Question reference: S3W-23889
- Date lodged: 12 May 2009
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Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 26 May 2009
Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has of the effectiveness of the influenza vaccination in reducing influenza-related illnesses in pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.
Answer
In scientific trials, influenza vaccines have consistently been shown to prevent laboratory-confirmed illness in between 70% and 90% of healthy adults. There is no evidence to suggest that the effectiveness of the vaccine in pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers is any different to effectiveness in the general population.