Pregnant women often not vaccinated against flu
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Although most obstetricians recommend that their pregnant and breastfeeding patients be immunized against influenza, only about one third offer immunizations within their own practices, new study findings show.
Despite recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for immunizing pregnant women against influenza, only 13 percent of pregnant women were vaccinated in 2003.
To assess understanding of the ACIP recommendations, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in May 2004, sent surveys to 1000 ob/gyns regarding their approach to vaccination; 413 responded.
Dr. Kathleen G. Raleigh, an epidemiologist with the CDC, and her colleagues report the survey results in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Responses showed that 52 percent would recommend influenza vaccination to healthy women in the first trimester if seen in November. Corresponding rates were 95 percent for healthy women in their second and third trimesters, 63 percent for diabetic patients seen in their first trimester, and 63 percent of women breastfeeding a child of 3 months of age.
However, only 36 to 38 percent of those who would recommend vaccination actually offered this service in their own practices.
“Vaccination against influenza is recommended, because women infected with influenza during pregnancy are at increased risk of serious heart and lung conditions that may lead to hospitalizations,” Raleigh said in an interview with Reuters Health.
“One study found that out of every 10,000 women in their third trimester during an average flu season, 25 will be hospitalized for flu-related complications,” she added. “Inadequate reimbursement, lack of vaccine information for patients, and liability concerns are some of the main barriers to vaccination of pregnant women among providers who did not offer the vaccine.”
Also, the survey results showed that very few ob/gyns who see women who appear to have influenza actually confirm the diagnosis with laboratory testing.
“Laboratory diagnosis might help improve identification of influenza at the community level,” Raleigh said, “making physicians aware of the presence of influenza in their area and helping them to identify appropriate treatment choices.”
SOURCE: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, October 21, 2005.
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