Pandemic influenza A/H1N1v, pregnancy and vaccination

Seasonal flu is potentially more severe during pregnancy especially when It occurs in the last three months Pregnant women were shown to be especially exposed to severe forms of the flu and death in the first weeks of the pandemic influenza A/H1N1v For the first time in history adequate vaccines were available in the early phase of the pandemic and recommended by WHO as a priority for pregnant women In France vaccination with the non adjuvanted vaccine (Panenza(R)) was recommended after three months of pregnancy However the pandemic vaccines were discredited by the mass media and the population even before they were available This was due to several factors and especially to the lack of information on the vaccine and its potential toxicity and in case of pregnancy potential risk of adverse fetal events despite the fact that available data shows the seasonal flu vaccine is effective and well tolerated in pregnant women This article aimed to provide decisional elements for influenza A/H1N1v vaccination in pregnant women (C) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS All rights reserved