(WZZM) - More than one million people in the United States have suffered from the H1N1 flu.
The vaccine should be available in the first week of October which is earlier than expected. But the first to get the shot are those considered at high risk including pregnant women.
Experts say there are a lot of interesting things that happen to a woman's body when she's pregnant. One of those is that her immune system becomes compromised.
Recently researchers have discovered the cells of a pregnant woman no longer fight off infections instead the body relies on the secretion of anti-bodies, "Pregnant women are a little immunocompromised during pregnancy and this is something that's been discovered recently when they check their immune systems during pregnancy and afterward." Dr. Peter Gulick is an infectious disease professor at Michigan State University.
He says that compromised immune system becomes a problem when you add in additional risk factors, "Pregnant women are a young group of individuals who have never been exposed to the virus. Pregnancy, young individuals and if a pregnant woman happens to have young kids around at home that this isn't their first pregnancy then another risk factor."
That's why the CDC is recommending pregnant women get the H1N1 vaccine, however the FDA is still deciding on the proper dosage, because in addition to a compromised immune system, the liver of a pregnant women also loses its ability to metabolize certain types of drugs.
As for the safety of the vaccine, Dr. Gulick says there shouldn't be any cause for concern, "I don't think this vaccine will offer anything more risky than say the regular flu vaccine or some of the other vaccines we have."
You can get the H1N1 vaccine and the seasonal flu shot at the same time as long as you are getting the shot.
If you are getting the flu mist because it's a live virus you'll have to wait at least a week maybe longer before getting the H1N1 vaccine.
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