On the issue of vaccinations: before, during and after pregnancy

I'm planning a pregnancy - should I get vaccinated against coronavirus?

For pregnant women, exposure to coronavirus can be doubly dangerous. According to recent research by scientists in the United States, during pregnancy women are much more susceptible to the negative effects of COVID-19 and are more likely to experience a severe course of the disease. Therefore, when planning a pregnancy, many women want to protect themselves and their unborn child during a pandemic.

There is no reason to believe that vaccination can have a negative effect on the reproductive system. The myth that vaccination against coronavirus can lead to infertility was born in the fall of 2020 and its author was a Covid dissident and former employee of Pfizer (developer of one of the COVID-19 vaccines). According to him (which, by the way, has not been confirmed by anything), the S-protein of the coronavirus is very similar to the protein syncytin-1 contained in the placenta. This story was quickly refuted, but the myth had already spread throughout the world.

Therefore, based on the available data, it can be argued that vaccination against coronavirus will not affect reproductive function or pregnancy itself. However, to exclude the possibility of contraindications to vaccination, consultation with a doctor is necessary.

You can sign up for coronavirus vaccination by calling + 7 812 327 03 01

City hospital of the resort city of Gelendzhik

Pregnancy is one of the most awaited periods in the life of any woman. However, it is often overshadowed by various diseases. A woman’s body works in an intensive mode, for two, so there are not always enough physical resources to fight infections and diseases. One of the most common diseases among pregnant women is the flu.

Main flu symptoms

The first symptoms of the disease are fever, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, cough, runny nose, and headache. Influenza is characterized by a short incubation period - several hours, less often 1-2 days. Most often, there is an acute onset of the disease, which is accompanied by a high temperature (39-40°C) that persists during the first two days of the disease, after which it usually decreases rapidly. The febrile period usually lasts no more than 2-4 days. Often, 1-2 days after the temperature drops, it rises again for a couple of days (the so-called “second wave of influenza”).

Usually, by the end of the first day, you can observe the full picture of the disease: the predominance of general symptoms of intoxication (a feeling of aching muscles, headaches and muscle pain), nasal congestion (although a runny nose appears only on the 2-3rd day of illness), pain in the eyes. Abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, and sleep disturbance are also possible. The patient has characteristic external signs of influenza: severe pallor with brightly colored cheeks, puffiness, a bluish tint to the lips and nasolabial triangle.

Against the background of infection, any existing chronic diseases may worsen in a woman, which will also complicate the normal course of pregnancy.

Possible consequences for the fetus

Influenza is considered a dangerous disease during pregnancy, as it often causes complications that can lead to the most unpleasant consequences - the threat of miscarriage or premature birth. Flu during pregnancy poses the greatest danger in the early stages (up to 12 weeks) , when the formation of tissues and organs of the unborn baby occurs.

The influenza virus easily passes through the placenta to the fetus. As a result, in the early stages of pregnancy, due to the death of cells that are the rudiments of organs, malformations are formed. The most sensitive to damage are the sensory organs (auditory and visual apparatus), heart and nervous system (brain and motor fibers of the spinal cord). In the second half of pregnancy, an inflammatory reaction is formed to the damaging effect of the virus. The baby is born with clinical manifestations of a severe congenital infection involving all organs.

Even a mild flu in pregnant women can cause depression and distortion of the baby’s immune system. From the first days of life, the child will be very susceptible to the causative agents of colds and intestinal infections, which will be accompanied by dysbacteriosis and allergies.

How is the flu treated?

At the first signs of illness, a pregnant woman should consult a doctor so that he can select anti-influenza drugs for treatment that are safe for the health of mother and baby. During pregnancy, many medications (aspirin, some antiviral drugs, complex antisymptomatic drugs, as well as vasoconstrictors and antitussives) are contraindicated.

First of all, you need to drink plenty of fluids, which helps to “wash out” the insidious virus from the body. It is better to drink something sour and containing vitamin C - fruit drinks, hot tea with raspberries, lemon or honey, a rosehip drink. Paracetamol is allowed as an antipyretic for pregnant women.

And you should always remember that it is necessary to avoid self-medication and immediately consult a doctor, since not only your health is at stake, but also the health of your baby!

Nutrition for flu symptoms in a pregnant woman

It is clear that with flu symptoms, a pregnant woman often does not want to eat food due to her weakness and lack of desire to eat. You shouldn’t do this - you should definitely eat when you have the flu. This is necessary for both you and your baby. Give preference to easily digestible foods rich in both proteins and healthy fats and carbohydrates. Be sure to include dairy products in your diet - milk, cottage cheese, natural yogurt, sour cream. Don't forget to eat fresh vegetables and fruits. After all, they contain a large amount of vitamins and minerals that help cope with the first symptoms of the flu in pregnant women . Natural vitamins are in no way inferior to artificial ones, but only have a lot of advantages over them. Food should not be cold, preferably at room temperature. Don't forget to drink plenty of warm water after every meal.

How to prevent the flu

It is much easier to prevent than to treat the flu during pregnancy. The most effective way to protect against influenza today is vaccination. The promise of fighting influenza through vaccination is recognized by experts around the world. Vaccination naturally does not provide a 100% guarantee against the disease, but it significantly reduces the risk of disease and the development of complications or severe forms. The vaccine does not pose any additional risk to the mother or fetus during pregnancy and significantly increases the mother's immunity to the influenza virus. The vaccine remains effective throughout pregnancy, and immunity from influenza is transmitted to the child in utero and persists for the first 6 months of life. Vaccination against influenza is carried out in the fall, before the start of the influenza season, since immunity develops in about 2 weeks. Vaccination during an epidemic is less effective.

In addition to vaccination, you should not neglect general preventive measures, which during an epidemic of the disease can significantly reduce the risk of the disease. You should be especially careful about flu prevention in the first three months of pregnancy. Measures to be taken to reduce the risk of disease:

• limit travel on public transport and avoid visiting places with large crowds of people (this is where there is the greatest likelihood of becoming infected);
• in public places (at work, in elevators, transport, bus stops, shops, etc.) during the epidemic season, wear a protective mask (you should remember that the mask must be changed every 2 hours);
• take multivitamin complexes for pregnant women. Vitamins will increase immunity and reduce the body’s susceptibility to viral infections;
• wash your hands thoroughly and often with soap and water or antiseptic gel;
• when leaving the house, lubricate your nose with oxolinic ointment, ointment with interferon;
• after a walk outside, rinse your mouth with tincture of eucalyptus or calendula;
• Get vaccinated - if you are more than 14 weeks pregnant.

If someone in your household is sick with the flu, you must completely limit contact with them and always use a gauze bandage.

With competent, timely treatment, at home or in inpatient facilities, the negative consequences for the mother and her child are minimized.

GBUZ "Center for Medical Prevention" of the Ministry of Health of the Krasnodar Territory

Are pregnant women vaccinated against coronavirus?

When coronavirus vaccines were first developed and introduced into public circulation, pregnancy was listed as a contraindication. The reason is that at that time no studies had been conducted in this group and therefore the effectiveness and safety of vaccines for pregnant women had not been sufficiently studied. In June 2021, the Ministry of Health changed the recommendations for vaccination with Sputnik V, according to which pregnancy is no longer an absolute contraindication. The WHO holds the same opinion regarding some foreign vaccines.

Pregnant women are allowed to be vaccinated with the drug "Gam-COVID-Vac" (Sputnik V) in cases where the expected benefit to the mother outweighs the potential risk to the fetus. Therefore, it is recommended to make the decision about vaccination together with a gynecologist.

You can make an appointment with a gynecologist online on the website or by phone + 7 812 327 03 01

Why do pregnant women need a flu vaccination?

25.11.2015

Vaccination of pregnant women against influenza has been routinely performed in some countries of Europe and America for more than 20 years, and its immunological effectiveness reaches 70-85%. Since 2014, in Russia, flu vaccination of pregnant women has been included in the National Vaccination Calendar. Why is it so important to vaccinate expectant mothers against the flu, what is the danger of infection with influenza and acute respiratory infections during pregnancy, does vaccination have a negative effect on the course of pregnancy, how does it affect the development of the fetus? These and other questions were answered during an information seminar for parents by Mikhail Kostinov, head of the laboratory of vaccine prevention and immunotherapy of allergic diseases of the Federal State Budgetary Institution Research Institute of Vaccines and Serums named after. I.I. Mechnikov”, professor, doctor of medical sciences, expert of the portal “Vaccination Specialists”.

According to WHO recommendations, priority groups for influenza vaccination are pregnant women and children aged 6 months and older. Why is such attention paid to these particular categories of the population, and what is the rationale for vaccinating pregnant women against influenza? The fact is that maternal infection with the influenza virus often causes complicated pregnancy, intrauterine (antenatal) fetal death, the development of congenital pathologies in the child, damage to the central nervous system, as well as disorders of neuropsychic and physical development in children in the first years of life.

There are many studies and literature about the danger of this infection for expectant mothers. Mikhail Kostinov relies on a large-scale study by Russian scientists from the Chita Medical Academy, which they conducted during the influenza pandemic in 2009-2010. During the study, scientists observed a group of pregnant women with acute respiratory infections (ARI) and influenza, as well as a group of pregnant women who did not have these diseases. The study found that pregnant women who have had the flu often develop complications during pregnancy. Thus, when influenza and ARI were combined in the first trimester of pregnancy, placental insufficiency was observed in 47% of cases, in the second trimester - in 78% of cases, and in the third trimester this figure was 92%. These rates were significantly higher than in women who did not have the flu during pregnancy. For comparison: in women without ARI in the third trimester, placental insufficiency was observed in 44% of cases versus 92% of those who became ill. The danger lies in the fact that with placental insufficiency, while still in the womb, the child does not receive sufficient nutrition (including for the development of the nervous system), and metabolic processes are disrupted. Fetal hypoxia during ARI and influenza during pregnancy, depending on which trimester the infection occurred (first, second and third), develops in 70%, 67%, 80% of cases, respectively. When fetal hypoxia occurs, oxygen access becomes difficult, which subsequently affects the child’s neuropsychic development. Preeclampsia is also fraught with complications for both the mother and the fetus. When suffering from influenza, they actively develop in the first and second trimester in 25% and 30% of cases (at the time of fetal formation) and decrease to 15% in the third trimester.

Influenza and acute respiratory infections also complicate the course of labor. According to the study, in women who have had ARI and influenza in the first trimester of pregnancy, premature birth is observed in 12% of cases (only 4% in those who were not sick). Untimely rupture of amniotic fluid is typical for women who suffered ARI and influenza in the third trimester - 24%. A defect in the placenta and tight attachment of the placenta was noted in 6% of cases when the disease was experienced in the third trimester, which is significantly higher than in women who did not suffer from these diseases.

Doctors are also concerned about the development of children in the early neonatal period. If a child is born from a mother who suffered from ARI and influenza in the first trimester of pregnancy, then in 86% of cases a disorder of adaptation is observed (in 46% of children born to mothers who did not suffer from ARI and influenza); in the second trimester, a disorder of adaptation is recorded in 73% of cases, in the third – in 76%. One of the dangerous consequences of influenza and acute respiratory infections during pregnancy that affects the child is cerebral ischemia, which can cause disturbances in the neuropsychic development of children. When expectant mothers suffered ARI and influenza, cerebral ischemia was recorded in 76% of cases in the first trimester, and in 62% in the second trimester. These figures are more than twice as high as those for children born to mothers who did not have ARI or influenza during pregnancy.

According to the study, influenza and acute respiratory infections during pregnancy can also cause congenital abnormalities of the fetus. During a study conducted by Chita scientists (307 children were examined), among such anomalies, in particular, a ventricular septal defect was noted: when mothers fell ill with influenza and ARI in the first trimester - 4.8%, in the second - 1.4%, in the third – 2.4%. One case of bilateral clubfoot in a child was identified, while the mother suffered in the first trimester not from the flu, but from an ARI of the first severity. Also noted were one case of syndactyly, a congenital abnormality of the limbs characterized by the fusion (full or partial) of two or more fingers or toes, and two cases of polydactyly, an abnormality characterized by a greater than normal number of fingers or toes. Two children had thymus enlargement syndrome and a number of other anomalies.

The studies carried out allowed us to draw conclusions about the frequency of congenital anomalies per 1 thousand births. According to the study, in Russia during the influenza pandemic in 2009-2010, 58-59 congenital anomalies were recorded per 1 thousand births. Let us note that on average in Russia, according to the national guidelines for obstetrics and gynecology for 2007, influenza and ARI in pregnant women occur 5-6 congenital anomalies per 1 thousand. According to WHO, in the world - 4-6 cases per 1 thousand born. Thus, during influenza epidemics and pandemics, the risk of developing congenital anomalies increases tenfold.

Many expectant mothers believe that the flu can be cured with conventional antiviral drugs. But it is worth noting that the role of antiviral therapy against influenza in pregnant women is still unknown. There is no evidence that the drugs recommended for pregnant women (in particular, Tamiflu and Relenza) are completely safe. The fact is that the safety of drugs recommended for pregnant women must be confirmed by a large-scale study on volunteers, which is difficult to do under current conditions, since such studies have not been conducted. Therefore, the strategy of preventing influenza in pregnant women using vaccines with a proven safety record is preferable to using antiviral drugs with unknown effects.

Today, various types of vaccines are used to vaccinate pregnant women against influenza:

– split vaccines, which have been used all over the world for vaccination of pregnant women for decades;

– subunit vaccines – vaccines of the latest generation, in which maximum purification of antigens from toxic impurities is achieved;

– adjuvanted vaccines, which are used to quickly create full immunity against influenza (with a pandemic strain of the virus, two doses of conventional vaccines or one adjuvanted vaccine are required to create full immunity).

Also in Russia, an immunoadjuvant vaccine is used, which includes an immunomodulator that has an adjuvant effect.

As always, the safety of vaccines raises many questions; many expectant mothers fear that vaccinations will negatively affect the course of pregnancy and affect the child. Vaccine safety requirements in Russia are high and confirmed by many studies. As part of this seminar, research data on the safety of the widely used influenza vaccines Grippol Plus and Agrippal were presented. According to international standards, several groups of women took part in the study: pregnant women vaccinated with Grippol Plus or Agrippal (contain three strains of influenza virus - A (H1N1), A (H3N2) and type B virus); pregnant women vaccinated with the monoinfluenza vaccine Mono Grippol Plus (one strain A (H1N1), and the “placebo” group - women who received saline solution. Vaccination, according to international recommendations, was carried out in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. During the study, observations were also carried out for children born to these women.

The first indicator when assessing the safety of vaccination in pregnant women is the development of local reactions (swelling at the injection site, redness, pain at the injection site, etc.). Local reactions to the drug Grippol Plus were recorded in 13.5% of cases, compared with the placebo group - 3.3%. Such reactions occurred 5-6 hours after the injection and completely disappeared after 2-2.5 days, without the use of additional medications. In the dynamics of the vaccination process (7-30 days after injection), general somatic changes were generally observed comparable to the “placebo” group.

The next parameter for assessing vaccine safety is assessing the dynamics of changes in basic biochemical parameters. In this case, the indicators in pregnant women vaccinated with Grippol Plus and in the placebo group were also comparable and did not go beyond the normal range.

The indicator of perinatal screening of fetal development is very important. As the study found, vaccination had no effect on the intrauterine development of the fetus.

The next parameter for assessing the safety of vaccines in the study was ultrasound monitoring of the fetus during intrauterine development. In this study, at 22-23 weeks of pregnancy, the circumference of the head, abdomen, hip development, and so on is determined. Among those vaccinated with vaccines and the placebo group, no significant differences were found in all parameters. The same study was conducted at 35 weeks of pregnancy and also showed no effect of vaccination on intrauterine development. The data presented indicate that vaccination of pregnant women against influenza does not affect the course of pregnancy.

Next, a group of scientists monitored the outcome of pregnancy and childbirth in all studied groups of women (vaccinated with Mono Grippol Plus, Grippol Plus, Agrippal, and the placebo group). The rate of “term birth” was almost the same in all groups – 90%, 96%, 89% and 85%, respectively. Similar data were also obtained for the “miscarriage” indicator in the groups - this parameter did not exceed 2%. Preterm birth was also similar in all groups. Children were born without pathologies in the first group (Mono Grippol Plus) - in 88.4% of cases, in the second group (Grippol Plus) - in 92%, in the third group (Agrippal) - in 87.5%, in the placebo group (saline solution) – in 85.4%. The same indicators of perinatal CNS damage were recorded in all groups. The syndrome of intrauterine infection was also similar in all groups and ranged from 4.6% to 4.9%.

Scientists also observed the postnatal development of children. During the newborn period, Apgar scores of 8-9 were recorded virtually proportionately in all groups: 92.1%, 87.5%, 80.9% and 94.3%. The neuropsychic development of children in the first 6 months was assessed together with neurologists. 81.6% developed without disturbances when their mothers were vaccinated with Mono Grippol Plus, 83.3% of children from mothers vaccinated with Grippol Plus, Agrippal - 78.6% and saline - 77.1%.

Very often, when explaining refusal to vaccinate during pregnancy, women refer to the fact that breastfeeding will be disrupted in this case. These studies refute this. The breastfeeding rate at birth was 100% (group vaccinated with Mono Grippol plus), 85.4% (Grippol plus), 92.9% (Agrippal), 100% (in the placebo group).

As for the harmonious physical development of children, children in all groups had average harmonic development and above average harmonic development. Thus, based on the study data, we can draw an unambiguous conclusion: vaccination of pregnant women did not have any negative impact on the development of children.

When conducting vaccine trials, it is important to know how the immunity of pregnant women is formed during vaccination. It is believed that the protective level of antibodies is formed at a rate equal to or more than 1:40. And the vaccine is considered immunogenic if at least one of the parameters for assessing the immunogenicity of vaccines (seroprotection, seroconversion and seroconversion factor) corresponds to this indicator. These studies showed that after a month, 75% of those vaccinated, for example, with Grippol Plus had a sufficient level of antibodies, for example, to the H1N1 influenza strain. After 3-4 months after vaccination, the percentage of protected pregnant women exceeds 67%.

How long can post-vaccination immunity to the influenza virus last in newborns? In almost 70% of cases, newborn children have transplacental antibodies, that is, transmitted to them from their mothers. And if, for example, the mother has a seropositivity level of antibodies of 1:20, then the baby will have the same level. After three months, the conditional level of protection against influenza remains in 50% of children; after six months, only a quarter of newborns have protective antibodies. Note that, according to international recommendations, a level of protection with an antibody titer level of 1:40 is considered effective. This level of protection after six months is not recorded in children who were born to mothers vaccinated against influenza.

That is why the National Vaccination Calendar recommends vaccinating children against influenza starting at 6 months, since by this time maternal antibodies transferred to the child are lost, and vaccination makes it possible to protect him from influenza.

Many parents have asked whether it is possible to get a flu vaccine immediately after birth. Vaccines are safe, but at the moment there is no vaccine in the world that could provide immunity against influenza in newborns.

As the data from the studies reviewed during the seminar and many others conducted in various countries show, vaccination of pregnant women against influenza is absolutely safe if the doctor adheres to the recommendations that exist for each vaccine, takes into account contraindications, etc. The vaccines themselves do not affect the metabolic exchanges that occur in the body of pregnant women and do not affect the homeostasis of pregnant women. All vaccines are immunogenic and provide full immunity, which protects a woman from influenza virus strains during pregnancy and for another six months after the birth of a child. As for the effect of vaccination on the development of a child, it has been proven that during intrauterine development and after the birth of a child, vaccination of pregnant women has no effect negative impact on children.

How soon can you get pregnant after getting the coronavirus vaccine?

It is important to understand that vaccines against SARS-CoV 2 do not contain a live virus and their components cannot reproduce independently in the body. Virus-like particles of vaccines penetrate the cell and cause an immune response, and are then eliminated (disappear) from the tissues.

Considering the fact that the coronavirus vaccine has no effect on the reproductive system (there are no published studies that would prove otherwise), and pregnancy is not an absolute contraindication to vaccination, it is optimal to plan pregnancy after completing all stages of vaccination and developing immunity to coronavirus. You can check the level of antibodies 21 days after the second stage of vaccination and make sure that there is an immune response and the woman’s body is more protected.

On the issue of vaccinations: before, during and after pregnancy

Thursday, 12 February 2015

Immunity is immunity to infectious diseases, which is formed thanks to antibodies - protein structures that can fight pathogens. Immunity is usually divided into passive and active. Each person is born with a certain amount of ready-made antibodies and subsequently receives an additional portion of antibodies with mother's milk. This type of immunity is called passive immunity. It is temporary, fading away by the end of the sixth month of life. Active immunity is the immunity that a person receives after recovering from a particular disease. You can create long-term and active immunity to some diseases through vaccination. The administration of a vaccine is called inoculation.

Vaccines can be roughly divided into four groups:

1. Live vaccines.
   They contain a weakened living microorganism.
   Examples include vaccines against polio, measles, mumps, rubella or tuberculosis. After the introduction of these vaccines, pregnancy can be planned only after 3 months , since it is necessary to wait until the microorganism is completely eliminated from the woman’s body. This is due to the fact that a weakened microorganism can infect the fetus during pregnancy.
2. Inactivated vaccines. They contain either a killed whole microorganism or a fragment of the pathogen (cell wall fragment, etc.). These vaccines include the vaccine against whooping cough, influenza, and meningitis. You can get vaccinated 1 month before the planned pregnancy - this is the period required to develop a sufficient number of antibodies necessary for the formation of stable immunity.
3. Anatoxins. Vaccines containing an inactivated toxin (poison) produced by bacteria. An example is the diphtheria and tetanus vaccines. You can get vaccinated 1 month before your planned pregnancy.
4. Biosynthetic vaccines. Vaccines obtained using genetic engineering methods. These are vaccines that are obtained by “manufacturing” the genome of the pathogen. Such a “manufactured” pathogen cannot cause disease, but causes the production of antibodies. An example is the vaccine against viral hepatitis B. The vaccine can be given 1 month before the planned pregnancy.

Before pregnancy

In order to protect yourself and your baby from possible infectious dangers, you need to get the necessary vaccinations before pregnancy.

According to the national vaccination schedule, adults should be vaccinated against diphtheria and tetanus every 10 years. As a rule, the last vaccination is given at school at 16 years of age. After this, if the expectant mother’s place of work or study does not provide for regular medical examinations, vaccination is not carried out.

Vaccination against diphtheria

and
tetanus
must be done at least 1 month before the planned pregnancy.
Neonatal tetanus is a fatal infection, and this vaccination is needed precisely to protect the baby. Diphtheria is an infectious disease in which a bacterial toxin affects the entire body, with significant lesions observed in the throat. This disease is severe on its own, and can also cause serious complications, such as damage to the heart muscle. Therefore, the disease is dangerous for the expectant mother; it can cause a threat of miscarriage and fetal growth retardation. A healthy child begins to be vaccinated at 3 months. By 6 months, the child develops post-vaccination immunity, and before that the baby is protected by the mother’s vaccination. It is advisable for everyone planning a pregnancy to be vaccinated against hepatitis B. This
During pregnancy, the risk of contracting hepatitis B is especially high, since during pregnancy a variety of procedures and manipulations are carried out, including interventions in which one of the ways of transmitting hepatitis B through a medical instrument into the patient’s blood can be realized. This can happen during a visit to the dentist or during a simple blood test from a finger or a vein and, of course, during childbirth. The ideal option is when a woman begins to be vaccinated no later than 7 months before the planned pregnancy. In this case, it is necessary to make 3 injections: the 1st injection - on the selected day, the second - 1 month after the first, the 3rd - 6 months after the first. If the period of preparation for pregnancy is limited, then 2 injections are given with an interval of 1 month, and the third injection is made a month after birth. Please note that you should plan your pregnancy no earlier than a month after the last vaccination. If you only had one injection before pregnancy, then immunity to hepatitis is not formed and after pregnancy you should start all over again.

rubella is extremely important during pregnancy

since this virus leads to serious fetal malformations. If a woman experiences rubella during pregnancy, this is an indication for termination of pregnancy. 5 years ago, vaccination against rubella was included in the compulsory vaccination calendar, which is carried out at the age of 12-13 years for all girls who have not had rubella. Currently, girls vaccinated at this age are 17 years old. Other women who are able to become pregnant and give birth and have not had rubella are not protected from the dangerous virus. Theoretically, immunity after rubella vaccination lasts for life. The goal of the second vaccination is to cover the entire population and protect all expectant mothers as much as possible. If you have not had rubella or do not know whether you had this disease as a child, you can use a test to determine the level of antibodies to rubella. But you don't have to do this. Scientists conducted a study in which they took blood from women before vaccination, but did not examine it; blood was taken after vaccination, when antibodies had already been produced. The level of antibodies was simultaneously examined in the first and second blood samples. It was found that women who did not have antibodies before vaccination appeared in sufficient quantities after vaccination; in women with a small amount of antibodies (i.e., with insufficient immunity), the number of antibodies increased, while in women with a sufficient amount of antibodies, their level did not change. Thus, there is little point in spending money first on a blood test for the presence of antibodies, and then on vaccination.

Vaccination should be carried out no later than 3 months before the planned pregnancy. However, if the vaccination was given later than 3 months, the pregnancy is not terminated, since there have been no recorded cases in which the vaccine had a damaging effect on the fetus when administered either within a month before pregnancy or at the beginning of pregnancy. This statement is also true for other vaccinations. If you got vaccinated without knowing you were pregnant, this is not a reason to terminate the pregnancy.

Currently, there is a decree from the Ministry of Health that all people between the ages of 25 and 35 must be vaccinated against measles.

Therefore, when you consult a doctor, he will most likely suggest that you get this vaccination. But free of charge, as part of the state vaccination program, measles vaccination can not be done in all regions of the federation. When people of this age were schoolchildren, the measles vaccine was given once, so now teenagers and middle-aged people often get measles. Now the vaccine is given twice (the first vaccination creates lifelong immunity, and the second is needed in order to cover the entire population as much as possible). And although measles does not cause such serious consequences for the fetus as rubella, it is still a risk factor for the occurrence of conditions leading to intrauterine fetal hypoxia, when the baby lacks oxygen. Therefore, by getting vaccinated against measles, you can protect yourself and your baby. Currently, the task is to eliminate measles, when cases of this disease will not be recorded at all, as happened with smallpox. The measles vaccine is also a live vaccine, so vaccination should be carried out 3 months before the expected pregnancy.

If it turns out that the expectant mother needs to be vaccinated against measles and rubella, and she has not had mumps, then you can get one vaccination that stimulates the production of antibodies to all three infections.

Regardless of the season in which you are planning a pregnancy, it is necessary to get vaccinated against influenza.

Even if you plan to conceive in the spring, since pregnancy lasts 9 months, some part of it will inevitably occur in the autumn-winter period. Influenza is a viral disease that is especially severe during pregnancy, that is, it can lead to serious complications for the expectant mother and also cause suffering for the fetus. It is also necessary to ensure that the relatives surrounding the pregnant woman do not become a source of infection. To do this, they need to be vaccinated. The expectant mother should be vaccinated a month before the planned pregnancy.

In order to get vaccinated before pregnancy, you need to contact a vaccination center or a local physician or infectious disease specialist. As part of the government program (free of charge), you will only be offered vaccinations against diphtheria and tetanus. The remaining vaccinations listed are introduced as mandatory only in some regions of the federation; in most regions, the expectant mother will have to be vaccinated on a commercial basis.

During pregnancy

They try to protect a pregnant woman as much as possible from all influences that could even theoretically cause any harm to the fetus. Since experiments and experiments are not carried out on pregnant women, there are no convincing results on the effect of vaccines on the fetus. Without exception, all scientific sources indicate that vaccination for pregnant women is carried out only in cases where the harm from the disease is much higher than the harm from vaccination. Only the doctor who must prescribe the vaccine can weigh the pros and cons. The issue is definitely resolved, for example, if a pregnant woman is bitten by a dog that has rabies. To avoid the disease, vaccination or administration of specific immunoglobulin is vital. The question of emergency prevention may also arise when a pregnant woman comes into contact with patients with meningitis, hepatitis, or influenza. Such vaccines are approved for use during pregnancy, but the issue is decided in each case individually. The source of infection most often becomes family members, in particular children. Therefore, when you find out that you are pregnant, you should, if possible, vaccinate your children and other family members so that they do not get sick during your pregnancy. It should be especially emphasized that vaccination of children against infections such as measles, rubella and mumps, which is carried out with live vaccines, is safe for the expectant mother.

If older children are sick and the likelihood of “catching” measles, rubella, and mumps is high, then for the purpose of prevention, the pregnant woman is given human immunoglobulin - a drug made from blood proteins containing ready-made antibodies that help the body prevent the disease. Such antibodies are present in the body normally, but in smaller quantities, so the administration of immunoglobulin during pregnancy is absolutely safe.

Regarding the flu, I would like to say the following. Existing vaccines can be administered to pregnant women; even some positive experience has been accumulated in the use of influenza vaccines during pregnancy, but it is preferable to use absolutely safe methods of preventing the disease, such as limiting contacts during an epidemic and administering human immunoglobulin.

During breastfeeding

Neither killed nor live vaccines affect a baby during breastfeeding. Breastfeeding, in turn, does not affect the immune response and is not a contraindication to the use of any vaccines. Viruses contained in killed or inactivated vaccines do not replicate in the body and do not pose a particular risk to breastfeeding mothers or infants. Live vaccine viruses multiply in the mother's body, but the vast majority of them are not excreted in mother's milk. Although the rubella virus can be passed through breast milk, it usually does not infect the baby, and when it does, the illness is mild. The need for rubella vaccination during breastfeeding may be due to cases of the disease in older children. Then vaccination is used as an emergency preventative measure. There are also no contraindications to vaccinating breastfeeding women against yellow fever.

As is known, in many developed countries it is recognized that the costs of vaccination are hundreds of times lower than the costs of treatment. And if within the framework of the state these losses are measured only as material and labor losses, then every person knows that illness causes damage not only to his wallet, but also to his mood and the mood of his loved ones. Therefore, having imagined the scale of possible losses, vaccinate in advance. And if you didn’t have time to do this before this pregnancy, then try not to miss this opportunity before the next one.

Should you get vaccinated against Covid before or during the IVF protocol?

You can discuss the timing of vaccination against COVID-19 with your doctor , taking into account that some vaccinated people may develop side effects, for example, fever, pain at the injection site, weakness, headache, etc. Such symptoms may be undesirable during infertility treatment and may make it difficult to monitor the effects of, for example, hormonal therapy on a woman’s body. In this case, discuss with your fertility specialist - perhaps you should space out vaccination and infertility treatment.

Flu vaccine and pregnancy

Credits : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Pregnant women and their babies are at increased risk of complications associated with influenza, including preterm birth.

The CDC has received reports of hospitalization and death from influenza in pregnant women with this viral infection. Therefore, it is important to remain vigilant and protect pregnant and postpartum women from influenza.

The first and most important step in flu prevention is vaccination. Antiviral treatment is the second line of defense in reducing the risk of flu complications and even death from influenza.

Three facts about the flu and pregnancy

1. Pregnant women should receive the seasonal influenza vaccine.

Influenza is more likely to cause more severe illness in pregnant and postpartum women than in nonpregnant women. Changes in the immune system, heart and lungs during pregnancy make pregnant women more likely to get severe flu.

The risk of preterm birth also increases in pregnant women who have the flu.

has been shown to protect both the mother and her baby from influenza-related illnesses and complications.

1. The flu vaccine is safe.

Influenza vaccines have been administered to millions of pregnant women for several decades, and during that time there has been no evidence of any negative effects of the vaccine on pregnant women or their children.

Pregnant women should get a flu vaccine with an attenuated vaccine, that is, based on a killed virus rather than a live one.

Postpartum women, even if they are breastfeeding, can receive any type of vaccine.

There is much evidence to suggest that influenza vaccines can be given safely to women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and will not increase the risk of complications during pregnancy. There are fewer studies showing the safety of influenza vaccination in pregnant women during the first trimester.

1. Antiviral medications can treat the flu and are recommended for pregnant women who have the flu.

When used for treatment, antiviral drugs can reduce symptoms and shorten the time a patient is sick by 1 or 2 days. They can also prevent serious flu complications such as pneumonia.

During the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, prompt antiviral treatment of hospitalized pregnant women was shown to prevent respiratory failure and death.

Research shows that antiviral drugs against influenza are most effective when taken within 2 days of becoming ill. However, taking them later can be useful.

Source

published 28/10/2019 17:34 updated 28/10/2019 — Pregnancy, Vaccination, Treatment methods, Infectious diseases, Obstetrics, gynecology, mammology, Vaccination

How long after vaccination against COVID-19 can I enter into a cryoprotocol?

The rules are the same as when planning pregnancy. It is recommended to enter into a cryoprotocol as soon as all stages of vaccination are completed; it is also optimal to wait until immunity is formed. Discuss the timing of the cryoprotocol and coronavirus vaccination with your doctor, as time is usually an important factor in infertility treatment.

make an appointment with a fertility specialist online on the website or by phone + 7 812 327 03 01

Flu vaccination during pregnancy: is it possible to get vaccinated while pregnant?

The flu causes the greatest harm to the most vulnerable segments of the population, including pregnant women. For example, during the 1957 pandemic, pregnant women died making up 50% of women of childbearing age. The swine flu epidemic in Russia in 2009 claimed the lives of 83 women. The World Health Organization's maternal and child health guidelines prioritize influenza vaccination for pregnant women. The Advisory Council on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends seasonal vaccination of pregnant women.

According to the conclusion of the studies, the use of inactivated (killed) influenza vaccines does not have a teratogenic effect on the fetus and does not harm the health of a pregnant woman. So is it possible for pregnant women to get a flu vaccine? Is it dangerous for the unborn child?

Dangers of influenza during pregnancy:

During pregnancy, a woman's immunity is weakened and she becomes susceptible to any infection. Most often, an expectant mother may be at risk of becoming infected due to the annual flu epidemic. This disease in a pregnant woman occurs in a more severe form and with complications. This disease is dangerous for a pregnant woman precisely because of its complications:

• Pneumonia;
• Sinusitis;
• Bronchitis;

In severe cases, myocarditis with heart failure may develop. Chronic diseases are getting worse: diabetes, bronchial asthma, bronchitis, nephritis.

Know! The most dangerous consequence of the flu in a pregnant woman is a threatened miscarriage or premature birth.

Flu in a pregnant woman can also affect the health of the fetus. It is most dangerous in the early stages of pregnancy, when the tissues and organs of the human embryo are laid and formed. Viral intoxication or drug exposure can lead to pathology of the child’s organs. In later stages of pregnancy, there is a risk of infection of the fetus.

Why is flu vaccination important for pregnant women?

During pregnancy, the expectant mother worries not only about her health, but also about whether the baby will be born healthy and strong. And it is quite natural that expectant mothers often wonder whether or not to get vaccinated.

Important reasons to get vaccinated are:

• A woman during pregnancy is much more at risk of contracting the flu, since her immunity is weakened.
• In case of influenza infection, the course of the disease in a pregnant woman is much more severe and with complications.
• Vaccination of pregnant women against influenza protects mother and her child. A pregnant woman who is vaccinated during pregnancy passes influenza antibodies through the placenta to her fetus. A child born from a vaccinated mother receives immunity for at least 6 months. According to research results, it is known that vaccinating a mother reduces the risk of influenza infection in a newborn child by 63%.

Pros and cons of vaccination during pregnancy:

Currently, there is no consensus in the medical community about whether pregnant women should be vaccinated against influenza. Doctors who recommend vaccination explain its necessity with the following reasons:

• If a pregnant woman is infected with influenza, the disease can be severe and have complications.
• A severe form of influenza can lead to miscarriage or termination of pregnancy.
• Viral intoxication of the mother can cause developmental abnormalities or delays in the physical or mental development of the child.
• A vaccinated pregnant woman herself is protected from infection and passes on the protection to her newborn child within a few months.

Doctors who refrain from using vaccinations give the following reasons.

• The vaccine does not provide a 100% guarantee of immunity.
• Like any medical product, the vaccine has a risk of adverse reactions.

Should a pregnant woman get a flu shot or not?

It is best to make this decision together with your doctor. After all, in each specific case the conditions are not the same. If a flu epidemic is inevitable and a pregnant woman has no contraindications, then the vaccine should be given. If a pregnant woman has a negligible risk of infection, she does not come into contact with a large number of people, or is opposed to vaccination, then you don’t have to do it. After consulting with your doctor about such a vaccination, you can come to the optimal decision.

Contraindications for vaccination during pregnancy.

An acute respiratory disease or exacerbation of any other chronic disease has temporary contraindications - vaccination is postponed until recovery.

General contraindications for pregnant women to get a flu shot are as follows:

• allergies to chicken eggs, antibiotics;
• individual intolerance to the vaccine;
• allergic reaction to a previous vaccination;
• first trimester of pregnancy.

When is it recommended for pregnant women to get vaccinated?

When planning a pregnancy, the flu vaccine should be taken into account in advance in order to protect mother and baby from infection in the future. Vaccination is especially indicated for pregnant women suffering from chronic diseases (diabetes mellitus, nephritis, bronchitis). This category of people is especially susceptible to severe disease if infected.

When to vaccinate?

Seasonal prevention of influenza is carried out in September and October. Vaccinations for pregnant women are recommended from the second trimester of pregnancy.

During a planned pregnancy, a flu vaccine is given 1 month before it.

Flu vaccinations before pregnancy are planned based on the assumption that the formation of immunity occurs within 2–4 weeks. Protection after vaccination lasts about a year.

Rare consequences from vaccination.

Current flu vaccines are safe for pregnant women. But sometimes serious consequences can still arise:

• Anaphylactic shock, accompanied by a sharp drop in maternal blood pressure. The resulting oxygen starvation of the fetus may require termination of pregnancy.
• An allergic reaction in a severe dangerous form of Quincke's edema.
• Development of allergic reactions in a newborn child.

How can a pregnant woman prepare for vaccination?

• An expectant mother, knowing how a flu shot can affect pregnancy, should consult a doctor about the upcoming vaccination.
• If a woman has previously had an allergic reaction, especially to chicken protein and antibiotics, be sure to inform the doctor about this.
• On the day of vaccination, the expectant mother should be healthy.
• She should not have had any infection 2 weeks before.
• A few days before vaccination, you need to exclude unusual foods from your diet.

Which vaccine to choose

According to available data, modern inactivated split vaccines do not have a toxic or teratogenic effect on the body of a pregnant woman and the fetus. The most harmless vaccines contain a minimum of harmful substances. These include:

• "Influvac" produced by the pharmaceutical company Solvay Pharmak (Netherlands);
• "Begrivac" made in Germany, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics;
• "Vaxigrip" manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur (France);
• “Grippol” is made in Russia, produced by the pharmaceutical company NPO Microgen;
• "Grippol Plus" produced in Russia by NPO PETROVAX PHARM.

If you choose between the last two domestically produced vaccines, then Grippol Plus is better suited for pregnant women, as it does not contain a preservative.

To summarize, we note that vaccination provides protection for the mother and her fetus throughout pregnancy. A child from a vaccinated mother receives antibodies through the placenta, and after birth also receives them through milk. Over many years of use in Russia and abroad, all influenza vaccines have proven safe for mother and fetus. They can also be used during lactation.

What preventive measures are important and should be followed by pregnant women?

Pregnant women should strictly follow preventive measures, including frequent hand washing, avoiding crowded places unless absolutely necessary, and avoiding infected people.

They should check their temperature regularly, monitor their heart rate, breathing, and tell their doctor immediately if they experience shortness of breath, cough, or fever.

In addition, women with relevant exposures or symptoms of COVID-19 should remain in isolation for at least 14 days.

Vaccinations of the TORCH complex

For example, in the process of planning a pregnancy, the expectant mother should be checked for the presence of antibodies to such a serious disease as rubella, says obstetrician-gynecologist Angelina Brainina . After all, it leads to the development of severe anomalies in the fetus, against which the woman may even be advised to terminate the pregnancy if infection occurs in the early stages. If there are no antibodies, it is necessary to get vaccinated, doctors say. In this case, the timing of its implementation must be no later than 3 months before the planned conception. If the vaccination is not given, and the expectant mother does not have antibodies, and the infection occurred during pregnancy, she may be offered emergency immunoprophylaxis with a weakened vaccine. But it’s still better not to lead to such situations.

Also, the gynecologist notes, it is worth taking care of the prevention of such a pathology as viral hepatitis B, which can also cause severe complications in a pregnant woman. “You can prevent hepatitis B with a regular vaccination, which is also best done 3 months before the planned pregnancy,” advises Angelina Brainina.

In addition, it is important to protect the pregnant woman from problems such as toxoplasmosis. And it’s better to do this also at the planning stage. The infection occurs mainly from animals, in particular from pet cats. “Transmission of the pathogen occurs through the placenta. In the early stages this is fetal death. If the child continues to develop, then there are risks of extensive damage to the nervous system - microcephaly, anencephaly, development of a cleft palate,” says the gynecologist.

The solution here is also simple - timely vaccination. Again, at least 3 months before the expected conception.

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