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Article: Vaccines.(Drugs, Pregnancy, And Lactation)
- Article from:
- Family Practice News
- Article date:
- March 1, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 International Medical News Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Vaccines have arguably saved more lives and prevented more diseases than any other class of drug. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that vaccination before conception is preferred to vaccination during pregnancy, but the benefits of immunization to the pregnant woman usually outweigh the theoretical risks (Committee Opinion, No. 282, January 2003). Only vaccines recommended for adults of reproductive age are discussed here.
Vaccines are classified as bacterial or viral; whole (killed, inactivated, or live attenuated); or partial microorganisms that can induce antibody formation. Although vaccines can cause infections of the embryo or ...