The risk of major structural birth defects associated with seasonal influenza vaccination during pregnancy: A population-based cohort study

Seasonal inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) is routinely recommended during pregnancy to protect both mothers and infants from complications following influenza infection. While previous studies have evaluated the risk of major structural birth defects in infants associated with prenatal administration of monovalent pandemic IIV, fewer studies have evaluated the risk associated with prenatal seasonal IIV.

Citation:
Sarna M, Pereira GF, Foo D, Baynam GS, Regan AK. The risk of major structural birth defects associated with seasonal influenza vaccination during pregnancy: A population-based cohort study. Birth Defects Res. 2022;114(19):1244-56.

Keywords:
Developmental anomaly; influenza vaccine; major birth defects; maternal vaccination; pregnant women

Abstract:
Seasonal inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) is routinely recommended during pregnancy to protect both mothers and infants from complications following influenza infection. While previous studies have evaluated the risk of major structural birth defects in infants associated with prenatal administration of monovalent pandemic IIV, fewer studies have evaluated the risk associated with prenatal seasonal IIV.