Myths About Flu Shots — Myth 2

Myth #2: Flu vaccines cause miscarriages

Multiple studies have found that standard flu vaccines are safe for pregnant women. Flu shots do not increase your risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, or having a cesarean section.

Getting a flu vaccine while you are pregnant also helps deliver your antibodies to your baby, protecting newborns against the flu until they are old enough to get vaccinated themselves.

One study found some evidence that pregnant women who received a certain version of the flu shot two years in a row had a higher risk of miscarriage in the four weeks following the second shot. The researchers who published the study emphasized, however, their results did not indicate the flu vaccine itself caused miscarriages. Their findings are being investigated further to ensure that flu vaccines are as safe as possible for pregnant women.

Catching the flu during pregnancy, by contrast, is dangerous for both you and your baby, raising the risk of:

• Pneumonia or acute respiratory distress in the mother
• Increased risk of stillbirth
• Neural defects in the baby
• Premature delivery

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend that pregnant women receive a flu shot. 

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