New Vaccine System Helps Protect Pregnant Women

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology has launched a new system to provide information to pregnant women and their doctors about using medications and vaccines safely during pregnancy. The Vaccines and Medications in Pregnancy Surveillance System (VAMPSS) collects information from women who are pregnant or have recently completed their pregnancies in order to provide information on issues that could be of concern to women and their babies.

VAMPSS obtains comprehensive information on various medicine and vaccine exposures, including those exposures that are unlikely to be included in the woman’s medical record. Mothers are asked about all medicines taken, regardless of whether they were prescribed, purchased over the counter, on the Internet or borrowed from others. They also are asked about all vaccines they may have received, including those given in nontraditional settings, such as health fairs or at the supermarket.

The initial focus of VAMPSS will be on the respiratory health of pregnant women, including asthma medications, seasonal and H1N1 influenza vaccines and antiviral medications used to prevent and treat influenza. Although there is no evidence to suggest that influenza vaccines pose any harm to pregnant women or their offspring, the newer and more comprehensive data provided by VAMPSS will improve understanding of the safety of these and other medications and vaccines that are taken during pregnancy.