Flu shot: when to get it and after what time can you get pregnant?

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Why is it worth getting vaccinated and when can you get pregnant after getting a flu shot? Everyone knows that a pregnant woman is more difficult to tolerate illness. This is due to the ban on taking strong drugs that can affect the fetus, as well as a decrease in immunity during gestation. The immune system is weakened and the body is susceptible to various diseases, especially during a flu epidemic, which is easily transmitted. That’s why it’s so important to take care of fighting viruses in advance and vaccinate before pregnancy.

• 1 Vaccinations pros and cons
• 2 Risks of refusing vaccination
• 3 When can you get pregnant after getting a flu shot?
• 4 What types of vaccines are used for other viruses
• 5 Useful tips
• 6 Summary

Vaccinations pros and cons

Many people do not trust vaccinations and prefer not to be vaccinated at all, believing that this will only harm the body. Let's try to understand the pros and cons of vaccinations before pregnancy. Doctors advise women planning pregnancy to be vaccinated against:

• rubella;
• chicken pox;
• hepatitis B;
• tetanus and diphtheria;
• measles;
• flu

Benefits of vaccination:

1. Strengthening the immune system, the body will better protect itself from viruses.
2. Easier progression of the disease in case of infection.
3. Reduces risks associated with dangerous viruses. “Childhood” diseases, for example, chickenpox and rubella, often lead to complications in pregnant women and congenital pathologies of the fetus. Women who are not vaccinated are at great risk.
4. Some vaccinations given before planning a child also protect the baby for a year after birth. For example, vaccines against measles and mumps.
5. The presence of antibodies in the body to fight viruses reduces the risk of negative consequences for the unborn child and complications during pregnancy.

The risks of vaccination include:

1. Some believe that vaccinations undermine the immune system and prevent the body from fighting illnesses on its own.
2. Vaccination does not provide a 100% guarantee that the disease will go away. It only helps the body better fight viruses.
3. Some mothers (in vain) believe that it is better to get over the virus on your own and gain natural strong immunity from it. This applies, for example, to chickenpox. A child who has had it has protection for life, and the vaccine requires repeating after a while.
4. Some people may experience local allergic reactions to the injection and, in rare cases, side effects.
5. There is a high risk of getting a fake, buy the vaccine in reliable places, or better yet, get vaccinated in a clinic.

All medications have a number of side effects that can occur in rare cases; viruses pose a huge danger. Here it is important to weigh the pros and cons and make your own decision. Vaccination will protect yourself and your fetus.

Risks of refusing vaccination

Rubella can cause miscarriage or pathology, and increases the risk of deafness, blindness and even mental retardation in an infant.

Chickenpox can also “reach” the fetus and cause defects: atrophy of the cerebral cortex, mental retardation, cataracts and others. In addition, during illness the temperature rises, which is extremely undesirable and dangerous for the expectant mother.

Hepatitis B is not dangerous for the baby while it is in the womb, but during childbirth there is a risk of infection, since there is contact with the mother’s blood. The diseases pose a threat of miscarriage and delayed fetal development.

Of all the listed diseases, measles is not capable of causing serious pathologies, but there is a risk of a condition leading to fetal hypoxia, that is, a lack of oxygen.

When can you get pregnant after getting a flu shot?

Of these viruses, the easiest to get infected with is influenza; the peak of the disease occurs in the fall. Since the female body is weakened during pregnancy, it is better to take care of protection in advance and get a flu shot.

Many women worry whether the presence of a weakened virus in the pregnant body will harm them and often ask doctors how many weeks after they can start preparing for conception.

When preparing for pregnancy, it is recommended to get vaccinated against influenza 2-3 months before it, but if by this time relevant vaccines for the new season have already become available.

Typically, new drugs appear in early autumn. If you skip this point, vaccination is allowed a month before pregnancy.

There are many questions about vaccinations after pregnancy. Doctors allow flu vaccinations during this period, but strongly recommend waiting 14 weeks in order to protect the fetus.

It will take 2-4 weeks to develop immunity, so take care of protecting your body in advance.

For greater safety of mother and baby, consult with a specialist; the decision should be made by the attending physician, based on the health status confirmed by the patient’s tests.

Hepatitis vaccination

Since hepatitis B is transmitted through blood, the likelihood of infection in a pregnant woman increases due to the fact that during the period of preparation and pregnancy itself she is exposed to a number of medical procedures.

When planning pregnancy, vaccination against hepatitis is carried out in three doses. The first vaccination is done on the day you choose, the second one a month after the first, and the third six months after the first. Therefore, vaccination against hepatitis should begin six months before pregnancy.

There is another vaccination regimen against hepatitis B, but it requires a longer time. The required period for its implementation is 12 months, so if you choose this regimen, you will need to plan vaccination a year before conception.

What types of vaccines are used for other viruses?

To avoid consequences, vaccination against other viral infections should not be done immediately before pregnancy. Depending on the vaccine, all vaccinations are given 1-6 months before pregnancy.

Let's look at the types of vaccines:

1. “Live” vaccines contain weakened virus microorganisms that promote the production of antibodies to fight the disease. “Live” vaccinations include measles, tuberculosis, rubella and mumps. After them, you need to plan no earlier than 3 months later, since microorganisms can affect the fetus.
2. Inactivated vaccinations containing a dead microorganism or fragment of a pathogen. These include vaccines against whooping cough, meningitis, and influenza. Antibodies are produced within a month, so you should not get pregnant before this time.
3. Toxoids are vaccines that contain poison produced by bacteria. Among these are vaccines against tetanus and diphtheria. As with inactivated vaccinations, it is advisable to administer them a month before the expected pregnancy.
4. Biosynthetic ones are obtained by genetic engineering; their pathogen is not capable of causing disease, but does an excellent job of producing antibodies. Such a vaccine is a drug against hepatitis B. But, according to some information, it is better to get vaccinated against this virus no earlier than six months before the planned conception of the baby.

The information presented above is not 100% recommended.

For the safety of mother and child, doctors recommend taking a longer break, during which preparations should not begin.

Rubella

If you have not had rubella, i.e. you do not have a certificate confirming this fact - it is better not to rely on the memory of your parents, and get vaccinated at least 2 months before the start of the planned pregnancy. If you want, you can test your immunity to rubella by taking an antibody test, but it is not necessary. As foreign and Russian studies show, vaccination given to those who initially had antibodies to rubella is safe and helps strengthen immunity to infection.

All modern rubella vaccines are 95-100% effective, and the immunity created by them lasts for more than 20 years. Since the vaccine is a live virus, the vaccination course consists of only one vaccination, i.e. immunity is formed immediately, without revaccinations. Another positive effect of vaccination is the transfer of antibodies against rubella through mother's milk to the unborn child.

In no case should the rubella vaccine be given during pregnancy due to the theoretical, but still possibility of damage to the fetus by the vaccine virus. That is, it is necessary to protect yourself for at least 2 months after vaccination against rubella.

Useful tips

In some cases, side effects and allergic reactions to the vaccine are possible. It is necessary to prepare and help reduce the likelihood of possible reactions:

• get vaccinated when you are completely healthy and no earlier than two weeks after suffering a viral or infectious disease;
• feeling unwell on the day of vaccination is a reason to postpone the flu shot;
• For several days before vaccination, it is not recommended to eat unusual food that can cause allergies and even use new cosmetics.

If you are afraid to get a flu shot because of the possible consequences, you can try to find out whether there is an urgent need for it.

To do this, you need to take a blood test that determines immunoglobulins G and M, which allows you to assess the potential of the antibody immune response.

The presence of immunoglobin G will indicate the body's readiness to resist the disease. Class M indicates the presence of infection and the acute stage of the process.

The absence of antibodies will indicate the need to be vaccinated before a planned pregnancy.

Vaccination against coronavirus: answers to the main questions

Photo: Marat Muginov

(City of Kazan KZN.RU, March 11, Ksenia Shvetsova). More than 97 thousand people have already been vaccinated against coronavirus in Tatarstan, of which more than 41 thousand people have received the second dose. Why vaccination is carried out in two stages, how to sign up for vaccination and why pregnant women are not recommended to get vaccinated - these and other popular questions were answered by the chief freelance epidemiologist of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Tatarstan Dmitry Lopushov and the chief epidemiologist of the Health Department of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Tatarstan in Kazan Alsou Bulankina.

Why should you get vaccinated against coronavirus? Isn't it better to get over the disease and gain natural immunity?

It is unknown how each person’s body will react to an encounter with the COVID-19 pathogen, how severe the disease will be, and what complications will appear after recovery in a particular person. After all, as everyone already knows, along with relatively “mild” patients, there are quite severe cases of the disease and deaths. But there are no serious, severe reactions to vaccination among vaccinated people. Today this is the most effective way to prevent the disease.

How is vaccination carried out?

Vaccination is carried out in two stages, in each of which the person is given two different components of the vaccine necessary for the formation of immunity. The interval between vaccinations is 21 days.

If a person undergoes only the first stage of vaccination, he will not develop immunity. If it happens that a person has received the first vaccination and falls ill with coronavirus within 21 days, then the administration of the second component is postponed until complete recovery.

Is there a guarantee that after vaccination a person will not get sick with coronavirus?

It is important to remember that no vaccine protects 100%, and we are not just talking about coronavirus. The effectiveness of vaccines used against covid is estimated to range from 91% to 95% - this is a very high figure. But still, in 5-7% of cases the risk remains - it is associated with the characteristics of the human body. There are people who, despite receiving the vaccine, do not develop antibodies. But such cases are extremely rare. In any case, if a vaccinated person becomes infected, the disease will be mild, and the protection against death is almost 100%.

Will the domestic vaccine protect against different strains of the virus?

Viruses always mutate - this is a normal mechanism for their survival. So far, mutations of all new strains of coronavirus that are appearing in the world, including the British and South African ones, do not affect the proteins that underlie the vaccine. This has been proven, information about this has been published in recent articles in scientific journals - the developed vaccines protect against all strains that have been identified to date.

Who is at risk and who should be vaccinated first?

Vaccination against coronavirus infection is included in the National Calendar of Preventive Vaccinations for epidemiological indications. The first level priority includes persons with chronic diseases, including diseases of the bronchopulmonary system, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and obesity.

Does vaccination affect fertility?

When vaccines are prepared for mass production, they undergo careful monitoring.

There are currently three vaccines in use in the Russian Federation: Gam-COVID-Vac, known as Sputnik V, EpiVacCorona and Covivac. None of them in preclinical and clinical studies have shown a negative effect on reproductive health - both female and male.

And if a person gets sick with coronavirus, then medications are prescribed that can affect fertility. In this case, you need to protect yourself from pregnancy.

Can pregnant women and nursing mothers be vaccinated? And should both spouses be vaccinated when planning a pregnancy?

Pregnant women and nursing mothers are not recommended to get vaccinated.

You can get vaccinated during pregnancy planning, when a man and woman undergo examinations and prepare for conception. However, it is better to postpone conception itself for a period of 3 to 6 months after completion of the second stage of vaccination.

This does not mean that the vaccine will have any harmful effects on mother and child. The fact is that vaccination is accompanied by the production of antibodies, and the body spends certain energy on this. In particular, the production of antibodies requires additional amounts of amino acids. And pregnancy is already an energy-consuming period, and there is no need to waste the body’s resources on other processes.

If a woman becomes pregnant after the first vaccination, then in this case there is no need to do a second one.

A spouse can be vaccinated during the period of planning and conceiving a child.

Are there any contraindications to vaccination?

The main contraindications include positive quantitative tests for IgM or IgG antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Those who, 2 weeks before the procedure, were in contact with a patient with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cannot be vaccinated. Vaccinations are not given to pregnant, nursing mothers or children.

You should not get vaccinated during the period of exacerbation of any chronic diseases, since the body’s resources are spent on other processes. You need to wait for remission and calmly get vaccinated.

Before vaccination, a mandatory medical examination is carried out; you cannot just get vaccinated. There is no need to hide anything at a doctor’s appointment; you should tell him about all chronic diseases.

How can the body react to a vaccine? What symptoms can be attributed to a normal reaction of the body, and in what cases should you consult a doctor?

After vaccination, various post-vaccination reactions are possible. This is absolutely normal and indicates that the body has started the process of producing antibodies.

When vaccinated against Covid, the temperature may rise from 37 to 38.5 degrees; against the background of this temperature, a headache, muscle weakness, and pain at the injection site may appear. But these reactions usually go away within one day, so there is no need to worry.

You should not think that all vaccinated people have such reactions. Quite the opposite - most people tolerate the vaccine absolutely calmly.

All information about vaccinated people is entered into the federal register, which contains the column “post-vaccination reactions.” It is filled out by the citizen himself; the health worker does not have access to this document. In it, a person enters data about how he felt after the vaccination. After analyzing these data, experts concluded that approximately 10-15% of vaccinated people noted an elevated body temperature, all the rest, that is, 75-85%, tolerated the vaccine without any symptoms.

If strong or unusual reactions occur, you should inform your doctor, but no such cases have been recorded to date.

If the temperature rises after vaccination, is it possible to bring it down?

Before vaccination, a person must be given recommendations on how to behave in the post-vaccination period. Among other things, he is told that if the temperature has risen, he does not need to endure it. The temperature can be brought down with any antipyretic drugs, except aspirin.

Should those who have already had coronavirus be vaccinated?

For those who have recovered from coronavirus, vaccination is postponed for 6 months. It is also postponed for six months if the quantitative indicators of antibodies in a person’s blood are higher than the reference values. But after six months it is recommended to get vaccinated.

Are vaccinated people given any documents confirming completion of vaccination?

Information about vaccination is entered into medical documents, including outpatient records. The citizen is given either a certificate or another document confirming vaccination. In addition, the information is entered into the federal register. After the second vaccination, an electronic certificate automatically appears in your personal account on the government services portal of the Russian Federation - the so-called vaccination passport. It can be downloaded and used if necessary. But it is important to note: in order for such a document to appear on the government services portal, a person must have a confirmed Unified Identification of Authorities (USIA) account, and when filling out the documents, check the box “I agree to the transfer of data.”

Is it true that you should not drink alcohol for about a month after vaccination?

Yes, it is not recommended to abuse alcohol before and after vaccination, since in this case mechanisms are triggered in the body that significantly impair the production of antibodies. Alcohol abuse causes various processes; the body requires large amounts of energy to process it. It gets this energy from carbohydrates and proteins. Antibodies are also formed from proteins. Therefore, there is a possibility that antibodies will be produced in insufficient quantities, or some diseases may worsen. It is recommended to limit alcohol consumption for at least three days before the vaccine and for three days after it. The maximum is to drink a glass of good wine.

How can I sign up for vaccination? Is it possible to immediately come to the clinic at your place of residence and get vaccinated without an appointment? What documents do you need to have with you?

Residents of the republic can sign up for vaccination through the government service portals of the Republic of Tatarstan and the Russian Federation, as well as by calling 122 and through the call centers of medical organizations providing vaccinations.

Without an appointment, you can undergo the procedure at a mobile vaccination point in the shopping center located at 141 Pobedy Ave., daily from 10.00 to 20.00.

To get vaccinated in medical organizations, you need to have your passport, insurance policy and SNILS with you. At mobile points, you can get vaccinated with only a passport, but having an insurance policy and SNILS is welcome.

How much vaccine is available in the republic today? Is there enough for everyone?

There is definitely no need to worry about there not being enough vaccines. Today, there are more than 150 vaccination points in Tatarstan, all of them are equipped with the necessary amount of drugs.

Of course, interruptions in the supply of the vaccine are possible, because today a large number of people need it. In this case, you just need to sign up for vaccination and wait for the invitation. At the moment, the waiting list is almost zero, there are no problems with the supply of vaccines.

Does a vaccinated person need to comply with the mask regime and other sanitary and epidemiological requirements?

Of course, especially in the interval between the introduction of the first and second components - during this period immunity has not yet been formed, and a person can become infected.

Tags: vaccination coronavirus infection covid-19 coronavirus vaccinations

Bottom line

When planning a pregnancy, women are concerned about the need to get vaccinated against viruses that can negatively affect the developing fetus, as well as questions about how long after they can plan.

Doctors recommend a flu shot to every pregnant woman, since infection occurs quite easily.

Every year a huge number of people become infected; all it takes is being close to someone who is sneezing or coughing.

Before vaccination, you should be aware of an important rule - in order to avoid consequences, the female body must be completely healthy on the day of vaccination. It is recommended to get vaccinated no earlier than a month before the planned pregnancy.