With flu season ahead and COVID-19 still making the rounds, it's more important than ever to safeguard your health. But when you're trying to conceive or pregnant, it's only natural to have additional concerns about vaccine safety. Read on to get your questions answered and stay safe this fall and winter!
In this article:
Here’s everything you need to know about the flu shot and family building:
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) continues to recommend that all women receive the influenza vaccine. ACOG maintains that the flu vaccine is particularly important for pregnant women, as pregnancy brings on changes in your immune, heart, and lung functions that can increase the severity of flu-related illnesses.
As a result, this vaccination has become an essential element of prenatal care.
Catching the flu increases your chances for serious problems for your developing baby, including premature labor and delivery. Additionally, newborns and babies are among the most vulnerable to the ravages and complications of the influenza virus.
Some complications of the flu, such as pneumonia, can even become life-threatening. This and other complications are a compelling argument as to why it’s especially important to obtain the flu vaccine if you are trying to conceive or if you are pregnant or hoping to become pregnant.
Note: If you get the flu shot during pregnancy, the vaccination provides your newborn protection through something called placental antibody transfer. Maternal vaccination is the most effective strategy to protect newborns since the vaccine is not approved for use in infants younger than six months.
Flu seasons vary in their timing from season to season, but CDC recommends getting vaccinated by the end of October, if possible. This timing helps protect you before flu activity begins to increase.
Get the flu shot if you are pregnant during flu season—it’s the best way to protect yourself and your baby for several months after birth from flu-related complications.
You can ask your doctor about where to get your flu shot if you're uncertain, but most pharmacies (think: CVS or Walgreens) have flu shots available, as do most doctors' offices, urgent care centers and other healthcare providers.
Whether you've been vaccinated against the virus previously, have had COVID (even multiple times), or received a booster shot before...you may still qualify for a new bivalent booster shot. Check out the CDC's most recent guidance to see whether or not you should get one.
After the last few years, most of us are tired of hearing about (and thinking about) COVID-19.
We're tired of thinking about precautions like wearing masks, socially distancing, washing our hands, testing before seeing friends, and constantly considering risk factors. But it's essential that we continue to protect ourselves and those around us as best we can so we all stay as healthy as possible.
Now that we know a bit more about the virus, there is more data to reference. While there are still some unknowns, the following facts are clear:
According to Johns Hopkins University, it is possible to carry both viruses concurrently. Having both together can impact the overall severity of how you are affected by each illness, as opposed to having only one at a time.
Especially because the intensity of the flu and COVID-19 varies so drastically from person to person, the illnesses can expose themselves similarly. If you start feeling flu-like symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately and assume a self-quarantine. Your doctor will likely conduct a flu or COVID-19 test to determine your exact illness.
If you are trying to conceive or pregnant, these steps are especially important, but everyone should do these two things!
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The flu is much more dangerous than a bad cold, and though the symptoms are often the same, they don't usually appear in the same order or with the same initial intensity. The flu comes on very abruptly, as opposed to a cold, which comes on more gradually.
Note: A fever is atypical (not common) with a cold in most adults.
A cold typically starts with a sore throat and stuffy nose and symptoms start to resolve themselves 3-5 days later. Flu symptoms last longer, often adding on to each other, and often get worse before they start to get better.
However, these can look very similar to COVID-19 symptoms, as mentioned above. When feeling any of these symptoms, there is not a clear distinction between the two. We highly recommend contacting your physician and possibly getting a flu and COVID-19 test so you know how best to treat your illness.
Research shows that the single best way to avoid the flu is to get a flu shot. When it comes to COVID-19, experts suggest getting vaccinated and boosted is the best way to prevent serious illness and hospitalization due to the virus. Whether you’re trying to conceive or are already pregnant, the benefits of getting vaccinated against both flu and COVID-19 are clear.
In addition to vaccination, there are many more ways to maintain a healthy body and mind.
One simple way to enhance the efficacy of the flu shot and prevent COVID-19 transmission is consistent hand washing. That means soap, warm water, scrubbing each finger completely. How long should that take? According to the World Health Organization, singing “Happy Birthday” twice should do the trick (around 20 seconds).
Additionally, wearing a mask not only helps protect you, but can keep those around you safe as well.
Just as they do year-round, our concerns for you extend far past your fertility treatment cycle. They extend to your overall wellbeing. Your health. Your needs. We want you to be as healthy as possible as you work towards your family-building goals.
If you have any concerns or questions about the flu or COVID-19 vaccines, ask your nurse or doctor at any visit, or reach out by email or phone any time. We're always happy to provide information or reassurance.
Here are our key takeaways:
Keep these tips in mind to stay as healthy as possible throughout flu season and beyond!