This Monday, the 16th, the influenza A vaccination campaign is launched in the Spanish state. The controversy before this vaccine is the order of the day and the pregnant women are faced with a complicated decision when deciding whether to get vaccinated or not.
WHO wanted to send a message of tranquility stating, a couple of weeks ago, that all vaccines, whether or not they are adjuvants, are safe.
Further, has called on pregnant women, considered as a risk group, to get vaccinated.
The issue of adjuvants
An adjuvant is a substance that accompanies the viruses in a vaccine to boost the immune response of the vaccine.
During these months there has been a lot of controversy around the coadjuvants of the influenza A vaccine and the risk that this type of vaccines could pose for pregnant women (in the survey we conducted in Babies and more, for example, 39% of the pregnant women said they would not be vaccinated).
In Spain this has been taken into account and pregnant women who want to get vaccinated will receive a vaccine without adjuvant, that is, with the influenza A virus as the only substance (Not the virus itself, they use virus proteins that are isolated from the surface of the virus particles).
What does WHO say?
Marie-Paule Kieny, director of Vaccine Research at WHO stated that “Animal studies show that vaccines with or without adjuvants have a good safety profile. There is no evidence that indicates a risk to the mother or the fetus. ”.
He added that between 7% and 10% of hospitalizations for influenza A correspond to pregnant women (which does not have to be an indicative of quantity, since many people with influenza A stay at home and pregnant women go to the hospital because of the risk and the fear of suffering possible complications). “The safety protocol of all vaccines is correct, quite similar to that of the seasonal flu vaccine. There is nothing to indicate that there are unexpected adverse reactions ”Kieny added. In the package leaflet of vaccines (at least in the case of covaccinated vaccines to which I have had access) it can be read that in case of pregnancy there are no studies that corroborate the lack of side effects and that it is necessary to ask, in this case, to the doctor.On the 16th the campaign begins
This same Monday 16 begins the vaccination campaign for influenza A. Vaccine availability is still reduced and therefore its administration will be prioritized to the groups at greatest risk.
It will be administered to all over 6 months of age with the following risk factors:
- Chronic lung disease
By the way, looking at the leaflet I have seen that it is contraindicated in people and children with an allergy to eggs or chicken.
