G ety our shots

Many pregnant women are understandably nervous about using medications or taking precautions that they otherwise wouldn’t think twice about, and it may make them think twice about the flu vaccine. However, this concern is unfounded. “The flu vaccine is safe for pregnant women who are past the first trimester,” explains registered nurse Sister Larraine Mey from Immuno-Tots. “It’s a really safe vaccine, and it does not give you flu or make you sick,” she explains. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases recommends the flu vaccine if you’re pregnant, as your risk is higher of contracting flu, and also developing complications, when you’re expecting.