Flu vaccination during pregnancy

What is a flu shot during pregnancy?

The flu vaccination is an annual vaccination against the current flu virus. From one flu season to the next, the flu virus usually changes significantly (it mutates) so that the old flu vaccines are no longer effective. Therefore, at the beginning of the flu season (usually October), a new vaccine is released that works against the flu virus that is currently circulating.

Since the flu can take a severe course in both pregnant mothers and unborn children, pregnant women belong to the group of people for whom a flu vaccination is generally recommended.

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• Flu and
• Influenza vaccination

Is it possible to get a flu vaccination during pregnancy?

A flu vaccination is also possible during pregnancy. As a result of pregnancy, pregnant women automatically belong to the risk group in which flu can be particularly difficult, which is why a flu vaccination is recommended during pregnancy.
The flu vaccination does not contain any active substances that would adversely affect the child during pregnancy.

Benefits of the flu shot

The flu vaccination during pregnancy has many advantages.
During pregnancy, the likelihood of severe flu with subsequent complications such as pneumonia increases enormously. Such courses can be avoided with an early vaccination before the start of the correct flu season. It is therefore advisable to vaccinate pregnant women as early as October or November.
However, the flu not only increases the risk of illness in the mother. The disease can also harm the child.
Another advantage of the flu vaccination is that the vaccination is a "therapy" for the flu that is well tolerated by mother and child. In contrast, flu medication is often not allowed to be given during pregnancy because it can have negative consequences for the child.
Even in the first few months after the birth, the child is still protected against the flu to a certain extent. In this way, the time can be bridged until the baby can be vaccinated against the flu even at six months.

Read our article on this Medicines during pregnancy and respiratory infections during pregnancy

Disadvantages of the flu shot

The disadvantages of the flu vaccination during pregnancy are much discussed, but no solid data can be presented on the subject. Since it is often difficult to conduct studies on pregnant women, there are no good studies on flu vaccinations in women.
Nevertheless, there have been reports of an increased incidence of high blood pressure and diabetes during pregnancy.
Pregnant women often suffer more from the side effects of the flu vaccination. On the one hand, this includes the local reaction on the upper arm to the vaccine, which can be shown by reddening, swelling and overheating.
In addition, the body has to stimulate the immune system against the flu vaccine, so that for a few days you may feel sick, as well as headaches and a slight fever.
Autism as a result of vaccinations in general is currently discussed particularly often. Vaccinations during pregnancy make the issue even more explosive. However, so far there are no studies that can confirm such a connection, so that the possible development of autism cannot and should not be counted among the disadvantages of flu vaccinations.

Read something Vaccinations during pregnancy.

These can be the side effects

With a flu vaccination, the typical local vaccination complaints can occur. These are mostly caused by the puncture itself rather than the vaccine.
This is a local inflammatory reaction that is associated with reddening, swelling, pain and overheating of the skin.
The muscle in which the vaccine was injected may also function less well. The pain when moving the arm resembles a strong sore muscles. These symptoms usually go away about two to three days after vaccination and have no further consequences.
General complaints are also occasionally caused by the flu vaccination. These are based on the immune system's response to the vaccine. Fever and fatigue as well as aching limbs can occur. These complaints usually disappear after a few hours, at the latest after one to three days, the symptoms are usually no longer present.

Often, pregnant women have a slightly more severe side effect due to the changed conditions in the body. In particular, the physical symptoms such as fever, fatigue and body aches can last for a few days rather than just a few hours.

What does the Stiko say?

The Stiko (permanent vaccination committee) recommends the flu vaccination in general to all people in risk groups. This includes

• Children and infants
• Old
• Immunocompromised
• Pregnant women

For healthy pregnant women, the Stiko suggests vaccination in the fourth month of pregnancy. The flu vaccination should also ideally be given before the flu season, i.e. in October or November.
According to the Stiko, pregnant women who already suffer from underlying diseases (diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma) should be vaccinated against the flu in the first trimester of pregnancy.
The flu vaccination is also recommended for pregnant women with an allergy to egg white, but it should be done under clinical supervision.

Only if you are allergic to the ingredients of the flu vaccination should the vaccination not be carried out.

Read more on the subject at: Influenza vaccination - yes or no?

When should you vaccinate?

According to the recommendations of the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko), group vaccination should be carried out in most pregnant women in the fourth month of pregnancy. Ideally, this period is before the flu season so that the vaccination has already been given by November.
Pregnant women who suffer from other illnesses such as high blood pressure, diabetes and / or asthma should get vaccinated earlier. With them, the time of the flu vaccination should be in the first trimester of pregnancy.

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Flu vaccination costs

The cost of a flu vaccination for the vaccine alone is around 20 to 35 euros.
In addition, there are the costs for the doctor and / or the medical staff who carry out the vaccination.
Especially during pregnancy, women should be checked for colds and other diseases before the vaccination, so that there are additional costs for the check-up. Depending on the source, these amount to around 120 to 160 euros per hour for a statutory health insurance patient.
If in-patient monitoring is necessary due to allergies to chicken protein, the costs will be increased accordingly.

Who pays the costs?

The costs for the flu vaccination are covered by the health insurance. This is mainly due to the fact that the Stiko classifies pregnant women in the risk group and therefore recommends the flu vaccination during pregnancy.
Even with privately insured pregnant women, coverage by health insurance should not be a problem. In order to avoid long discussions about the assumption of costs, you should contact the insurance company before vaccination. As a privately insured patient, however, you usually have to bear the costs yourself. For example, you often have to buy the vaccine yourself at the pharmacy. Then the bills from the pharmacy and the doctor can be submitted to the health insurance company. The insurance company can then reimburse the amount paid.

When am I protected?

Protection against the flu is usually built up after a few days. After the vaccination, the body must first activate its immune system and use it against the vaccine. This process is seen as “training” for the immune system. It forms immune cells that, in the event of an actual flu infection, immediately recognize the virus and fight it before the flu pathogen actually settles in the body.
This process usually takes a few days, but protection can be expected after a week.

Is my baby protected too?

The flu vaccination initially only has an effect on the pregnant mother's immune system. This also protects the unborn child, at least during pregnancy, as it cannot catch the flu without taking over the virus from its mother.
But even after the birth, the protective function of the flu vaccine still affects the baby. Through the so-called nest protection, the baby receives some antibodies from the mother's immune system. During pregnancy, these get into the child's body via the placenta; after the birth, this sometimes happens through breast milk. With the help of these maternal antibodies, the child can better fight an impending flu infection.
In this way, protection against flu can be built up through the vaccination until the baby can be vaccinated himself at 6 months.

Evaluation of the flu vaccination during pregnancy by

In general it can be said that one should adhere to the recommendations of the standing vaccination commission (Stiko) for vaccinations. This places pregnant women in the risk group for diseases such as the flu and therefore provides a clear recommendation for vaccination.
For healthy people, the flu is usually an infection that puts them out of action for several days. Pregnant women usually have to expect a stronger reaction from their body to the flu.
The unborn child can also be harmed if the mother becomes infected with the flu.

On the other hand, one has to weigh the side effects and disadvantages of the flu vaccination. However, these are mainly short-term and local side effects such as an inflammatory reaction at the injection site and a slight feeling of illness.

Due to the severity of the possible complications of a flu infection and the relatively less severe side effects of the vaccination, the flu vaccination should be carried out during pregnancy. This also applies if there is an allergy to chicken protein. Under these conditions, inpatient surveillance after vaccination can be set up so that possible complications can be treated immediately.