Vaccinations are necessary for a pregnant woman as they protect both the mother and the fetus. A recent study reveals the women receiving text alerts on flu vaccinations are more likely to adhere to the vaccination schedule.
A latest study conducted by the researchers at Mailman School of Public Health under the University of Columbia showed that pregnant women receiving texts on vaccination appointments are more likely to go for the vaccinations compared to the rest.
The researchers observed around 1,187 pregnant from five community-based clinics in New York City and found that women who received five text alerts every week on the importance of vaccinations besides the two automated calls were more likely to get vaccinated compared to the controller group members who only received the phone calls.
The changes were significant especially in pregnant women in their third trimester or those who belonged to the 'low income' group. A sub-group of women in their third trimester showed the highest intervention effect of text alerts with nearly, 61.9 percent women in this subgroup getting vaccinations compared to 49 percent in the controller group, according to a recent report in medical express.
"Vaccination during pregnancy helps to protect newborns," said Melissa Stockwell, an assistant professor of population and family health and a physician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in a statement. "To achieve protection before influenza begins circulating in the community, we strongly recommend that women receive influenza vaccination during pregnancy and as soon as the vaccine becomes available in the fall."
A latest report from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a rise in flu cases in U.S. in the last month compared to the previous year. The number of flu hospitalizations increased to 448 cases in December 2013 compared to 373 cases reported during this time in 2012.
"The surge in hospitalizations due to flu is concerning," said Dr. Lisa Miller, state epidemiologist at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reports, steamboattoday. "We normally see higher flu numbers among the young and elderly, but this year there are more cases among people ages 25 to 64. We encourage anyone who hasn't been immunized this year to get a flu vaccination now."
