Health officials: More H1N1 vaccine available for pregnant women

PROVIDENCE—The Rhode Island Department of Health said Tuesday that more H1N1 flu vaccine is now available for pregnant women.

State health director Dr. David Gifford said as of now, at least 3,200 pregnant and postpartum women have received the vaccine. He said more is going out to local OBGYN offices and hospitals.

“When you’re pregnant and you develop antibodies and get a vaccine, you will pass those antibodies on to your baby when they’re born and they will last in the baby for about two weeks,“ Gifford said.

If you breastfeed your baby, Gifford said, “Your breast milk has antibodies in it. You will pass those antibodies to your child. So if pregnant women get vaccinated, they will protect their kids by breast feeding them.“

Gifford said that the Health Department is hoping to have most pregnant women vaccinated within the next two weeks.

Gifford is encouraging pregnant and postpartum women to first contact their OBGYN for the vaccine. If the doctor is out of the vaccine, more will be made available to that practice.

Women & Infants will be holding two public H1N1 flu clinics to vaccinate pregnant women and postpartum patients. The clinics will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday in Providence and in Woonsocket. Both clinics are first come, first served.

South County Hospital is also holding a H1N1 clinic for pregnant and postpartum women from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday. If you’re interested, please call 401-788-1647 to RSVP.