Study: Babies Born to Moms Who Refuse Flu Vaccine Fare Better than Babies Born to Mom's Who Receive the Influenza Vaccine
A new study comparing four outcomes—fetal death, low birth weight, small for gestational age birth and preterm birth—for infants whose mothers received flu shots or a placebo turned up surprising results. Not only was influenza vaccination during pregnancy was ineffective in lowering risk for the four outcomes, but they also noted that the vaccinated infants fared worse.
The 2011–2012 South Africa study was one of three large double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials of influenza vaccination during pregnancy funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).
Overall, the investigators found “no significant vaccine efficacy” with respect to any of the fetal outcomes.
Unexpectedly (to the researchers), they also found that the average gestational age at birth was lower in the vaccinated versus placebo group—a statistically significant result indicative of a greater risk of preterm birth.
Although most of the study’s other findings did not attain statistical significance, the pattern of results showed, in another writer’s words, tendencies that were “not reassuring.”
Members of the public should remember that no vaccines have ever been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) “specifically for use during pregnancy to protect the infant.”



























































