Pregnant women and newborns are at increased risk of having serious complications of influenza.Pregnant women who get vaccinated against influenza do not only protect themselves but also their babies.Studies show the influenza vaccine helps reduce the incidence of respiratory tract disease in pregnant women by 36% and the incidence of influenza infection in babies under the age of 6 months by 63%.The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) urges pregnant women to get vaccinated against influenza during the nationwide government-funded influenza vaccination campaign to protect themselves and their babies.

Infants below one year of age are at increased risk of developing pulmonary diseases from influenza infection and requiring hospitalization. The possibility of developing pulmonary diseases from influenza for infants aged below one year is almost the same as that for chronic patients who become infected with influenza.Currently, no influenza vaccine for babies below 6 months of age is available and infants should not take tamiflu.The best way to protect babies aged below 6 months from influenza is for their mothers to get vaccinated against influenza during pregnancy so that infants can acquire maternal influenza antibodies.

Taiwan CDC points out that most pregnant women hesitate about getting vaccinated against influenza primarily because of their concerns about vaccine safety.Taiwan CDC states that pregnant women can get the influenza vaccine.Several studies have proven the safety of influenza vaccine in mothers and infants.Each year, many pregnant women around the world receive the influenza vaccine.The World Health Organization (WHO) has long included pregnant women in the influenza vaccination program. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in the U.S. has also recommended pregnant women to receive the influenza vaccine during any trimester of pregnancy.Hence, Taiwan CDC urges all pregnant women to get the influenza vaccine for their own health and the health of their babies.