Maternal flu vax protection for babies ‘dwindles after two months of age’
But Australian researchers say it's important pregnant women are vaccinated as there is still an impact on reducing serious illness in infants
Influenza vaccination rates in pregnant women remain low, Australian doctors say, despite providing protection against serious illness in babies, particularly those younger than two months .
In the first multi-state study of its kind, researchers have determined the flu vaccine effectiveness in pregnancy in preventing severe illness in infants.
The team, led by the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance in Sydney, included data from hospitals in most capital cities across four influenza seasons between 2016 and 2019.
Even though there was seasonal variability, the overall rate of maternal vaccine effectiveness was 37% in babies under six months of age, who cannot be vaccinated themselves.
