonal flu vaccination from their GP this year.

Women who attend antenatal and maternity services at the Rochdale Infirmary, The Royal Oldham Hospital, North Manchester and Fairfield General Hospital will be asked to consider having the flu jab as it has been shown to provide protection for women during pregnancy and for first four to six months of their baby’s life.

Cathy Trinick, division director for women and children’s services and former head of midwifery at The Pennine Acute Trust, said: “It is so important for pregnant women to protect themselves and their new babies. Pregnant women are at increased risk of serious complications from flu as their bodies and immune systems are adapting to accommodate their growing baby and so are less able to fight off the flu virus.”

Pregnant women who contract the H1N1 virus are five times more likely to be admitted to hospital and seven times more likely to be admitted to critical care as a result.

Women can have the flu vaccination at any stage in their pregnancy.

Katie Dee, immunisation lead for the North West strategic health authority, said: “There have been some really upsetting cases over the last two winters where pregnant women have caught the flu, become seriously ill, and in some cases have died. Unfortunately if you are pregnant you are susceptible to serious complications if you catch the flu virus. The best step you can take to protect yourself and your baby is to have the flu vaccine.”

Last year 16,356 pregnant women from the North West had the flu vaccine last year, but this was only 43.3 per cent of the number eligible.

The seasonal flu jab is offered to people in at-risk groups who are at greater risk of developing serious complications from flu.

It is recommended people should have a flu jab if they are 65 or over, have a serious medical condition, live in a residential or nursing home, are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person, are a health or social care professional directly involved in patient care.