Protecting moms and babies from the flu
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From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.
A baby 6 months of age or younger isn't ready for a flu shot. But a pregnant woman is, and doctors say it's a good idea for a pregnant woman to get one - to protect her and her baby. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Robert Gaynes:
``A flu shot is the single best way you can protect yourself from this potentially serious disease. It can also protect your baby from getting the flu for several months after he or she is born.'' (11 seconds)
Dr. Gaynes says people who will be around the baby, such as family members and baby sitters, should get flu shots, too, to protect themselves and the baby.
An article on pregnant women and flu is in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Learn more at hhs.gov.
HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.