Mary,
Regarding vaccines while breastfeeding, As I've posted before, they are OK.
The reference is in
the ACIP "General Recommendations on Immunization: Recommendations of the
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices" MMWR, January 28, 1994, Vol.
43, No. RR-1, p. 20. Here's the quote: "Neither killed nor live vaccines
affect the safety of breast-feeding for mothers or infants. Breast-feeding
does not adversely affect immunization and is not a contraindication for any
vaccine."
Specifically regarding flu vaccine, from the CDC web site:
http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00057028.htm
"Target Groups for Vaccination (flu vaccine)
Persons at High Risk for Influenza-Related Complications
Vaccination is recommended for the following groups of persons who are at
increased risk for complications from influenza:
persons aged greater than or equal to 65 years;
residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities that house
persons of any age who have chronic medical
conditions;
adults and children who have chronic disorders of the pulmonary or
cardiovascular systems, including asthma;
adults and children who have required regular medical follow-up or
hospitalization during the preceding year because of
chronic metabolic diseases (including diabetes mellitus), renal
dysfunction, hemoglobinopathies, or immunosuppression
(including immunosuppression caused by medications);
children and teenagers (aged 6 months to 18 years) who are receiving
long-term aspirin therapy and therefore might be
at risk for developing Reye syndrome after influenza; and
women who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during
the influenza season.
Influenza-associated excess mortality among pregnant women wa documented
during the pandemics of 1918-1919 and
1957-1958 (46-49). Case reports and limited studies also suggest that
pregnancy can increase the risk for serious medical
complications of influenza as a result of increases in heart rate, stroke
volume, and oxygen consumption; decreases in lung
capacity; and changes in immunologic function (50-53)"
You read right on that last one. a lot of people including physicians are
not aware of it. See the web site for more details on this.
And of course, the following:
"Breastfeeding Mothers
Influenza vaccine does not affect the safety of mothers who are
breastfeeding or their infants. Breastfeeding does not adversely
affect immune response and is not a contraindication for vaccination. "
I have recently recommend the parents (mom breastfeeding) of a NICU grad get
flu vaccines as the bay can't because she is less than 6 months old.
Unfortunate those giving the vaccine didn't have all the facts. Vaccines are
the greatest thing since mother's milk. You didn't think I'd say sliced
bread did you? Wait let me re-phrase that.
Car seats are the greats thing since vaccines which are the greatest thing
since baseball, the greatest thing since the domestic dog, the greatest
thing since mothers milk.
-Rob (who is very curious how the coming nasal flu vaccine will affect sIgA
in milk. Immunize 2 for the price of one?)
Rob Cordes, DO, FAAP, FACOP
general pediatrician
Wilkes Barre PA
mailto:[log in to unmask]
***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html
|
