Posted in the Daily News Journal
27 September 2010
Nashville — The Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program is looking for dozens of pregnant women to participate in research on the use of flu vaccine. The study will evaluate the immune responses to the influenza vaccine in both mother and infant. Vanderbilt is one of several sites in this National Institutes of Health study which will last through the 2010-11 flu season.
While the flu shot has been found to be safe and is universally recommended for all pregnant women, many do not receive influenza vaccine. Only a few studies have shown how effective the flu vaccine may be in preventing influenza in the infant.
Influenza is a serious respiratory virus. Hospitalization and death rates from influenza are greater in high-risk populations, including pregnant women and young infants.
However, lingering public concerns about safety, and a lack of evidence of transference of protection from mothers to unborn babies, are questions that need to be addressed.
( http://www.dnj.com/article/20100927/LIFESTYLE/100927007 )
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