Since its first appearance in April 2009, H1N1, or swine flu, has affected many lives around the globe. For those with children, previous medical complications, or working in high-risk areas, H1N1 can be particularly fear-inducing. But perhaps it is most feared by one group listed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) as "high-risk:" pregnant women.
In the fury to receive the H1N1 vaccine across the United States, many of these women, despite the reports, are hesitant to receive the vaccine. Advised by both the CDC and their obstetricians to receive the shot due next month, some still worry about the risk to their unborn child. As is the case with any new drug, no clear tests have as yet been conducted to confirm or deny the chances of harming the fetus. Still, proponents argue that the risks of catching H1N1 far outweigh any risks that could potentially be posed by receiving the vaccine.
A Special Vaccine
Erring on the side of caution, however, the FDA will be launching a vaccine designed for pregnant women specifically. Although the first round of the H1N1 vaccine, a nasal-spray containing live cultures, was released in limited quantities in early October, expectant mothers will have to wait to receive a thimerosal-free, non-active culture version until the end of November. Doctors across the board recommend vaccination to all pregnant women and, in most states, OB-GYN clinics will be the first to receive the dosages.
Reasons for Concern
The reasons for concern are clear. A suppressed immunity puts pregnant women at greater risk of contracting H1N1. Statistics show that pregnant women are six times as likely to die of H1N1, and if they survive, the developmental ramifications to the fetus are largely unknown (MacKenzie, 2009). Some of these answers can be found in records from the previous U.S. outbreaks of H1N1 in 1918 and 1976.
Studies reported during these outbreaks show that babies whose mothers had ordinary flu were seven times as likely to develop schizophrenia, earn a lower income and education level, and have a higher rate of disability. These figures only increased for H1N1 flu victims; as adults, they were 23 per cent more likely to have a heart attack, a slower growth rate, and slower development (MacKenzie, 2009).
To Vaccinate or Not?
Yet, the issue remains clouded. The vaccine created in 1976 reportedly caused more illness than it cured when the widespread panic about the disease’s potency was largely exaggerated. Considering the botched vaccine of this most recent history with H1N1, women’s caution can be understood. Despite 30 years of improved medical science, and a guarantee that the H1N1 vaccine is created no differently than the regular seasonal flu vaccination, many pregnant women will still opt out of this vaccine.
References:
MacKenzie, D. (2009). Flu in pregnancy leaves a mean legacy. New Scientist. Retrieved October 7, 2009 from http://www.newscientist.com
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