Safety of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 vaccines 30 October 2009 Are
pandemic vaccines safe? Outcomes of studies completed to date
suggest that pandemic vaccines are as safe as seasonal influenza
vaccines. Side effects seen so far are similar to those observed
with seasonal influenza vaccines. What about safety for pregnant
women? To date, studies do not show harmful effects from the
pandemic influenza vaccine with respect to pregnancy, fertility,
or a developing embryo or fetus, birthing or post-natal
development. In view of the elevated risk for severe illness for
pregnant women infected by the new influenza, in clinical
studies, pregnant women are a group that should be vaccinated
against infection, as supplies allow. Recent studies show that
infected pregnant women have a 10 times higher chance to require
hospitalization in intensive care units than infected persons in
the general population, and 7% to 10% of hospitalized cases are
women in their second or third trimester of pregnancy. The
benefits of vaccination