A prospective observational study of the vaccinated pregnant women revealed that the protective effects of the vaccine extend to the new born infant also. Angelia A. Eick, PhD, of Johns Hopkins, and colleagues found that babies of the vaccinated mothers showed 41% reduction in the incidence of influenza.
Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine also concurred with this conclusion saying that they have found decreased hospitalization of infants with influenza and flu like symptoms. The influenza vaccination is not recommended for infants below six months. However this is the period during which they are extremely vulnerable to the flu. Therefore, the finding that a vaccinated mother can pass on the antibodies which protect the baby during the first six months of life is of prime importance.
Eick and colleagues conducted the study amongst Navajo and White Mountain Apache reservations, where a higher incidence of influenza has been noted among the general population. The study included a questionnaire which spanned over three influenza seasons. The mother baby pairs were checked for antibodies. It was noticed that the antibody titer was higher in infants till approximately six months of age, after which they were similar to other babies with unvaccinated mothers.
There were some limitations to the study namely that the study conducted during mild outbreaks of the flu, the study location was limited.
The accompanying editorial added that the immunization amongst pregnant women remain low because of certain misconceptions about the safety of the vaccine. They felt that the primary healthcare should be responsible for recommending the vaccine especially since it gave protection for the baby during the neonatal period when it is the most vulnerable.
