Winter is approaching, at which time it increases in the spread of the flu, and as usual, health authorities warn about the importance of getting a flu shot, especially risk groups, including pregnant women. It is recommended that all pregnant women get vaccinated against the flu in any trimester of pregnancy, as they have a higher risk of complications.
One of the biggest concerns about the vaccine is whether it will be safe for the baby, since one of the myths that surround it is that it increases the risk of autism. However, so that there are no doubts about it, a new study confirms that It is not associated with an increased risk of developing autism spectrum disorders (ASD) for future children.
So categorical is the conclusion of an investigation carried out by researchers at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Oakland (USA) and published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics,
"Our results show the absence of an association between the risk of ASD and influenza infection during pregnancy or vaccination against influenza during the second or third trimester of pregnancy."
In case of contracting the flu, a pregnant woman presents a 18 percent more risk of complications than a woman who is not. Vaccination leads to a 70% reduction in cases of influenza and 80% in the number of hospitalizations for infection in infants under 6 months.
Therefore, from international organizations such as the WHO or CDC as well as the Ministry of Health, the AEP and different scientific societies, they recommend that all pregnant women get vaccinated against the flu, especially if they are going to give birth during the winter months.
The study was carried out from the evaluation of almost 200 thousand born between 2000 and 2010, 45,231 of whom had been immunized while still in the womb of their mothers. The results showed that about 1,400 of the total pregnant women ended up suffering from the flu. And also, that only 1.6% of the total ended up being diagnosed with an ASD.
In light of the results, according to the authors, an association between influenza vaccination and an increased risk of autism cannot be established In children.
