Health professionals in New Hampshire are urging pregnant people to get the influenza vaccine now after an unusually early rise in flu cases this season.
Why vaccination is important in pregnancy
Physicians cited by the New Hampshire Public Radio report say pregnancy increases the risk of severe influenza illness, including pneumonia and intensive care unit admission, and that vaccination protects both the pregnant person and their baby.
“Those antibodies actually get to the baby,” Dr. Jessica Weyer, an OB-GYN at Concord Hospital, said. “The baby cannot get vaccinated until it's six months old. So that's why it protects not only a pregnant person, but also their baby from any of those complications.”
Dr. Weyer and others noted that antiviral treatment such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) is available for pregnant patients who contract influenza, and that timely treatment can reduce the severity of illness.
State guidance and clinical context
- Timing: Health providers reported flu cases appearing in late September, earlier than typical for New England.
- Risk: Pregnant people are at higher risk of severe influenza-related complications than nonpregnant adults, according to clinicians quoted in the report.
- Protection for newborns: Maternal vaccination transfers antibodies to the fetus, offering protection after birth until infants are eligible for vaccination at 6 months.
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has vaccine guidance for adults that is informed by recommendations from the American Academy of Family Physicians and other national clinical bodies. Health officials and clinicians are recommending that pregnant patients speak with their obstetrician, midwife or primary care provider about receiving the influenza vaccine as soon as possible.
In addition to advising vaccination, clinicians reminded patients that if a pregnant person develops influenza symptoms, they should contact their OB-GYN or primary care clinician promptly to discuss testing and antiviral treatment options.
“It's actually a much more dangerous disease when you're pregnant than when you are not,” Weyer said, urging early vaccination and rapid clinical care for symptomatic patients.
Health systems and outpatient clinics across the state typically offer seasonal influenza vaccines; patients should check with their provider or local pharmacies about availability and any recommended timing for boosters or coadministration with other vaccines.
