Evidence shows that getting a flu jab during pregnancy provides substantial protection to young babies, but uptake in many countries is still concerningly low
Health
14 January 2022
Pregnant women can pass on antibodies to their babies Shutterstock/Rido
Babies are two-thirds less likely to get the flu in their first six months of life if their mother had a flu vaccine while they were pregnant, a large Australian study shows.
Influenza can be particularly dangerous to young children because their immune systems are still developing. In the US, 12 children under the age of 6 months died of the flu in the 2019-20 season.
Many countries now recommend getting a flu shot during pregnancy because protective antibodies are passed …