Administering the influenza vaccination to pregnant women has been a controversial practice within the medical profession. Most vaccinations have been strongly discouraged when it comes to giving it to pregnant women due to the associated potential health risks. Despite any potential risks to the mother or the child, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, continues to recommend that all pregnant women in their second and third trimester be vaccinated. However, according to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the recommendation by the CDC for all pregnant women to receive flu shots during the second and third trimester of pregnancy is ill advised.
Exposure to Live Virus
According to Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, both the inactivated and attenuated live virus in the influenza vaccinations have egg proteins in them. The attenuated live-virus vaccine can be particularly harmful to pregnant women and is contraindicated in this situation. The egg protein that is contained in the influenza vaccination can cause serious problems for pregnant women and their babies if any allergens to the egg protein exist. The body's chemical reaction to the allergen can lead to induced labor, difficulty breathing, heart complications including rapid heartbeats, which can endanger the lives of both mother and child.
Exposure to Mercury
Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative that is present in most inactivated forms of the influenza vaccination. According to the Vaccination Liberation Information, thimerosal can jeopardize the health of the fetus. The inclusion of thimerosal in flu vaccinations can cause neurodevelopment disorders in humans. According to a Summer 2006 article in the "Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons," studies have shown that in animal experiments, several reproductive toxicities exist such as mutagenicity, teratogenicity, and fetal death. Thimerosal has been classified as human teratogen. It is believed that thimerosal, a mercury base preservative, can lead to autism.
Infertility
According to the Summer 2006 article in the "Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons," studies suggest that administering the flu vaccine to pregnant women can lead to the impairment of fertility in some women. In a scientific study, research has shown that when given influenza shots to sheep and rats, the results showed damage to the reproductive organs such as the fallopian tube. This suggests the potential danger for humans. Adults who have had mercury exposure or poisoning have a greater reported incidence of infertility. Because influenza vaccinations contain mercury, it could lead to future health complications for the mother. The potential harm that influenza vaccinations can have on both mother and child should be further explored before recommending the vaccine to all pregnant women.
