Research Highlights Urgent Need for Bird Flu Vaccines for Pregnant Women
A recent study underscores the critical need for bird flu vaccines for pregnant women, revealing alarming statistics about the impact of avian influenza during pregnancy. The research, led by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI), found that nearly 90% of women who contracted bird flu during pregnancy died from the virus, with nearly all of their babies also perishing. Among the few babies who survived, 80% were born prematurely.
The study, which reviewed over 1,500 research papers and examined 30 reported cases of bird flu in pregnant women across four countries, highlights the vulnerability of pregnant women to bird flu and calls for urgent action to include them in public health vaccination programs. Published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, the systematic review stresses that as cases of avian influenza A (H5N1 and H5N2) rise globally, awareness of the risks to pregnant women is paramount.
Dr. Rachael Purcell from MCRI emphasized the need for pregnant women to be prioritized in pandemic preparedness programs. “Despite being a high-risk population, pregnant women are often excluded from vaccine trials and delayed entry into public health vaccination efforts,” she said. "A shift in approach is necessary to prevent preventable deaths during future pandemics."
The research team advocates for utilizing existing surveillance systems, such as the Global Vaccine Data Network and the Vaccine Safety Datalink, to include pregnant women in pandemic planning. They also recommend scaling up adverse reaction detection systems to monitor risks in pregnant women more effectively.
MCRI Professor Jim Buttery pointed out that during previous pandemics, such as influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and Ebola, pregnant women faced disproportionately high death and critical illness rates. “It is essential that we proactively recognize and address these risks well before the onset of a pandemic,” he stated.
The study also welcomed the Australian Federal Government's $95 million investment to prepare for the threat of H5N1, the deadliest bird flu strain. Australia remains the only continent currently free of the virus.
The research, which involved experts from the University of Melbourne, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Monash Health, and Monash University, calls for a focused research agenda to include pregnant women in vaccine development, trials, and public health responses to bird flu.
