<<Pat Youngz writes: Women who will be in third trimester during flu season are encouraged to get

flu shots. >>

 

Actually, this year the CDC has recommended that pregnant women in ANY trimester of pregnancy receive the flu vaccine. Why they expanded this recommendation was not specified. They state the chances of the flu vaccine causing harm to the fetus in the first trimester is "unlikely." However, of the three or so flu vaccine providers available in the U.S., only one does not include mercury in their vaccine as a preservative. That is not the company my hospital chose to obtain the vaccine from so I, at 16 weeks pregnant, am forgoing the vaccine. I'll leave my dose for those who are more at-risk, since I do not work one-on-one with patients, have a healthy immune system, don't work at a daycare, etc.

 

Amy Britton, CNM, RDMS

Houston, TX, USA