Vaccination of pregnant women

Compared with their peers and the population on average, pregnant women are at far greater risk of becoming seriously ill, being hospitalised or dying from swine flu. Furthermore, the risk increases as the pregnancy progresses and if the woman has an underlying medical condition, such as asthma. Pregnant women can be at considerable risk of infection because they are often in contact with small children, who transmit the virus very easily. The risk of severe viral pneumonia from swine flu is also higher during pregnancy.

When you are pregnant, vaccination offers the best protection against swine flu.

Vaccination recommended for all pregnant women

Both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) recommend that pregnant women receive the vaccine. The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) agrees with this recommendation.

The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has approved the use of the swine flu vaccine for pregnant women, placing no restrictions. The vaccine does not contain agents that could harm a pregnant woman or the foetus, or cause complications in the pregnancy.

So far, the Pandemrix vaccine has been administered to 172 000 pregnant women across Europe, and there have not been any problems with vaccine safety.

The vaccine also protects the baby

The vaccine will protect not only the mother but also the baby during the first months of life. Breastfeeding can also provide protection to the baby, if the mother has been vaccinated.