Seasonal Influenza Vaccine in Pregnancy Tied to Reduced Stillbirth Risk

By Kelly Young

Edited by Susan Sadoughi, MD

Getting the influenza vaccine during pregnancy is associated with lower risk for stillbirth, according to a study in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Using birth records in Australia, researchers compared 5000 births among women who received the trivalent influenza vaccine during pregnancy with 53,000 births among unvaccinated women from April 2012 to December 2013. The rate of stillbirth was significantly lower in women who were vaccinated during pregnancy than in those who were not (3.0 vs. 5.0 stillbirths per 100,000 pregnancy-days).

The authors conclude: "These results may be useful for communicating the potential benefits of seasonal influenza vaccination to pregnant mothers and their providers. Given the growing body of evidence supporting the health benefits to mother and infant, concerted efforts are needed to improve seasonal influenza vaccine coverage among pregnant women."