October 29, 2009 H1N1 vaccine and pregnant women Play video

(NECN) - To tackle H1N1 concerns throughout the region, a panel of experts addressed the misconceptions about the disease and the vaccine as part of NECN's H1N1 two-hour special.

Expert panel:

• Dr. Anita Barry, Boston Public Health commissioner
• Dr. Gwenn O'Keefe, CEO/editor-in-chief, Pediatrics Now
• Dr. Richard Zane, Brigham & Women's Hospital vice chair, Department of Emergency Medicine
• Dr. Myechia Jordan, CEO Dimock Community Health Center
• Dr. Jodie Dionne-Odom, N.H. deputy state epidemiologist
• Dr. Anita Barry, Boston Public Health Commission
• Dr. Alasdair Conn, Emergency Services, Mass. General Hospital
• Dr. Laura Riley, OBGYN Mass. General Hospital

A concern regarding the virus and vaccination falls on pregnant women, who may be receiving mixed messages through word of mouth.

Dr. Riley said that pregnant women should not get the nasal mist vaccination, but can receive the regular innoculation.

"You can get the vaccine in the first trimester, second or third -- it really doesn't matter. We are not concerned about the safety profile of this vaccine. It is formulated exactly the same way as the seasonal influenza (vaccine). The season influenza (vaccine) has been given to over one million pregnant women in the past and it has not been associated with any birth defects in the first trimester, second or third trimester."