Leading flu expert issues critical warning for all pregnant mums to get a flu vaccine
Pregnant women on the Gold Coast have been issued a stark warning to make sure they are protected as an unprecedented epidemic sweeps through southeast Queensland.
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A STARK warning has been issued to all pregnant women: Get a flu vaccine now or risk the life of your baby.
A leading flu expert and Griffith University professor said it was ‘critical’ for pregnant women to be urgently vaccinated as an unprecedented epidemic swept through southeast Queensland.
“We are in the midst of a general community flu outbreak and are seeing the highest number of cases at this time of the year in five years,” Dr Paul Van Buynder warned.
“In late November and December last year, we saw more flu activity on the Gold Coast than during the peak of winter. We’re averaging more than 100 cases a week, compared to a maximum of 90 in winter.
“It’s the first time we’ve seen an outbreak of this extent at this time of the year down here. It’s affecting all age groups and our hospitalisation rates on the Gold Coast are nearly double those of metro Brisbane.”
Dr Van Buynder warned the flu could cause the death of babies in utero and after they were born.
“I’m urging all pregnant women who have not had the flu shot to do it now. It’s critical,” he warned.
“Pregnant mums who get the flu can lose their babies before they reach full term,” he said.
“And if the baby is born and the mum is not protected, the newborn can be exposed to the flu virus and develop severe symptoms which can lead to death.
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“Babies can’t be vaccinated in the first six months of life and they can develop very severe complications from flu if the mother is not protected,” he warned.
Dr Van Buynder called on GPs to make sure all pregnant women they saw were vaccinated. He also called on pregnant women who had been vaccinated to seriously consider having a second flu shot.
“This is partly because the vaccine wanes and we gave it out between April and June last year, which is quite a long time away. Most pregnant women didn’t have a shot and we have to make sure they do because of this current outbreak,” he said.
Although it was not Queensland Health policy to supply a free second dose, he urged GPs to seriously consider whether a booster was worthwhile for each individual case.
“A second vaccine will cost between $10 and $15 but it may be hard to find because at the moment, most GPs have low stock,” he said
“If a pregnant woman can’t get her flu shot at her local GP, she should ring around or go to a public health clinic. She can have a flu shot during any stage of her pregnancy.”
Dr Van Buynder said last year, health authorities in Queensland had more flu notifications of children under the age of five than any other age group.
“Children this age share it with each other and get it from their older siblings. Unfortunately, only a few of them in this age group are vaccinated.”
He said the current outbreak was caused by a mixture of flu strains, which was probably why it was affecting all age groups.
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