Preventing Influenza During Pregnancy Could Reduce Autism Risk (pkg)

Children's Center

Preventing Influenza During Pregnancy Could Reduce Autism Risk (pkg)

By
Dennis Douda

October 16, 2013

Expectant moms have yet another good reason to get their flu shot. It may lower their new baby’s risk of autism. "From a public health point of view, this is very exciting news," says Greg Poland, M.D., head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. "About 1 in 88 kids or so in the U.S. are getting diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), so this is a major public health issue and the potential benefit is huge." The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says autism has increased tenfold over the past 40 years. So, who wouldn’t roll up their sleeve to lower the risk? [TRT 1:42]

Journalists: To read a transcript of the video report click here. Additional b-roll is available in the downloads.

REFERENCES:
[1.] Pediatrics, 2012 Dec;130(6):e1447-54. doi: 10.1542/peds.2012-1107.
Epub 2012 Nov 12. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23147969
[2.] NIH/National Inst. Of Mental Health http://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-news/2013/flu-in-pregnancy-may-quadruple-childs-risk-for-bipolar-disorder.shtml
[3.] Pediatrics, 2001 May;107(5):E84. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11331734

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bnf-L5fERxM