Studies/Research
NEW! The Journal of Pediatrics has released a study "Increasing exposure to antibody-stimulating proteins and polysaccharides in vaccines is not associated with risk of autism", evaluating the impact of early childhood vaccines, and researchers have found that there is no connection with autism. Please click here to read more.
The Trust for America's Health has released a report, "Past Low Flu Vaccination Rates and Gaps in Flu Policies Contribute to Vaccine Shortages and Other Problems in Preparedness: Fewer than Half of Americans Vaccinated for Flu Last Season."
A study Influenza Vaccination Coverage among Pregnant Women in the United States for the 2010-11 Influenza Season found that for the 2010-11 season, 49% of pregnant women had received influenza vaccination: 32% during pregnancy and 17% before pregnancy or after delivery. The survey also looked at why pregnant women chose not to get vaccinated. One veryinteresting finding of the survey was that women whose providers offered them aflu shot were five times more likely to get vaccinated than women who didn’t receive a provider offer. However, four out of 10 women in this survey did not receive a provider offer, though they visited a provider at least one time. These results indicate the uncharacteristically higher vaccination level achieved among pregnant women during the previous season (2009-2010) was sustained during the 2010-11influenza season and emphasizes the critical role of health care providers inpromoting influenza vaccination.The top two reasons that pregnant women gave for not getting vaccinated were: “I am concerned about possible safety risks to my baby if I got vaccinated” and “I am concerned that the vaccination would give me the flu.” Women who received a provider offer for influenza vaccination were more likely to have positive attitudes about vaccination effectiveness and safety. The study underscores that fact that continued efforts are needed to encourage providers to 1.) get vaccinated themselves and 2.) to not only strongly recommend vaccination of their pregnant patients but to offer influenza vaccine on site so both pregnant patients and their infants are protected.
Improving Ob-Gyn Immunization Services for Comprehensive Women's Health Care
The CDC reports that influenza immunization rates among pregnant women increased in the 2009-2010 flu season during the H1N1 pandemic. In addition, the CDC reports that provider offer and recommendation of immunization contributes to an increase in vaccination rates. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Pregnant Women--29 States and New York City, 2009-10 Season. MMWR 2012;61:113-118.
Published as a supplement for the June 2011 issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology: Emerging Issues in the Prevention, Detection and Treatment of Influenza among Pregnant Women in the US .
A study linking autism and the MMR vaccine has been found to be incorrect and has been retracted by The Lancet. See commentary in The Lancet.
A recent study by Eick and colleagues published on-line on October 4th, 2010 (to appear in print in February 2011) in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine found that when women were vaccinated in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, their babies were significantly less likely to get the flu, and the babies' blood showed evidence of antibodies to the flu. This study adds to the literature that vaccination in pregnancy is a “two for” because of the protection that it affords to infants younger than 6 months old who are vulnerable to influenza but not eligible for immunization. Click here for the study and a commentary.
Report shows vaccination rates approaching 50% of pregnant women for seasonal influenza and H1N1. Seasonal Influenza and 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Pregnant Women—10 States, 2009-10 Influenza Season.
Article about Guillain—Barre Syndrome
Article about influenza vaccine rates in pregnant women
Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine published an article in February 2011 on the benefits of influenza vaccination of pregnant women to protect their infants, and a related editorial. The study by Eick and colleagues found that when women were vaccinated in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, their babies were significantly less likely to get the flu, and the babies' blood showed evidence of antibodies to the flu. This study adds to the literature that vaccination in pregnancy is a “two for” because of the protection that it affords to infants younger than 6 months old who are vulnerable to influenza but not eligible for immunization. Click here for the study.
Influenza vaccination rates are lower in African-American, Hispanic, American Indian, and Alaska Natives as compared to the general population with higher hospitalizations and deaths due to influenza. DHHS is increasing awareness of this issue in the 2010-2011 seasonal influenza (flu) season. See also Immunization Facts for Ethnic Groups.
Research from the College's Research Department: