The Basics
What is Influenza Vaccines?
Protects against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season.
Brand names for Influenza Vaccines
N/A
How Influenza Vaccines is classified
Vaccines
Influenza Vaccines During Pregnancy
Influenza Vaccines pregnancy category
Category N/ANote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.
What we know about taking Influenza Vaccines while pregnant
Is it safe to get the influenza vaccine while pregnant? N/A
Taking Influenza Vaccines While Breastfeeding
What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Influenza Vaccines?
Is it OK to get the influenza vaccine while breastfeeding? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and several health professional organizations state that vaccines given to a nursing mother do not affect the safety of breastfeeding for mothers or infants and that breastfeeding is not a contraindication to either the live, attenuated (i.e., inhaled) or inactivated (i.e., injected) influenza vaccine, including H1N1 (swine) influenza vaccine. Immunization of the mother during pregnancy increases the amount of influenza antibodies in breastmilk and may offer added protection of their breastfed infants against influenza.[1][2] Breastmilk antibody responses are higher with the inactivated influenza vaccine than with the live oral vaccine.[3] Breastfed infants should be vaccinated according to the routine recommended schedules.[4][5][6][7]
Maternal / infant drug levels
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and several health professional organizations state that vaccines given to a nursing mother do not affect the safety of breastfeeding for mothers or infants and that breastfeeding is not a contraindication to either the live, attenuated (i.e., inhaled) or inactivated (i.e., injected) influenza vaccine, including H1N1 (swine) influenza vaccine. Immunization of the mother during pregnancy increases the amount of influenza antibodies in breastmilk and may offer added protection of their breastfed infants against influenza.[1][2] Breastmilk antibody responses are higher with the inactivated influenza vaccine than with the live oral vaccine.[3] Breastfed infants should be vaccinated according to the routine recommended schedules.[4][5][6][7]
Possible effects of Influenza Vaccines on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Possible alternatives to Influenza Vaccines
None listed
List of References
Lactation sources: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/1. Maertens K, De Schutter S, Braeckman T et al. Breastfeeding after maternal immunisation during pregnancy: Providing immunological protection to the newborn: A review. Vaccine. 2014;32:1786-92. PMID: 24530929
2. Schlaudecker EP, Steinhoff MC, Omer SB et al. IgA and neutralizing antibodies to influenza a virus in human milk: a randomized trial of antenatal influenza immunization. PLoS One. 2013;8:e70867. PMID: 23967126
3. Brady RC, Jackson LA, Frey SE et al. Randomized trial comparing the safety and antibody responses to live attenuated versus inactivated influenza vaccine when administered to breastfeeding women. Vaccine. 2018;36:4663-71. PMID: 29961606
4. American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases, Kimberlin DW, Brady MT et al. Red Book: 2015 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 30th ed. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics. 2015.
5. Gruslin A, Steben M, Halperin S et al. Immunization in pregnancy: No. 220, December 2008. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2009;105:187-91. PMID: 19367691
6. General recommendations on immunization — recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep. 2011;60 (RR-2):1-64. PMID: 21293327
7. Anon. Prevention and control of influenza with vaccines: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)–United States, 2012-13 influenza season. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2012;61:613-8. PMID: 22895385
8. Pabst HF. Immunomodulation by breast-feeding. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1997;16:991-5. PMID: 9380478
9. Zaman K, Roy E, Arifeen SE et al. Effectiveness of maternal influenza immunization in mothers and infants. N Engl J Med. 2008;359:1555-64. PMID: 18799552
Disclaimer: This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult your healthcare provider with any questions.
