Pregnant women urged to get both vaccines against swine flu

By Sheilah Downey

Health officials in Britain issued new swine flu guidelines today for pregnant women and are now urging them to avoid large crowds to limit exposure to the virus. In Canada, health officials said that three pregnant women were admitted to Intensive Care units there last week due to complications from the H1N1 virus.

Officials point out that pregnant women are not more susceptible to the H1N1 virus but are at a greater risk of complications if they do develop the disease.

In the United States, Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control on Friday urged pregnant women who develop symptoms to "seek care promptly" and added that early antiviral medicines are "really important."

"We have known that pregnant women are at risk of complications from influenza," she said, adding "That's a real challenge."

She said health officials have reported "worse complications and severe infections in pregnant women and we're urging women who are pregnant who develop fever or respiratory symptoms to seek care promptly."

Pregnant women are advised to get the H1N1 vaccine as soon as it becomes available and also to get the seasonal influenza vaccine. Women who are worried about taking medications while pregnant should reconsider.

"I know that many pregnant women don't want to take anything while they're pregnant," she said. "This is a situation where you need to be more worried about your health and the baby's health."

As for prevention, Schuchat recommended that pregnant women follow the normal hygiene rules such as washing hands and covering mouths when they cough and sneeze. She urged people to stay at home when sick and keeping kids at home when they are sick