Attitudes toward year-round influenza vaccination in pregnant women

Influenza virus circulates year-round, yet uptake of maternal influenza vaccination decreases outside of influenza season. This prospective study of 62 pregnant women provides insight into the possible underlying reasons for this. Despite knowledge of benefits for maternal and infant outcomes, we observed a lack of understanding of rates of influenza infection outside influenza season, concerns about safety in relation to receiving multiple vaccinations during the same pregnancy, and lack of healthcare provider recommendation to be vaccinated outside influenza season. These findings can help tailor public health education targeting pregnant women and their healthcare providers to improve influenza vaccine uptake.

Automated summary

This study investigates the reasons behind the lower uptake of influenza vaccination among pregnant women outside of influenza season. It reveals a lack of understanding about influenza infection rates during non-influenza season, concerns about safety when receiving multiple vaccinations during pregnancy, and the absence of healthcare provider recommendations for vaccination outside of influenza season. These findings can help improve public health education targeted at pregnant women and healthcare providers to increase influenza vaccine uptake.