Late peaks are not unheard of, but they can be unusual, said Jennifer Brestel, community relations officer for the Division of Public Health, adding that the state hasn’t seen such a late peak in over four years.
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Over 3 million stillbirths occur worldwide each year, and in developed countries, stillbirths account for 70 percent of infant deaths around the time of birth, the study pointed out. Some people even get sick even after receiving a flu vaccine to prevent them from getting sick.
According to the CDC, the vaccine reduces the risk of flu by 50 to 60 percent in the overall population in years when the vaccine viruses and circulating viruses match up.
Researchers also observed that stillbirth rates increased after periods of influenza virus circulation and decreased during the months prior to the influenza season, although the seasonal differences were not statistically significant. But concern for the safety of the fetus dissuades many expectant mothers from vaccination, the study pointed out.
Flu shots for pregnant women could potentially save babies which could otherwise be lost to stillbirth.
Women who received the flu vaccine had a 51 percent lower risk of stillbirth than those who did not receive the vaccine, the study found. Since September 1, there has been a total of 372 laboratory-confirmed cases of Influenza reported to the health unit. “The flu season is clearly not over, and taking precautions is still important”.
However, some women choose not to get a flu shot because they fear for the safety of their unborn babies. People in high-risk groups are at increased risk for having serious flu‐related complications, such as hospitalization and death.
Ninety-one flu deaths had been reported at the same time a year ago. There were about 2,600 cases in the state last week. That would also allow for year-round manufacturing of the vaccine, since scientists would not have to halt production every year to identify the most prevalent strains.
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A recommendation has been issues by the Minnesota Department of Health, which states that flu vaccination must be taken by everybody after the age of 6 months.
