|
Why is vaccination necessary?
Vaccines strengthen people’s immune systems so
that their bodies can fight off serious infectious
diseases. Vaccines also benefit society
by preventing the spread of communicable diseases.
Why do pregnant women need to be vaccinated?
Many women
may not realize that they are not
up-to-date on their immunizations
and are susceptible to diseases that can
harm them or their unborn
child. Pregnant women should talk to
their physicians to figure out
which vaccines they may need and whether
they should get them during
pregnancy or wait until after their child
is born
How do I know if a vaccine’s ingredients are
safe?
All
vaccines are tested for safety under the
supervision of the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA). The vaccines
are checked for purity,
potency and safety, and the FDA and
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) monitor the safety of
each vaccine for as long as
it is in use. Some people may be allergic
to an ingredient in a
vaccine, such as eggs in the influenza
vaccine, and should not
receive the vaccine until they have
talked to their doctor.</P>
<P><B>Can a vaccine harm my unborn
child?<BR></B>A number of
vaccines, especially live-virus vaccines,
should not be give to
pregnant women because they may be
harmful to the baby. (A
live-virus vaccine is made using the live
strains of a virus.) Some
vaccines can be given to the mother in
the second or third trimester
of pregnancy, while others should only be
administered either at
least three months before or immediately
after the baby is born.</P>
<P><B>What happens if I am exposed to a
disease while I am
pregnant?<BR></B>Depending on the
circumstances, your doctor will
weigh the risks of vaccination against
the benefits the vaccine can
provide.</P>
Which vaccines can I receive while I am pregnant
The
following vaccines are considered safe to
give to women who may be
at risk of infection
Hepatitis B--Pregnant women who are at high risk
for this
disease and have tested negative for
the virus can receive this
vaccine. It is used to protect the
mother and baby against
infection both before and after
delivery.
<LI>Influenza--This vaccine can prevent
serious illness in the
mother during pregnancy, but should be
received after the mother
has been pregnant for more than 14
weeks. If you have a serious
medical condition that can lead to
flu-related complications, you
can receive the vaccine at any stage of
your pregnancy.
<LI>Tetanus/Diphtheria--This
combination of vaccines are routinely
recommended for pregnant women, both
those who have never been
immunized and those who have not
received a booster in 10 years.
What side effects can I expect after a
vaccination?<BR></B>Side effects vary
from none to those that can
occur up to three weeks after
vaccination. If you experience any
severe side effects, be sure to tell your
physician.</P>
<UL>
<LI>Hepatitis A—Soreness and redness at
injection site, headache,
fatigue, severe allergic reaction in
very rare cases
<LI>Hepatitis B—Soreness at injection
site, fever
<LI>Influenza—Redness and swelling at
injection site that can last
up to two days, fever
<LI>Tetanus/Diphtheria—Low-grade fever,
soreness and swelling at
injection site
<LI>Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)—Non-contagious
rash, swelling of
neck glands and cheeks, pain and
stiffness of joints one to two
weeks after vaccination
<LI>Varicella—Fever, soreness or
redness at injection site, rash
or small bumps up to three weeks after
vaccination
<LI>Pneumococcal—Fever, soreness at
injection site
<LI>Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)—None
<LI>Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV)—Redness,
discomfort at
injection
|
