Health officials are stressing that it is vital for pregnant women and new parents to be vaccinated against swine flu to protect both themselves and their children, AP reported. In the words of Tina Johnson of the American College of Nurse-Midwives: «By not getting the flu yourself, you are going to protect your children better.» Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at a briefing Thursday that women of any trimester of pregnancy should get the vaccine. «There's no benefit to waiting until you're out of the first trimester,» added Dr. Laura Riley of Massachusetts General Hospital. The swine flu, also known as H1N1, first appeared in the spring, then spread to the southern hemisphere where thousands have been infected. It is expected to return late this year, when the normal flu season arrives in this hemisphere. Vaccine for the seasonal flu is available now in many parts of the United States, and testing is under way for the swine flu vaccine, which is expected to be available in October. Experts urge people to get both seasonal and swine flu vaccinations, and not to wait to get them together.
