ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Currently in New York, around 4,000 people have the flu. Another 2,300 have COVID and those numbers are only expected to continue climbing. This poses a greater threat to pregnant women and children, because they have weaker immune systems.
Health officials say the first and most important action you can take to protect yourself against the flu is getting vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends flu vaccination during any trimester of pregnancy. ABC’S Medical Correspondent, Dr. Darien Sutton, says decades of research support the safety of flu vaccinations during any trimester of pregnancy.
Doctors also note that a flu vaccine will not impact your ability to breastfeed your baby. In fact, it helps you develop antibodies against the disease which can then be shared with your baby through breast milk. Babies less than six months of age cannot be vaccinated against the flu, so moms can give their newborns protection by getting vaccinated themselves. To learn more, watch today’s Women’s Health Wednesday segment.
