HOUSTON - Pregnant women are one of the hardest hit groups affected by the swine flu, and so far almost 30 have died in the United States. Baylor College of Medicine is one of five locations across the country that is conducting H1N1 vaccine trials in pregnant women, and they are sending results to the National Institute of Health. ??
This is happening as H1N1 injectable vaccines start to arrive around the country.? It's the form of the vaccine that pregnant woman will be offered because it does not have the live virus in it.
While results from the pregnancy women study have not been released, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases talked about preliminary findings.
"We fully anticipate the dose in the H1N1 vaccine would be the correct dose for pregnant women.? The study is not completed to definitively show that, but based on past experience with many pregnant women being immunized with the seasonal flu vaccine, we anticipate it's going to be the same."
Still many pregnant women like Norma Terrazas, who is eight months pregnant, have questions.
"I'd like to know just how safe it is," said Terrazas.
"We think it's much more beneficial to take the vaccine than not to take it," said Dr. Todd Ivey, a Baylor College of Medicine associate professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Experts say this vaccine shouldn't be feared because it's just like the seasonal flu vaccine.
"H1N1 vaccine is made the exact same way," said Ivey.? "It's made with the same methodology."
Doctors encourage pregnant women to get the H1N1 vaccine because they are more susceptible and they could get even sicker than other flu victims.? Here's why.?
Our immune system normally attacks foreign materials in our body.? But, a pregnant woman's immunity response is diminished, so that her body doesn't reject the fetus.? It leaves the mother more vulnerable.
"Six percent of deaths are from H1N1 in pregnant women, yet they only make up one percent of the population," said Ivey.
Yet pregnant moms are still hesitating because of another major concern about the H1N1 vaccine.?
"As far as being pregnant, will it affect the baby?" asks Mari Carmen, another pregnant mom.
Experts say just like the seasonal flu, they expect the H1N1 vaccine to protect mothers from swine flu and provide some immunity to babies after birth.
If you're still not convinced, ask your doctor.
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