News Release                           For Immediate Release

                                                                                                                  October 29, 2008

Pregnant Women Strongly Encouraged to Get Flu Shot

Pregnant women - it’s a group of people that one might overlook when thinking about who should receive the influenza vaccine this season. Public Health strongly encourages pregnant women get the flu shot to protect themselves and their baby.

“Pregnant women are at risk of becoming ill with influenza partially because their immune systems are slightly lower functioning during pregnancy.” according to Sandy Rennick, Public Health Nurse in the Vaccine Preventable Diseases Program. “These women and their babies are also at risk for complications from influenza. We strongly recommend that pregnant women get the flu shot this season to help prevent this from happening.”  

The flu shot is safe to receive during pregnancy. The National Advisory Committee on Immunizations, made up of health experts from across the country, released a statement last year recommending that all pregnant women be immunized against influenza. As a nurse and a mother, Rennick acts on that recommendation. “I’m currently in my third trimester and have received my flu shot again this year,” she says.

Research shows that, as pregnancy progresses, hospitalization due to influenza illness increases. This puts women who are, or will be, in their third trimester during flu season at the greatest risk of hospitalization. 

Influenza season typically falls between November and April each year. As flu strains change every year, everyone needs to be re-immunized for influenza at the start of each flu season. From now through to early December, Public Health is providing free walk-in community flu clinics across Grey Bruce. No appointment is necessary.

For further information, or to check the flu clinic schedule, call Public Health at 519-376-9420 or visit our web site at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca.

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For more information:

Sandy Rennick

Public Health Nurse

Vaccine Preventable Diseases

Grey Bruce Health Unit

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext. 1297

Karen Sweiger

Manager

Vaccine Preventable Diseases

Grey Bruce Health Unit

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext. 1230